By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 1: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng today addressed public confusion surrounding the new Pay & Go Smart Parking System, assuring that the new digital parking initiative is designed to be convenient, inclusive, and sustainable.
Speaking during his weekly ShallWeeTalk session today, Wee clarified that the system includes several new features, such as the Elderly Easy Payment (EEP) option for senior citizens, Auto Parking Collection (APC) for seamless exits, season parking passes, and a 50 per cent compound discount to ease the transition.
Seamless parking for seniors without Pay & Go app
To assist senior citizens aged 60 and above, especially those without smartphones, Pay & Go has introduced the Elderly Easy Payment (EEP) feature.
“Children can help their elderly parents or family members register for EEP at the provided link. Once registered, they can enjoy seamless parking without needing to use the app or make payments,” Wee explained.
Registration can be made via this link: https://docs.google.com/…/1FAIpQLSceEqIOdDgGm9…/viewform
Under EEP, users may register up to two car plates. All parking charges and compounds will be automatically deducted from the linked Pay & Go account. “They just park, go about their daily tasks, and drive off — no app, no kiosk, no hassle,” he said.
Understanding Auto Parking Collection (APC)
Wee clarified that EEP differs from the Auto Parking Collection (APC) feature, which automatically deducts parking fees upon exit from Pay & Go-linked areas, including shopping malls (except two in Kuching).
APC feature, which when activated will bind your car plate number to the registered Pay & Go account. To activate APC, a minimum balance of RM20 is required.
“Without APC, motorists must pay at a machine using SPay Global or other e-wallets before exiting.”
Smart parking for app users
Motorists not under EEP must use the Pay & Go app to register their car plates and manually press Start when parking to activate the session.
“The GPS-enabled app marks the parking location, and the rates remain unchanged with 20 sen for the first 30 minutes, 50 sen for the next half hour, and 80 sen per hour thereafter,” he said.
Wee added that License Plate Recognition (LPR) e-bikes will patrol MBKS areas at half-hour intervals to ensure compliance. With real time monitoring, the system can instantly detect whether motorists have paid or exceeded their parking during. The charges will appear in the app, where payment can be made.
To ensure fair and accurate billing, motorists who have paid one and half hours but need to leave after 30 minutes due to an emergency, can simply just tap on the stop button. Motorist will only be charged for the actual duration parked and the unused amount will be refunded back to their Pay & Go account.
Season parking passes and fair use policy
The app also allows users to purchase Season Passes and check parking availability before arrival through a colour-coded system with green for high availability and red for low.
However, only 20 per cent of parking spaces in any given area are allocated for season pass holders. This has been practised since coupon parking was implemented for the past 20 years.
“We cannot increase the car park so parking lots must be fairly distributed. We must be fair to everyone.
“If medical staff at Timberland Medical Centre, for instance, occupy all season lots, patients and visitors will have no place to park since it is also a commercial area. So it’s first come, first served,” Wee explained.
Convenient cashless payment for non-app users
For those without Pay & Go app, such as tourists and car renters, a paper compound with a QR code for payment will be issued and pasted on the vehicle. This allows for convenient cashless payment via e-wallets.
Refund for unused coupons until Nov 30
Wee added that motorists can claim refunds for unused parking coupons issued by previous operator Kuching City Parking Systems Sdn Bhd (KCPS), which managed parking for the past 20 years.
Refunds apply only to coupon booklets sold in 2025 with the following serial ranges:
20 sen: AP05530001 – AP09530000
50 sen: BB3426001 – BB3506000
80 sen: CB0750001 – CB0780000
Motorists can claim refunds at the KCPS office near Crown Square, Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim, from Monday to Friday until Nov 30, 2025.
“The company made this decision as there were many old and unused coupons dating back to 2019 and 2020.
“It’s unfair for the new Pay & Go operator to absorb these old coupons because they come from different contractors,” Wee said.
50 per cent discount for outstanding parking compounds
MBKS is offering motorists a 50 per cent discount on outstanding parking compounds incurred under the old coupon system. The discount runs from Oct 6 to Nov 30, giving motorists around 60 days to settle overdue payments.
“All unpaid compounds still belong to the council’s records. Please take this opportunity to clear your dues.
“When you owe the compound, you are owing to the councils. Please bear in mind that although the KCPS concession has ended, the company is not closed,” he said.
Reminder for second-hand vehicle buyers
Wee also reminded those buying used cars to ensure the vehicles are free from unpaid parking compounds before ownership transfer to avoid complications.
He noted that many car owners had complained of receiving parking summonses that were actually incurred by previous owners. To prevent such situations, he urged buyers to make it a standard practice to check the vehicle’s record for any unpaid parking fines before completing the transfer of ownership.
“Many buyers later discover outstanding summonses from previous owners. Always verify first just like ensuring a house is debt-free before purchase,” he said.
Two-month trial for public feedback
The Pay & Go Smart Parking System is currently undergoing a two-month trial period until the end of December. Wee encouraged the public to share feedback during this phase to improve the system’s performance.
“We seek everyone’s patience, understanding, and cooperation. This initiative represents a step toward a more efficient, digital, and sustainable future,” he said.
Wee expressed optimism that the locally developed Pay & Go brand, a Sarawak innovation, will continue to expand its reach.
“My hope is to see Pay & Go grow beyond Sarawak to Sabah, Brunei, and even Kalimantan, Indonesia,” he said. — DayakDaily
