As Kuching transitions to new smart parking system, over 500 register for Elderly Easy Payment scheme

KUCHING (Nov 3): The Elderly Easy Payment (EEP) scheme for Kuching’s new smart parking system has received over 500 registrations as of last week.

Kuching South mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the system under the jurisdictions of Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) is for users aged 60 and above.

Wee said members of the public can register for the system at MBKS counters.

“Our counters are open from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm. Officers are available to assist the public with registration and login matters,” he said during an inspection of the new Kuching Smart Parking System at Jalan Song Thian Cheok today.

He added motorists who purchased parking coupons between January and October this year can obtain refunds from the Kuching City Parking System office.

“They will reimburse those who bought coupons earlier this year, excluding the SST (Sales and Service Tax). Also, we want to ensure the transition is smooth and user-friendly for everyone, especially senior citizens in adapting to a new system,” Wee added.

Eddie Wee, managing director Pay & Go – the concessionaire for the new smart parking system, said the one-time registration for the EEP can be done both offline and online.

“Then whichever council parking, MBKS or DBKU parking, you just park your car, park and go. No need to do anything. When our warden with the PDA (handheld licence plate recognition scanner) or the e-bikes, they scan the car plate, they’ll identify this is an elderly registered car plate.

“What we will do is we will deduct the parking fee accordingly from you. So, if the second half hour we patrol around, your car is still there, we’ll deduct 50 sen from you. So, it is very convenient,” he explained.

He pointed out that those registered under the EEP will also be covered by the system at commercial car parks.

“A lot of elderly were wondering what should I do. Actually, you don’t have to do anything. The good news is you go to council parking you don’t need to pay. You go to commercial parking – theSpring, Plaza Merdeka – you don’t have to make payment. Drive in, drive out. Because the Elderly Easy Payment will cover commercial parking.

“That is the beautiful thing we in Kuching, in Sarawak, that we actually integrated the commercial and council parking together. I must say in Malaysia, in Asean, no one has done that. Kuching, we have done it. And the reason we have done it is because of the contribution and teamwork from all the drivers in Kuching. I believe that’s why we are called a city of unity. We are able to unite council parking and commercial parking. And no other city as I can see has done that,” said Eddie.

He also pointed out that the Kuching Smart Parking System allows greater flexibility for users compared to the old paper coupon system.

“If you put 1.5 hours for your car parking and 10 minutes later you’ve got to leave, you just have to press the stop button. When you press the stop button, we know you want to leave already. So, the first half hour – 20 sen – we will still deduct, because you have used it right?

“But the next one hour, which is 50 sen plus 80 sen, RM1.30 will be refunded back to your account. So, this is very, very user friendly. Again, I have asked around, many cities and councils, we are the first city to do that,” he added.

The new parking system will undergo a transition period of two months before full implementation in January.

Among those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Project Coordinator for Regional Development Agencies, DBKU and Islamic Affairs) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, and Kuching North datuk bandar Datuk Hilmy Othman.

Related story: Dr Sim: Kuching’s smart parking system may be expanded elsewhere in Sarawak (Video)