What was meant to be a convenience has turned into a growing frustration. Instead of simplifying payments, the rollout of multiple parking apps across Sabah is making life more difficult for motorists.

Drivers in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, and Putatan are already juggling three separate apps, each with its own top-up system and pricing model. And with 26 local governments across the state, there are growing concerns that more districts may soon introduce their own versions.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) Tanjung Aru chief Hiew Choon Yu is among those questioning the logic behind the fragmented system.

“Will drivers need 26 apps just to park across Sabah?” he asked.

The issue first surfaced when Penampang launched an electronic parking system, followed by Kota Kinabalu City Hall and Putatan. Instead of a seamless experience, motorists now find themselves having to download and manage multiple apps when moving between districts.

For some, it has also come at a financial cost.

“I had RM7 left in my Flexi App, but when I switched to Sabah Smart Parking, my credit disappeared,” one driver vented online.

He initially thought DBKK parking could still be paid through Flexi, but after the issue went viral, the listing was removed.

“Why did the same company develop two separate apps? Why not just integrate them?” he asked. “Now I have to top up again for the same function.”

Faiq Danial, another motorist, said the situation was becoming unnecessarily complicated.

“Why do we need another smart parking app? Isn’t there already a Sabah Smart Parking app?” he said.

He also took issue with Putatan’s system, which requires users to manually enter their parking lot number without proper guidance for first-time users.

“I lost a few paid hours because of this. Sabah Smart Parking is already more user-friendly—why make things harder?”

To add to the confusion, parking rates vary between districts. In Kota Kinabalu, it’s RM1 per hour, while in Penampang, charges range from RM0.30 to RM1 per half-hour depending on the zone.

Hiew warned that if left unchecked, the situation could become even more chaotic.

“Imagine someone driving from Kota Marudu to Kota Kinabalu, having to install multiple apps along the way just to avoid getting fined,” he said.

He urged the state government to intervene.

“Electronic parking should make life easier, not harder. There needs to be a standardized system, or at least the option to use physical parking coupons.”

But whether authorities will act remains uncertain. Attempts to reach Sabah Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam for comment were unsuccessful.

For now, Sabah’s motorists are left wondering what app they’ll need next—and how much it will cost them. — February 24, 2025