JOHOR BARU: The implementation of digital smart parking systems in several districts in the state resulted in easier parking payment facilities for the people and improved revenue collection for local councils.
Local authorities said the system had also reduced the workload of enforcement officers.
Kulai Municipal Council (MPKu), for instance, recorded a 200 per cent surge in parking revenue since introducing the Parkmax@Johor digital payment system last August, without spending a single sen in implementation costs.
The cashless system, now covering nearly all 3,846 gazetted parking bays under MPKu’s jurisdiction, had replaced the old coupon-based system and is being expanded to 5,399 more bays.
MPKu president Mohd Hafiz Aliman said the application, shared across multiple local authorities in the state, had not only made payment easier for users, but also improved compliance and enforcement.
“Our enforcement officers now use artificial intelligence (AI)-equipped devices on their motorcycles to patrol and detect unpaid vehicles
“A loudspeaker is used to alert motorists before compounds are issued. This reduces conflict, raises civic awareness and cuts down on enforcement officers’ workload,”
The system, he said, taps into existing infrastructure such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to assist in monitoring, whereas enforcement officers would receive back-end support from the system operator, including auto-reminders, digital compound notices and even prep work for case documentation.
“We used to rely on manual coupons and agents. Now, residents and visitors can pay anywhere, anytime… no more rushing to the nearest shop to buy coupons,” he said.
He said public response had been overwhelmingly positive, especially from residents, who could now pay for parking via a single app.
With the jump in collection, MPKu plans to reinvest the revenue into improving public facilities, including safety upgrades like CCTVs and improvements to parks.
“The system improves not just efficiency but also civic consciousness. People are beginning to embrace that public facilities must be used responsibly and paid for fairly,” he said.
The Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) said its rollout of the same digital parking system marked a critical step in achieving its vision of a “smart, sustainable and prosperous city”.
MBIP president Hasrin Kamal Hashim said the system not only simplified public access to parking services, but also enabled real-time monitoring, data analytics and targeted enforcement through its Integrated Command and Control Centre (IPCCC).
“This is a model of digital governance in action — efficient, transparent and future-ready.
“This isn’t just about collecting parking fees. It’s about building the backbone of a smart city.”
He said the council launched a two-month free trial in April, which received an overwhelming response. Since then, over 189,000 users have registered.
“We found that the system also encourages civic responsibility, with users able to check the status of their compounds, buy monthly passes, reserve bays and manage seasonal permits from their smartphones. There’s no need to queue or hunt for coupon agents.”
Hasrin said public compliance rates had doubled, from 30 per cent under the coupon system to nearly 60 per cent now, while enforcement was now more efficient.
“The days of officers checking every vehicle for coupons are over. Now, they focus only on where action is needed. It saves time, resources and gets better results,” he said.
Compounds and fines are now issued and processed entirely digitally, eliminating the need for manual documentation and speeding up dispute resolution.
Hasrin said MBIP planned to reinvest its parking revenue into enhancing its smart CCTV facilities, smart traffic lights system and geospatial mapping under its OneMap initiative.
Meanwhile, Mersing District Council president Mohd Norman Noh Council said the system covers Bandar Mersing, Jalan Jeti and Taman Wawasan.
He said while enforcement integration was still being fine-tuned, public awareness and registration numbers had surged.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive. More people are paying because the system is accessible and user-friendly.”
Tangkak District Council (MDT) president Mohd Nazid Jasiman said the system, now implemented in six key zones in the district, had boosted payment compliance and operational efficiency. He said the system had also enhanced civic awareness.
“People are becoming more conscious of their responsibilities in using public facilities properly. It reinforces lawful use of public parking, which benefits the community.”
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
