The new PIA multistorey carpark in Bayan Lepas has 1,742 bays.
RM100,000 temporary walkway to be completed in September
AFTER years of delay, the seven-storey carpark at Penang International Airport (PIA) was opened on April 1 but very soon after, certain quarters began pointing out a missing link.
As there is no covered walkway between the carpark building and airport terminal, those who park in the building need to cross the road under the blazing sun or in the rain to reach the terminal.
Penang Limousine and Taxis Association chairman Sazali Amman, 51, said a properly covered walkway was badly needed for the convenience of carpark users.
Missing connection: The multistorey carpark does not have a sheltered walkway for the public to get to and from the airport terminal. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
“A covered link bridge must be built so that carpark users can be sheltered from the rain and the hot sun while getting to and from the airport terminal.
“It will also look more complete with a covered walkway as presently, there is a ‘disconnect’ between the airport terminal and carpark.
“It should have been built with the multistorey carpark.
“We need to bear in mind this airport is the third busiest in Malaysia,” said Sazali.
The RM70mil Penang International Airport multistorey carpark in Bayan Lepas. — KT GOH/The Star
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin said a pedestrian link bridge costing RM5mil would be built between Level 3 of the RM70mil carpark and kerbside of the main terminal building near the departure hall.
“The tendering process is ongoing and the contract is expected to be awarded by June.
“Work will begin once that is done and it is expected to be completed by February next year.
Ling explaining how the new parking system works.
“For now, a temporary shaded walkway will be built in August, with completion scheduled in September.
“It will be a temporary structure constructed on the ground, costing about RM100,000,” he told StarMetro.
State-of-the-art features
The “missing link” seems to be the multistorey building’s only flaw.
The carpark provides 1,742 parking bays including 22 for the disabled and another 660 bays for motorcycles.
It charges RM2 per hour with a RM24 flat rate for 24-hour parking and has a 15-minute grace period.
Airport visitors crossing the road from the carpark to the terminal building. ― Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
So far feedback has been positive, with many users saying the carpark will ease the congestion which had plagued the airport for years.
The parking facility is the first of its kind in the state with automatic car number plate recognition and a car-finder application kiosk to help users easily locate their vehicles.
System operator CJ Technology (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Ling Choon Jooi, who was overseeing operations at the control room, said the latest system with such features could only be found at this parking facility.
He said that after a few teething problems were resolved, most users were generally happy with the system.
“As it is something new, people are taking some time getting used to it.
Teh says she finds the carpark’s features convenient to use.
“But it has been over 20 days and we can see many are using the facilities because it is so convenient.
“The parking system has touchscreen displays located at exit points where users can locate their cars by keying in digits of their number plates.
“The car’s image and the number plate are captured once it enters the parking lot that is equipped with sensors and cameras.
“A map will be displayed to show the location of your car and the details include which floor the car is parked on.
“The pillar and parking bay number will be shown on the touchscreen.
“It also shows the number of parking bays available at each floor, including parking bays for the disabled,” Ling added.
Tang says the parking facility will be useful for frequent travellers like him.
Teacher Teh Shan, 24, who came to drop off her boyfriend at the airport, said the new carpark was a sign of development as finding a parking spot used to be a nightmare during peak hours.
“I also find the new features convenient. I don’t need to scan or take a ticket if I am using my Touch n’ Go card for payment.
“Most people will forget which floor or bay they parked at and the car finder application helps with that,” she said.
Businessman Tang Seng Chai, 48, said the facility would be useful for frequent travellers like him.
“I no longer need to worry about finding parking when I make day-trips to Kuala Lumpur or Johor. And when I am away, my car will be safe in the covered parking lot.
Easing traffic congestion
Taxi drivers and limousine drivers too are heaving a sigh of relief.
“Private cars contributed to the congestion here with their haphazard parking while waiting to pick up passengers,” said taxi driver Hussani Mohd Tarmizi, 45.
“There were times when some would even take up space at the designated lanes meant for us.
“For convenience, many preferred to park just outside the arrival hall, and treated this place as a waiting area.
Sazali says a covered link bridge must be built to shelter carpark users from the weather.
“Now they can park their cars at the carpark while waiting for their friends or family at the terminal,” he said.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) managing director Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said the new multistorey carpark was meant to alleviate parking problems at PIA.
He said the facility was also in line with the airport’s expansion plans, the first phase of which was expected to commence soon.
Construction work on the carpark building began in 2018 and was originally scheduled to be ready in 2019.
It was part of the PIA expansion project that was mooted in 2008.
The new carpark relieves the traffic congestion that used to plague the airport.
Work came to a standstill when the government decided to put on hold proposals to build new airports, and upgrade existing ones instead until the aviation sector recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke had earlier said the delay was because of the movement control order, post-pandemic construction material price hike, material shipment disruptions, shortage of manpower as well as issues faced by the project contractor.
Penang tourism committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the state had always been committed to addressing the challenges of insufficient parking spaces at the airport.
“We acknowledge public feedback and with the completion of the carpark, there will be no more concerns over the lack of parking spaces at the airport,” he said.
