Kuching: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) have to take full responsibility for the confusion caused by the paperless parking system rollout, instead of blaming the public.
Special Assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, George Lam Li Kang said both councils had acted hastily and failed to plan the transition properly.
“I urge both councils to take full responsibility for their hasty and poorly executed policy implementation, rather than shifting the blame onto the public.
“It is irresponsible for the Mayor of MBKS to claim that refund requests cannot be accepted because of the risk of fake coupons. Such remarks only reflect the councils’ lack of proper planning and accountability,” he said in a statement.
George Lam said that since both councils have been able to publish the serial number ranges of the coupons eligible for refunds, it means they already possess records of all issued coupon serial numbers.
“So why can’t they simply refund all unused coupons within those ranges? MBKS and DBKU should accept refunds for all unused parking coupons following the implementation of the new paperless parking policy, instead of rejecting refund requests on the absurd reason that some members of the public might use fake coupons,” he said.
He added, Kuching residents are currently forced to face an unprecedented situation where the councils have immediately ceased the use of paper parking coupons during the transition to the new paperless parking system.
“Citizens are required to go to the Kuching City Parking System (KCPS) office at Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim, the only office available to process their refunds before 30 November 2025.
“This policy was implemented far too hastily, leaving many residents confused and frustrated. MBKS and DBKU should allow refund processing at all previous coupon sales booths, accept all unused coupons, and extend the refund deadline so that the public is given sufficient time to complete the process caused by the councils’ own mismanagement,” he said.
He explained, under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, affected residents are entitled to bring this matter to the Tribunal for Consumer Claims, as the councils unilaterally invalidated the validity period of the coupons they had sold.
“The councils must therefore bear responsibility and provide full refunds to the public. The public’s rights and interests must come first.
“The city councils’ failure in managing this transition should not become a burden on ordinary citizens. They must refund the people’s hard-earned money instead of making excuses to evade accountability,” George Lam said.
Meanwhile, he said, DAP Sarawak will continue to stand firmly with the people of Kuching in defending their rights in this matter.
“Both councils must listen to the people’s voice and immediately refund all unused parking coupons. Our demands are simple: accept refunds for all unused parking coupons, provide refund services at all previous sales booths, and extend the refund deadline.
“The councils must take full responsibility and simplify the refund process instead of making the public pay for their administrative shortcomings,” he said.
