KUALA LUMPUR: All gantries in public transport stations handled by Prasarana are expected to be installed with open payment system technology by August 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Prasarana began planning to implement open payment systems across rail lines in the Klang Valley since early 2023.
“Prasarana is currently finalising the rollout across the Kelana Jaya LRT line, Ampang LRT line, Kajang MRT line, Putrajaya MRT line and monorail lines,” he said in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 26).
“The design and development phase is expected to begin in March next year.
“Prasarana will take 11 months, which is until February 2025, to equip at least 50% gantries at all stations to accept an open payment system.
“By August 2025, gantries across all stations will be equipped,” he said.
Loke said the open payment system would allow the use of debit and credit cards as additional payment methods.
This is on top of existing methods including Touch 'n Go cards and tokens.
If needed, this would be expanded to include QR payment methods in the next phase, Loke added.
He was responding to a question by Wong Chen (PH-Subang) who asked about the implementation of an open payment system for public transportation in the Klang Valley, especially those handled by Prasarana such as the LRT, MRT and RapidKL bus system.
Loke also said the automatic fare collection system for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) rails in the Klang Valley is almost complete.
“By mid-November this year, all 57 KTMB stations in the Klang Valley will be equipped with scanners at their gantries.
“This will support payment through credit and debit cards, Touch ‘n Go and QR methods through the KTMB mobile application,” he said.
To a supplementary question by Wong on whether discounts would be offered for public transport users utilising open payment methods, Loke said the My50 monthly travel pass, allowing unlimited travel for a 30-day period, was sufficient.
“This is very cheap and I dare say is the cheapest monthly pass in the world,” he said, adding that the government was committed to continuing this in the next federal budget.
On the newly-introduced women’s coach on the Kajang MRT line, Loke said Prasarana had stationed official and auxiliary police to ensure only females used the coaches.
“I feel compliance is high as users will leave the coach once they realise it is designated for women,” he said.
He said the women’s coach was a choice, adding that they could still use regular coaches if it was too congested.
“If we add more women's coaches, it will reduce the number for others. There has to be a balance.
“Out of four coaches (in a train), one is allotted for women. We will study the effectiveness,” he said.
Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) had asked about monitoring efforts towards user compliance in women’s coaches following the introduction of such coaches on the Kajang MRT line.
He also asked about plans to expand this in light of the rising number of female ridership.
