THE Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has introduced more alternatives for those staying on the Penang mainland to pay for their stall rental, tax assessment and parking compound without having to go to the counters.
MBSP mayor Datuk Rozali Mohamud said the smart initiative, known as ‘Scan, Park and Pay’, was aimed at preventing overcrowding at council payment counters and to minimise movement to control the spread of Covid-19.
“The latest initiative is an addition to the existing cyber counters and e-wallet platforms provided by the city council.
“Those staying on the mainland have more choices to make their transactions, either to be physically present at the counters or to opt for cashless transactions.
“Cashless transactions are much more convenient and faster,” Rozali said in his speech during the simple launching ceremony at the MBSP headquarters building in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam today.
Also present was state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
The launching ceremony was also broadcast live through the MBSP Facebook page.
According to Rozali, the public can use the ‘Scan, Park and Pay’ method with just a few simple steps.
“Firstly, they need to scan the QR code at a security post located at the entrance of the MBSP headquarters building. Then they will be asked to park their vehicles at a designated spot.
“After scanning the QR code, the system then will bring them to the ‘MBSP Pay’ portal (https://mbsppay.mbsp.gov.my/). The public can pay three types of bills – stall rental, tax assessment and parking compounds – via the ‘Scan, Park and Pay’ method.
“We are limiting the number of people paying at the physical counters to prevent overcrowding. Hence, we strongly encourage people to pay via the ‘Scan, Park and Pay’ method or the e-payment platform,” he said.
Jagdeep commended MBSP for encouraging more Seberang Perai folk to make cashless transactions in view of the Covid-19 situation.
“The move is also in line with our Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“I hope that the Seberang Perai residents will support the initiative. Everything is at our fingertips now,” he said.
Jagdeep said that there were 73 smart initiatives in Penang. Thirty-three of them have been implemented, 26 are being implemented and 14 initiatives are scheduled to be implemented.
“Seven initiatives have been implemented by the MBSP, while 17 more are being implemented. Four smart initiatives are in the planning stages,” Jagdeep said.
Jagdeep then donated 1,000 packs of necessities to the ‘Wira Oren’ MBSP as an appreciation to them as frontliners, helping to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘Wira Oren’ is a respected term for MBSP workers who are tasked to carry out 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs. They usually don orange T-shirts in the course of their work.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar