Tiang (second right), Ting (right) during the press conference.
SIBU (July 13): The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has extended the transition period for the implementation of the SMC Cares Smart Parking System until Dec 31 this year to allow the public more time to adapt to the digital parking system.
Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang said the decision was made after taking into account various feedback, suggestions, and complaints received from the public since the system was introduced on July 1.
He said the decision was also reached following discussions with Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, for SMC to review the issues and challenges encountered during the implementation of the system.
“The period from July 1 until Dec 31 will serve as a transition period. During this time, we want to focus on educating and helping the public adapt to the digital parking system rather than immediately enforcing action,” he told a press conference here.
Also present was SMC chairman Clarence Ting.
As such, Tiang said users who still have physical parking coupons may continue using them until they are fully utilised during the transition period.
The Pelawan assemblyman said SMC and the service provider have also been instructed to provide more instructional videos, counters, and parking assistants to help the public understand and use the SMC Cares app.
Addressing concerns raised by senior citizens, he said users aged 60 and above may register one vehicle under their children’s SMC Cares account, allowing parking charges to be deducted automatically when the vehicle registration number is scanned.
He added that users may also opt for the RM40 monthly digital parking pass.
Tiang also announced that the Over Parking Notice (OPN) rate has been reduced from RM1 to 50 sen for every 30 minutes throughout the transition period ending Dec 31.
“Users who have paid the RM1 OPN rate since July 1 will receive an automatic refund of the excess amount into their respective SMC Cares accounts.
“Users who received the notice due to system disruptions or technical issues may submit an appeal to SMC with each application to be considered on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
However, he stressed that appeals would not be entertained for those who deliberately failed to pay parking fees.
He also clarified that the issuance of the RM150 compound for illegal parking is lawful and carried out under the Road Transport (Provision of Parking Places) (Sibu Municipal Council) Order 2024.
He said the enforcement is necessary to ensure motorists park only in designated parking bays thereby reducing congestion and inconvenience to other road users and nearby business premises.