Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) recently issued a public notice that its parking app, MBJB Spot, would be discontinued at the end of April.
May 1 will see the use of a different application known as Parkmax@Johor.
However, the city council’s advice for the public to use up their MBJB Spot balance credits during the transition period did not go down well with the public.
There was a huge public outcry, especially online, as to the sudden change and why the city council was only giving two weeks’ notice for users to use up their credits.
Many questioned the notice’s sudden timing and why their credits could not automatically be transferred to the new app.
Users were riled up as the notice only advised the public to use up the credits, with no mention about the balance being credited into Parkmax@Johor.
Within 24 hours, the city council issued a short statement that the MBJB Spot balance would not be affected and it would manage the transition of the credits in a fair and orderly manner to favour the consumer.
It is learnt that MBJB Spot has been used by more than 500,000 people since it was first introduced in 2016.
Johor has 16 local councils governing 10 districts.
While most councils have gone digital with the use of parking payment apps, some are still using physical coupons.
MBJB was among the first in the state to go digital with its parking app, discontinuing the use of coupons two years ago.
Parkmax@Johor is already being used by at least six other local councils – Iskandar Puteri, Tangkak, Kulai, Segamat and Muar. So it makes sense for MBJB to be added to the list instead of it having a standalone parking app.
However, local councils need to remember that whenever a new policy is implemented, they need to give the public prior notice and at least six months to make the transition.
They should also ensure all applications are user-friendly, especially for the older generation, as not everyone is tech-savvy.
Many seniors actually rely on their children to top up and pay for parking online.
Also, all balance credits in any app should be transferable to the new one and the public should also be able to get a full refund of the money in their e-wallets if they no longer need to use the application.
Similarly, local councils using coupons that want to go digital should give ample time for people to use up their coupons before the move to a payment app.
During the transition period, they should allow for the use of coupons alongside the app, while more notices need to be put up in public places to spread knowledge about the digital application.
Parking in major towns, especially Johor Baru and Iskandar Puteri, is big money, from monies collected from local motorists and those from Singapore who come mainly during the weekends for leisure, shopping and food.
Officials need to conduct regular audits to ensure all parking fees collected through the apps is promptly sent to local council coffers.
Perhaps one day, a Parkmax@Johor user may be able to park at all 16 local councils’ jurisdiction in the state.
This would be good, as motorists would not need multiple apps or to search for parking coupons.
Whether it is a parking app or a new policy, local councils need to always be mindful that whatever they implement should not be done in haste, as this can cause unnecessary public alarm.
