The Malaysian government is exploring the possibility of exempting electric vehicles (EVs) from local authority parking fees, as announced by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming. This initiative aims to boost the adoption of EVs among motorists.
Promoting EV Adoption
Minister Nga Kor Ming expressed his hope that this initiative would encourage more people to switch from traditional fossil fuel cars to electric vehicles. “We are currently studying the possibility of giving parking exemption for EV cars as a push factor for more people to buy EVs rather than traditional fossil fuel cars,” Nga stated to reporters, as reported by The Star. His remarks followed the ASEAN-China Roundtable Talks on Urban Construction and Housing.
The ministry is in discussions with local councils to evaluate the feasibility of this proposal. Nga cited London’s model, where EVs enjoy parking fee exemptions while non-EVs face congestion charges, as a potential benchmark.
Progress on EV Charging Infrastructure
On a related note, Nga acknowledged the slower progress in establishing the targeted 10,000 EV charging stations nationwide by 2025, with approximately 3,000 currently operational. This infrastructure is crucial to supporting the growing number of EVs on Malaysian roads.
Nga’s comments align with recent announcements by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, who revealed that EV owners would benefit from up to 85% lower road tax. Additionally, special “green plates” will be introduced for easy identification during emergencies, further supporting Malaysia’s EV initiatives.
Pokdepinion: It would definitely attract more people but at the same time, I’m worried that it might cause some level of noise when the inevitable removal comes. I also am curious to see how long it will last for if it does get implemented.
