Kuching: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has been urged to review its Pay & Go parking fee mechanism following complaints that motorists are being unfairly charged continuous parking rates after moving to different parking locations within the same parking zone.
Special Assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Michael Kong Feng Nian, said he had received complaints from members of the public over the current parking system, which treats motorists as having parked continuously even after they relocate to another parking area within the same zone.
He said locations such as 101, GalaCity, and RH Plaza are understood to fall under the same parking zone classification, leading the system to continue counting parking time even after motorists have vacated their previous parking bays.
Kong said the current mechanism was unfair as parking charges should reflect the occupation of a specific parking bay rather than the vehicle’s presence within a broad geographical zone.
He cited the example of a motorist who had breakfast at 101 before driving to GalaCity for another appointment. Although the vehicle is parked at two different locations, the system continues the earlier parking session, resulting in higher progressive charges.
Describing the arrangement as illogical, Kong said motorists should not be penalised after freeing up one parking space for other users.
He proposed that MBKS assign identification numbers to every parking bay and require enforcement officers to record both the vehicle details and parking bay number during inspections. Continuous parking charges, he said, should only apply when a vehicle remains in the same parking space.
Kong added that motorists who move to another parking location, even within the same zone, should be treated as starting a new parking session. He urged MBKS to review the system to ensure parking charges are fair, transparent, and accurately reflect the actual use of individual parking bays.
