By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 11: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng has reminded the public, especially those purchasing second-hand vehicles, to ensure that the cars they buy are free from any outstanding parking compounds or related debts to avoid complications ahead of the rollout of the smart parking system in Kuching this November.
Wee 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.
“When you buy a used car, make sure to verify whether there are any outstanding parking compounds. If there are, the seller should settle them before the ownership transfer takes place,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk live session today.
Wee emphasised that while there is currently no legal provision requiring sellers to clear parking compounds prior to transferring ownership, it should be treated as a responsible and essential step, much like ensuring a property is free of debt before purchase.
“This should be one of the conditions when buying or transferring a vehicle. We need to cultivate this awareness because I’ve received many complaints from people saying the fines are not theirs. It’s our responsibility to check that a car is clear of any offences or debts before taking ownership,” he said.
On the upcoming smart parking system, Wee said both MBKS and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) will begin implementing the new system in November as a pilot project, before expanding it later to other areas across Sarawak, including Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council.
He explained that under the new system, motorists will be able to pay for parking using a mobile application, with features that show parking availability through colour-coded indicators of red, orange, and green.
“We will start running the pilot project on Nov 1. Some issues such as balances in the existing Borneo Parking app and unused parking coupons are being addressed. I encourage the public to use up their coupons within this month while we work out how to manage any remaining ones,” he said.
Wee added that local councils and relevant agencies recently held a three-hour meeting to iron out technical and operational matters related to the transition from the old system to the new one.
“We’ve been waiting a long time for this, and while there may be minor issues during the early phase, we’re confident the transition will go smoothly. We plan to fully launch the system by Jan 1 next year,” he said.
He assured that the new system will be inclusive and user-friendly, covering not only smartphone users but also senior citizens, persons with disabilities (OKU), and those without smartphones through reloadable parking cards.
“Parking is a public facility meant for everyone. As we move toward becoming an age-friendly city, we must ensure no one is left out.
“Every new system will have its teething problems, but our goal is to make parking more convenient for all residents through one app that can eventually be used across Sarawak,” he said. — DayakDaily
