One Utama has always been a go-to shopping mall for those who live around the area and even those who don’t still enjoy a trip to this maze of a shopping mall. So to all of you One Utama crazed shoppers, be informed that there is a new parking rate structure for paper tickets that will take effect on 1 July 2023.
Like every other shopping outlet in the country, One Utama is adjusting its parking rates with the current inflation situation we are going through.
From tomorrow (Monday, January 3, 2022), payments for all public parking spaces in Selangor will be cashless and accepted only via online apps under Selangor Smart Parking (SSP) scheme. The SSP mobile app was introduced in 2018 and with around 1.7 million users, the Selangor government is going ahead with full implementation as planned.
Paper coupons can be used till March 31,2022
While parking payment machines will no longer be operating, there will be motorists who have paper parking coupons left. These can still be used until March 31, 2022. There will also be a mechanism to credit the remaining value of the paper parking coupons into the SSP app, in the event that the paper coupons cannot be used up by the deadline.
For added convenience, two other mobile apps can also be used to make payments – the Touch ‘n Go eWallet and Flexi Parking.
If you don’t have a smartphone
Understanding that there may be some people without smartphones or who do not use mobile banking services, there is also the option of making payments to obtain SSP eKupons. These will be available at agents such as 7-Eleven, 99Speedmart and MyPOSPay. They can be identified by signs with the SSP logo and ‘eKupon Parkir DiJualDiSini’.
The SSP app, available for iOS and Android smartphones and devices, can also be used for paying compound fines issued by all town and city councils within Selangor.
Looking back, the introduction of the Setel e-payment system by PETRONAS was timely. With the need for social distancing brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cashless payment system made fuel purchases possible without having to interact with station staff.
Even the process of setting the amount required could be done from a mobile device from inside the car, although the driver would still have to get out and handle the pump nozzle. Perhaps one day that too will be automated…
The Setel Wallet now becomes more useful with Deliver2Me, another feature which uses the cashless payment process. Deliver2Me allows Setel users to purchase selected items from participating Kedai Mesra outlets at PETRONAS stations and have them promptly delivered directly to their vehicle while refuelling.
Deliver2Me is initially available at 6 participating PETRONAS stations in the Klang Valley and will progressively be available at all Setel-enabled stations nationwide during Q1 2021. The Setel system is already available at 800 participating Kedai Mesra outlets which accept the Setel Wallet. With the Deliver2Me feature, there is the option to pay for items in Kedai Mesra with minimal physical contact as an added safety benefit necessary in these times.
As with fuel purchases, customers can earn Mesra points automatically when using the Setel system (provided they have linked it to their Mesra card). Points redemption can also be done directly through the application.
“At Setel, we’re constantly pushing boundaries to deliver a seamless and frictionless experience to our customers beyond fuel. For instance, customers no longer need to wait in line after refuelling to grab a cup of coffee and nasi lemak through Deliver2Me,” said Iskandar Ezzahuddin, CEO of Setel.
“We are pleased to offer greater convenience to over 1.5 million Setel users through our cashless payment system in Kedai Mesra. This is just a stepping stone in our journey of expansion as we add more intuitive features tailored to individual customers, in line with PETRONAS’ growing offerings,” he said.
The Setel app is available for iOS and Android devices and can be downloaded and installed for free from the Apple Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery.
If you’re a Petron user, you now have an additional option to pay for your purchases using the Boost e-wallet. Petron Malaysia has partnered with GHL Systems Bhd, which operates Boost, to enable cashless payments at almost all its stations nationwide.
The collaboration also enables payments via all leading domestic Malaysian e-wallets such as Goodkredit, Grabpay, Maybank QRPAY, MBSB, Mcash and Touch’NGo as well as cross border e-wallets (Alipay and Unionpay) which are presently accepted in Malaysia.
“We are excited to collaborate with Boost to create more payment options that are convenient and secure for our customers, besides the rewards and promotions. This is in line with our promise to customers to develop and offer more innovative products and services. Public acceptance and use of e-wallets is increasing rapidly, and our service stations are more than ready to fuel this demand,” said Choong Kum Choy, Petron Malaysia Head of Retail and Commercial Business.
In conjunction with its collaboration with Boost, Petron is rewarding customers for fuelling at Petron stations through the Spend & Win SURE ONG! campaign. From now until January 31, 2020, with a minimum spend of RM50 using Boost, users get RM5 as cashback (limited to two cashbacks per user).
In addition, with each RM40 spent at Petron stations, Petron Miles members and Boost users will earn one entry to the lucky draw contest. To participate in the lucky draw, all transactions must be swiped with a valid registered Petron Miles card.
What can you win? Prizes and Boost cashback worth up to RM1,000,000 consisting of 15 Grand Prize winners who will receive RM8,888 cash each. 150 first prize winners will receive RM888 cash and 500 consolation prize winners will receive 18,888 Petron Miles points each.
The ‘jaga keretas’ of the old days at carparks are rarely seen these days with automation having taken over and companies offering carpark management services. In most places, especially in shopping malls and office complexes, a motorist usually has to take a ticket (or use an electronic payment card) to gain entry into the carpark. When exiting, payment has to be made prior to departure, either at payment machines or at the departure point. The process requires a bit of time to complete – take ticket and wait for barrier to be raised – and in some places with high traffic volumes, congestion can be an issue.
A smoother, faster way in and out
The Sunway Group aims to make the process smoother with Sunway Smart Parking system which will be introduced at its properties in Sunway City, Subang Jaya, Selangor, during the first quarter of 2020. At present, the system is already offered to season parkers at the various properties which include Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Hotels and Menara Sunway.
With Sunway Smart Parking, drivers do not need to retrieve and pay using a parking ticket when they enter and exit. Instead, a key element of the system will enable them to just drive up to the barrier and then continue when it raises. This element is the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system which uses technology provided by JIESHUN, a company in China with 6 years of experience in automated carpark management.
Motorists just need to register their vehicle registration number (and provide some personal details) through the Sunway Parking portal. When registered with the system, their vehicle numberplates will be scanned by the LPR system and if it is in the system the barrier will lift to allow entry.
95% recognition rate for numberplates
According to a representative from the company providing the LPR technology (which has 6 years of experience in the field), the recognition rate is 95%, compared to 99.7% in China. The recognition rate can be improved over time as more samples are obtained for the database although in time, the level of enforcement regarding numberplates should also be more stringent.
The second part of the fully integrated Smart Parking system is the extensive methods of payment available to motorists. From the outset, Sunway has already established partnerships with GrabPay, Boost, WeChat Pay, Alipay, Touch’NGo Digital, and Maybank QR along with credit/debit cards such as MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, and MyDebit.
All these e-wallets and credit/debit cards can be linked to the vehicle so departure is as hassle-free as entry as the parking fee will be automatically deducted. It would also be possible to do it the ‘old-fashioned’ way by paying with the ‘king’ – cash – at machines.
The cashless and ticketless parking experience is part of Sunway’s digitalisation journey to enable hassle-free experiences for its shoppers. Sunway Smart Parking will also reduce the carbon footprint of shoppers, in line with Sunway’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“We are pushing forth on our digitalisation journey. With revolutionary technology, we want to continue introducing new seamless, exciting shopping experiences to our shoppers to enable hassle-free experiences with greater convenience. From our comprehensive award-winning Sunway Pyramid Mobile app with real-time navigation to this new parking system, we will continue to give our shoppers more reasons to choose us as their preferred lifestyle destination,” said H.C. Chan, CEO of Sunway Malls & Theme Parks.
Security and parking capacity
On the issue of security – a car thief can just drive a car out if all that is required is for the numberplate to be verified – the Smart Parking system has a LOCK feature to prevent this. The owner of the vehicle can manually activate this when required and the vehicle will not be allowed to exit.
It is commendable that Sunway is introducing the Smart Parking convenience for motorists using its carparks. Howver, there is still the frustration of finding a parking space. It’s the capacity issue which has limits, but Mr. Chan said that the company will keep working on reducing the frustrations for motorists through more efficient management of its 10,000 carpark spaces currently available.
While the Smart Parking system will only commence next year, motorists who register their vehicle registration numbers during the pre-registration period will get the chance to enjoy one-time free parking when the system is operational. More information can be found at www.sunwaypyramid.com/smartparking or by calling 03-7494 3185.