Prasarana targets full rail open payments within 30 months

Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s open-payment procurement is expected to be finalised by end-2026, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told Malaysia’s Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday, Oct. 21, according to a report by The Star.

For Prasarana users, the timetable would replace earlier targets of end-2024 for buses and August last year for rail, with 30% of access and fare equipment due to support open payments within 12 months of project start.

Loke said the project was in its final procurement and evaluation stage. “The lengthy implementation timeline is necessary to ensure Prasarana’s full compliance with its internal procurement procedures and standard operating procedures,” he said during a parliamentary question-and-answer session.

The system would cover Prasarana public transport networks in the Klang Valley and Penang, including Rapid Rail and Rapid Bus services, Loke said. An open-payment system lets passengers pay fares through bank cards, digital wallets or other contactless methods rather than relying only on a dedicated transit card.

“This is to ensure that the procurement is conducted transparently and competitively, in line with the principles of good governance, while delivering optimum value to the government and public transport users,” Loke said.

Loke said full implementation across the rail network is targeted within 30 months of project commencement. Rapid Bus services in the Klang Valley are expected to have the system fully implemented within 15 months of the start date, he said.

Supported payment methods would include MyDebit cards, international credit and debit cards, NFC-enabled contactless devices, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Alipay, QR codes and Touch ’n Go cards, Loke said.

The delay followed an initial tender that was not awarded, requiring a retendering process, Loke said. He added that Prasarana has autonomy over its tender procedures and is fully funding the project.

No project cost, contract award date or commencement date was provided in The Star report. The next stated milestone is the expected procurement decision by the end of 2026.

Source: news report, The Star, Oct. 21, 2026