Wanted: An app to pay for parking in JB and beyond

The app makes it is easier for motorists to pay parking compounds issued by MBJB. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star

STARTING next year, Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) will no longer be issuing physical coupons for its 68,000 public parking spaces.

The city council is encouraging vehicle owners to download its app ― MBJB Spot ― now to pay for parking.

Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said this would be the final year that motorists could use parking coupons within MBJB areas.

The city council will end the selling of parking coupons in phases and the vending of coupons will end once supply runs out, he said.

“This is in line with our efforts to digitalise MBJB services.

“Version 2 of the MBJB Spot app was launched earlier this year.

“So far, 449,404 users have downloaded it, meaning almost half of those living and working around Johor Baru are using it, including Singaporeans,” he added.

The MBJB Spot app was first introduced in 2016.

Mohd Noorazam said this was part of MBJB’s effort to develop a smart city that would contribute to a better quality of life in Johor Baru.

The smart city agenda would be implemented in phases, starting with digitising public services, said the mayor.

He said that through the app, the public could pay for hourly, daily, weekly and monthly parking.

In the event that their vehicles have been towed to one of MBJB’s three depots, motorists can use the app to check the location and pay the compound.

The app is also useful for looking up traffic conditions and getting details on the city council’s activities.

Mohd Noorazam said business owners that provided reserved parking spaces could also make payment using the app.

He said MBJB was looking at upgrading the app.

“Currently, the app is linked to other services such as the police’s My Bayar Saman, the Road Transport Department’s My Sikap and the Johor Pay and Zakat by Johor Islamic Religious Council.”

He reminded business owners such as workshops, car accessory shops, carwash outlets and other related businesses that it was compulsory for them to apply for reserved parking bays.

“We will take immediate action against those caught using public parking bays without paying rental.”

He urged those who have unpaid compounds to pay up immediately as the app had made it more convenient to do so.

MBJB will issue reminders before taking legal action against individuals who have not paid their parking compounds, added Noorazam. (See chart)

Call to retain coupons

Some business groups approached by StarMetro said they didn’t want physical parking coupons to be phased out.

Johor Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association (Perusim) secretary Hussein Ibrahim said that there should be more than one method available to pay for parking.

He said MBJB should reconsider its decision of exclusively using the app.

“Though it is good to utilise technology, there may be problems if everything is done using apps.

“Not many people, especially the older generation, will be comfortable using such platforms.

“Many of us have gotten used to using coupons to pay for parking, and changing it will create confusion for senior citizens,” he added.

Hussein urged MBJB to consider having both the coupon system and the app for convenience.

Johor Indian Business Association (Jiba) president P. Sivakumar concurred with Hussein, saying that the public would need time to adapt.

“Almost everyone has a smartphone but not all of them, in particular the elderly, know how to use their phones well. Many only use their cellphones to make or receive calls.

“MBJB should make allowances for those who don’t know how to use apps,” he said.

Sivakumar also said consumers should be given more than one option to pay for parking.

Johor South SME Association adviser Teh Kee Sin lauded the council for developing the app.

“Currently, many government agencies are encouraging the use of apps.

“People are more environmentally conscious as using coupons is time-consuming and a waste of paper,” he said.

However, he questioned why MBJB was the only one among Johor’s local councils using an app for parking.

He said if he went to areas under nearby local councils such as Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG), Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu), he would still need to use coupons since the app could only be used for MBJB bays.

“If each council has its own parking app, it will be a problem. There should be just one app that can be used for all local councils,” he pointed out.

Teh urged Johor government and Local Government Development Ministry to consider developing a single app to pay for parking to all local councils.

User-friendly interface

StarMetro spoke to a few users who lauded MBJB’s decision.

Lecturer Vincent D’Silva said using the app was much easier than buying coupons, which was a hassle.

“People nowadays are in a rush. They do not have time to go into shops to buy the RM8 booklet of coupons. Some shops are even selling it at RM9.”

He said that if a user made a mistake when scratching the panel, he would still get a summons despite displaying the coupon.

“The app’s interface is easy to use and it only takes a few seconds to upload information such as the car registration number.

“The app also has a reminder for us to make additional payments before time runs out,” said D’Silva.

Music shop owner Raja Faliq Rada Adam, however, said MBJB needed to fix the app’s bugs and improve its stability.

“I encountered issues with the initial version of the app that was unstable.

“As I could not log in, I was unable to make payment and so I received a summons.

“Hopefully, MBJB will be able to rectify the glitches before next year,” he said.

Transporter Eric Tam said he had been using the MBJB Spot since it was launched earlier this year.

“I travel to Johor Baru quite often for work and previously needed to buy a lot of coupons, but it is a lot more convenient to use the app.

“Using technology to make payment should be the way forward for other local councils, especially within Greater JB,” he added.

Ehailing driver Mohammed Khairul Mohd Ali said vehicle owners still had until the rest of the year to adapt to using the app.

“Getting a parking coupon is such a hassle as not all shops sell it.

“I use the app to check traffic in the city area and also to pay for compounds if I have any, instead of going to the MBJB counter,” said Mohammed Khairul who has been using it since March.

When contacted, state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said other local councils under the Greater JB Agenda would be following in the footsteps of MBJB in developing their parking apps soon.

“MBPG and MPKu are working towards using parking apps within their respective jurisdictions.

“MBIP is moving towards a smart parking system by the end of 2024,” he said.

The smart cities programme is part of the 10 initiatives under the Greater JB Agenda, which is similar to what has been introduced at the West Midlands Combined Authority in the United Kingdom, where 18 local authorities have come together to create the Greater West Midlands initiative.

The other initiatives under the Greater JB Agenda include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), green initiatives and a low-carbon society, besides simplifying and standardising the procedures, charges and parking system between all four local councils.