GEORGE TOWN, Aug 10 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will cancel 29,240 summonses issued under the automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system between 2025 and August this year.

Penang local government and town and country planning committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the city council will also refund a total RM266,160 summons payments that was received in the same period.

“The ANPR summons system has been halted entirely so from now onwards, summons will only be issued manually by the enforcement officers,” he said at a press conference on the issue following public furore over limitations of the system.

He said the state government took into consideration the feedback and concerns raised by the public on the issue.

Among the issues raised were that vehicles which had stopped to drop off passengers were also issued summonses for illegal parking as the ANPR system could not detect if there were drivers and passengers in the vehicles.

“To ensure there are no disputes, all summons issued under the ANPR for illegal parking will be cancelled,” he said.

He said the ANPR system will now be reviewed and will no longer be used for enforcement.

“It will be used only to monitor but enforcement will be conducted manually after this,” he said.

He said those who had already paid the summons can submit their claims from both city councils for refunds by September 30.

As for those who were issued summons for not paying parking fees despite making payment within a 10-minute grace period, they can also submit an appeal for cancellation of the summons and a refund if they have already paid the summons.

They can submit their payment receipts and bank statement to level three in Komtar (MBPP) or email to perbendaharaan@mbpp.gov.my or to the enforcement directorate at MBSP, Level One, Pejabat Cawangan Jalan Betek, 14000 Bukit Mertajam or email to direktorat@mbsp.gov.my.