No More Touch ‘n Go Monopoly? Govt Orders For Open Payment System For Public Transport!

The Ministry of Transport has instructed all agencies including public transport operators under the ministry to implement an open payment system.

This means that you no longer have to exclusively use Touch ‘n Go cards to use public transportation.

Though, as shared by Transport Minister Anthony Loke, this process will take a period of several months for these agencies to properly integrate the open payment system.

“For example, if you use the LRT, there are currently only 2 options: go to a self-service machine and buy a token or use Touch ‘n Go (TnG). So we want to apply for an open payment system which apart from TnG, any type of card, whether credit or debit card, can be touched (or tapped) and allowed entry.”

“We will start this system soon for public transport, especially under Prasarana for buses, LRT, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)… as well as Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) which has been instructed to create the same system,” for he said.

According to a report by Berita Harian, this comes after Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
(DSAI) shared during an open question and answer session at the Youth Empowerment Fair 2023 (YEF 2023) program, that the Touch ‘n Go monopoly might be reconsidered because there is no convincing progress in the system.

When asked if the government had any plans to revisit Touch ‘n Go, DSAI said, “I think you’re right”.

Though while public transport agencies must heed to the Transport Ministry’s orders to implement the open payment system, whether or not this will be apply for tolls will entirely be up to the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).

Do stay tuned for more updates.

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