IPOH: Public transport companies, including those offering stage bus services, have been urged to adopt cashless payment system.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the move was part of the government's efforts towards digitalizing the economy and create a cashless society.
"There's a lot of benefit for the bus operators when they shift to cashless payment system as it is more practical. Consumers too don't have to queue for so long," he said, after launching the cashless payment system for myBAS Ipoh at Terminal Meru Raya here, today.
He said bus service providers subsidised by the government would have to provide a cashless payment system as an alternative, as it was part of the contract signed.
"We will give them ample time to make the necessary changes and I hope they can do so as it does not take up too big a cost to change to the system.
"If they fail to do so, we will review their subsidy agreement," he added.
Earlier, Loke launched the Perak Transit Berhad, Touch ‘n Go and NEC Corporation of Malaysia’s cashless bus fare payment system for myBas Ipoh.
Loke said myBas Ipoh, a public stage bus service operating in the state was the first bus network under the Perak Transit to go cashless.
Passengers of myBas Ipoh can now pay for their trips by tapping their Touch ‘n Go cards or MyKad which has been embedded with the Touch ‘n Go chip on the card reader panels installed inside the coaches.