“All Rate Payers must learn to pay online,” said the Minister of Local Government and Public Health Sarawak, Yang Berhormat Datuk Michael Manyin ak. Jawong when he launched the Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment System (EBPP) at the Majlis Perbandaran Padawan (MPP) main office building at Kota Padawan this morning.

The launching is timely as the second half-year bills are due for payment on 31 October 2005. As the MPP area is wide--ranging from 26th mile, Kuching/Serian Road to MJC Batu Kawah, Taman Malihah near the border with the Bau District, Jalan Matang including Matang Jaya to all the way to Telaga Air, fronting the South China Sea, the online payment facility launched today offers convenience of payment from the home or office, saving the travel time, avoiding the traffic jam and, of course, the high cost of petrol to travel to the MPP office.

EBPP is the new generation of application, developed by Siliconet Technology, a subsidiary of Sarawak Information Systems Sdn. Bhd. (SAINS). With the system installed at MPP, users or ratepayers can subscribe to the facility. By filling the cells like name, identity card number, address, etc., one will be able to download the bill and make payment through the banks like Maybank and Bumiputera Commerce Bank One can also look if he/she owes anything or arrears of rates to MPP. This is a new facility for rates payers to check on the status of their payments. In the past, only the current bill is shown.

Like the other local authorities in the state, MPP is imposing a penalty of 1% per month or 12% per year to accounts that are still left unpaid after the due dates. The first half is due on June 30 and the second half in October 31.

The Chairman of MPP, Mr. Tan Joo Phoi urged the public to surf the Internet and subscribe to the online payment service. “It provides the comfort of the home or office to pay MPP bills,” he said.

Meanwhile, MPP Council Secretary Haji Shukarmin Chasemon, said, “While internet usage is high among the urban population, online payment is still neglible.”

“Our target is to be like Air Asia where it was reported that up to 49% of their tickets are sold online,” he added.

He also said that he used to drive to the counter, pay the parking fee, wait in the queue himself.

“Think of it, it was waste of time plus all the traffic jam, heat and sweat. Now, I pay my bills online,” he explained.

He also said that he started with asking his son to do it. He showed him how to be subscriber or log in as a user.

At the launching, MPP also demonstrated to the invited guests comprising of the local councils in the Kuching Division, MPP councillors and staff on how to surf the site online, how to be a subscriber, and pay online.

“The idea is to make sure that we know how to use the online payment system before we tell others how to use it,” said Haji Shukarmin.

To enable the public and staff try the online payment, MPP is providing a booth at the lobby of the MPP Building at Kota Padawan for two days, on 3-4 October 2005.