By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 11: The Sarawak government is working towards introducing a single smart parking application that can be used throughout the region, with the Pay and Go system currently being part of the effort to achieve a unified and more convenient parking payment system.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng explained that the long-term objective was to have one parking app covering the whole of Sarawak and eventually expand its use beyond the State, but stressed that the system must first be stabilised and able to meet local needs before being rolled out to more areas.
“Ultimately, there will only be one app. That is what the government is looking at,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk live session today.
His remarks came following public complaints regarding the Pay and Go smart parking system, including issues related to parking penalties and alleged system glitches experienced by some users.
Wee said members of the public could submit their complaints directly to Pay and Go, which is the contractor appointed to manage the smart public parking system in Kuching.
He said technological systems would inevitably experience shortcomings during implementation, but the key issue was whether complaints were being addressed and resolved.
“If there is a problem, solve the problem. Do not turn the problem into an issue,” he said, adding that complaints should first be directed to the appointed contractor for resolution.
“If Pay and Go is unable to resolve them, then come to us (MBKS) and we will take it up. There is no need for publicity,” he said.
Wee acknowledged that complaints did exist, saying it was unrealistic to claim that there had been none since the system was introduced.
“Complaints definitely exist. Nobody can say there are no complaints. But the question is whether the complaints have received answers and whether they have been resolved,” he said.
He noted that the smart parking system had been implemented for about seven months and the council was aware of the issues raised by users.
Wee also touched on the situation in Sibu, where the smart public parking system has become a hot topic following widespread public complaints over glitches in the system.
He said certain quarters were repeatedly highlighting the same issue and making the situation bigger, which had further fuelled public dissatisfaction.
“Certain parties are just riding on the same topics and setting the fire bigger, triggering public dissatisfaction,” he said.
According to Wee, the initial transition period involved a three-month trial run when no parking charges were imposed as the council moved away from the previous parking coupon system.
He stressed that improvements were part of the process as technology required continuous upgrading and refinement before reaching a stable stage.
“The app is running, and these are the things we look forward to improving. Technology needs to improve from time to time. It will upgrade from time to time,” he said.
Addressing suggestions for alternative systems such as Touch ‘n Go, Wee said the company was not a Sarawak-based entity and questioned whether the public wanted a system involving external companies handling users’ data and information.
He said Sarawak should provide opportunities for its own companies to develop and perform, noting that Pay and Go had started from commercial areas such as shopping malls in Kuching and Bintulu before expanding to shopping malls in Sabah.
Wee said the aim was to create a unified system where users could rely on a single app for both private and public parking areas.
“We want one app so that everyone can use it conveniently, whether they enter private premises or public areas,” he said.
He added that the system should eventually expand beyond MBKS and Kuching areas to cover locations such as Padawan and Kota Samarahan once it was proven to operate effectively.
On public suggestions for a five- to 10-minute grace period for parking payments, Wee said the proposal could be considered.
He explained that Pay and Go currently deploys vehicles and motorcycles equipped with cameras to scan parking areas, which could potentially result in duplicate records. However, he noted that such issues would not occur for users registered under the Elderly Easy Payment (EEP) option.
Wee also said different approaches were being taken in other parts of Sarawak, with Sibu’s council currently managing parking attendants while Miri’s existing contract had yet to expire.
He reiterated that the State’s goal remained to establish a single smart parking application across Sarawak, but it must first ensure the system could provide reliable services and operate smoothly before wider expansion.
“We welcome whatever suggestions come in. We can put the suggestions to Pay and Go and follow up,” he said. — DayakDaily
