Prasarana targets open payment implementation across rail and bus networks within 30 months

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Prasarana: open payments for rail & buses

Highlights

Prasarana will implement the open payment system in phases, starting with 30% of Rapid KL stations within 12 months and full integration within 30 months.
The project's retender, following the failure to award the first bid, is expected to be decided by the end of 2024, with compliance with internal operating procedures ensured through a transparent process.
The open payment system is expected to improve the flexibility of public transport transactions, supporting digitalisation in the Klang Valley and Penang by August 2025.

This article was translated from the original. Read the original version by our correspondent here.

Implementation timeline and procurement process

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook told the Dewan Rakyat that a decision on the project bids is expected by the end of the year, following a retendering process. He said the period is needed to ensure Prasarana's full compliance with internal procurement standard operating procedures, ensuring a transparent and competitive process based on sound governance principles.

The system will support multiple payment channels, including MyDebit, international EMV credit and debit cards, NFC contactless payments, approved e-wallets and Touch'n Go cards. The intention to develop the system was announced in October 2023 and was initially targeted for completion by August 2025.

Implementation will be phased. A total of 30% of Rapid KL rail station entry gates and related equipment will support open payments within 12 months, with full network integration targeted within 30 months, while Rapid Bus Klang Valley is targeted for completion within 15 months.

On the procurement delay, Loke said the process is managed by Prasarana's internal board rather than his ministry. According to him, the first tender was not awarded, requiring a retendering process that has taken time due to internal matters in which the ministry does not intervene.

Impact on transport operations and road safety

Once implemented, the open payment system is expected to make transactions more flexible, convenient and efficient for users, while supporting the public transport digitalisation agenda in major hubs such as the Klang Valley and Penang. For comparison within the same sector, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad launched its open payment system in the Klang Valley on 1 Nov 2024 through the KTM Integrated Ticketing System, which accepts debit cards, credit cards, e-wallets, QR codes and mobile payment platforms.

In a separate development concerning national road safety, Loke said that 6,443 deaths were recorded in 2023, with motorcyclists and pillion riders accounting for 66% or 4,480 of the total. Under the Malaysia Road Safety Plan 2022 to 2030, the government is targeting a 50% reduction in the fatality rate by 2030 through measures focused on motorcyclists, including better road design and dedicated motorcycle lanes.

To curb accidents, the ministry is expanding technology-based enforcement systems such as the Automated Awareness Safety System and Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Enforcement against driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal racing and hit-and-run cases, as well as legal amendments enabling prosecution before accidents occur, remain priorities alongside encouraging the use of dashcams.

The launch of the Menarabena platform by Menara Asia Sdn Bhd, which we previously reported, highlights efforts to digitalise the construction supply chain by matching contractors with building material suppliers and consolidating certification and compliance information. The initiative is also supported through collaboration with CIDB Holdings to facilitate processes related to approvals and documentation, with the aim of improving efficiency without replacing existing certification requirements.

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