KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) is finalising its implementation plans for an open payment system for the Rapid Rail network, the Parliament was told today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this would also cover the Kelana Jaya and Ampang light rail transit (LRT) lines, as well as the Kajang and Putrajaya mass rapid transit (MRT) lines and the monorail, and is expected to be fully implemented in August 2025.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that this new system would introduce the usage of MyDebit and credit cards as additional payment modes at gantries, apart from the existing payment methods using tokens and Touch 'n Go cards.
He added that the design and development work was expected to commence in March next year.
"(From then) Prasarana will take 11 months until February 2025 to ensure 50 per cent of gantries at each station can accept these open payment methods.
"If necessary, the system will continue to evolve, and other payment methods, such as QR codes, would be allowed."
Loke was responding to a question from Wong Chen (Pakatan Harapan-Subang) in Dewan Rakyat today.
He also said the automatic fare collection ticketing system for the entire KTM Komuter network in Klang Valley was nearly complete.
Starting next month, he added that all 57 KTM Komuter stations in Klang Valley would be equipped with scanners at gantries that support open payment methods, including Touch' n Go, debit and credit cards, and QR codes through the KTMB mobile app.
Wong had also asked if the ministry was considering offering discounts for those using debit and credit cards on public transportation.
To this, Loke said the government had already offered the My50 pass, which offers 30 days of unlimited rides on LRT, MRT, monorail, bus rapid transit, Rapid KL bus and MRT feeder bus services in Klang Valley.
"The government is committed to ensuring the continuation of this programme in the next budget.
"To me, this is enough and cheap, and I dare to say that this is the cheapest multi-pass not just in Malaysia but in the world," he added.