SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council is ready to be the first among the 26 local authorities in Sarawak to implement a smart parking system for vehicles.
"We are in an enviable situation to implement this system as the other local councils have contracted their parking management to contractors whereas we have been managing it on our own," said chairman Clarence Ting on Tuesday (June 27).
In his address at the council's full board meeting, Ting said that the council went on a study tour to Penang last week to learn how the system works.
"After this meeting in Penang, we must push for it and be the first local authority in Sarawak to implement it," he said.
Ting added that the council only needed the state Public Health, Housing and Local Government Ministry to approve their application to implement the system.
The council's Work and Traffic Committee chairman, Councilor Ting Hua Sing said the council would not be spending on the system facility and software.
"The contractor will be responsible for the facility and software. We will form a joint venture with them whereby we will share the proceeds from the parking fees collection for seven years.
After seven years, the council will take over the management of the system," he said.
Under the smart parking system, motorists need to download an application on their handphones to pay the parking fee.
