Transport minister Anthony Loke says that an open payment system for transport services is set to be implemented soon. He said this will allow the public to have other avenues for payment instead of just having to utilise Touch ‘n Go (TnG) as the solitary option for payment, as Bernama reports.
He said that in the near future, users will be able to use their credit or debit cards besides TnG cards to pay for public transport services, especially for Rapid bus and rail services under Prasarana. This will be good news for those who have been lamenting the lack of payment options for these as well as for tolls.
Despite the opening up of payment options, Loke stressed that the government has no intention to end Touch ‘n Go’s services. “We do not intend to end Touch ‘n Go’s services, so please don’t say that we are trying to kill off Touch ‘n Go. It’s just that it will be one of several payment options rather than just the only one,” he said.
Yesterday, prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said that the government will review TnG’s monopoly on toll payments on the grounds that its system lacked significant progress and development. Loke said that Anwar’s statement does not mean the end of TnG services, merely that payment options had to be increased.
He said that the PM has instructed that the matter, which needed a quick solution, be discussed in the cabinet. Loke added that Prasarana has been instructed to implement an open payment method, but the company needs time to integrate the system.
Away from public transport, motorists will be free to use any digital mode of payment with the introduction of the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) in 2025. Last month, works minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said that talks on an open payment system between the works ministry and the ministry of finance as well as related concessionaires are being ramped up, and that a pilot project to enable payments through various digital payment providers would be conducted as soon as possible.
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
More options, better. But with Malaysian maintenance culture , more options = more points of failure.
according to your logic, we should only sell proton and perodua cars. remove options, right?
Car brands don’t link to each other. For toll, if Grab pay is down, the car that’s using Grab pay will block the rest of the queue at the toll plaza.
And you thought people who use Grab pay that is down, dont have alternate payment method with them such as other ewallet / other debit or credit card? think both way dude
And you think EVERYONE have more than 1 payment method? All it takes is just 1 person with only 1 payment method to jam up the line.
if you ask me… i will rather use tng card for such things. if anything bad happen.. it’s only happen on that tng card.. not at the card where your credit limit is in at least 4 digits, or a debit card where all your saving is inside. tng has less risk isnt it?!
it’s all in the implementation.
they can limit the daily transaction, for example.
next time use your brain before talk. so you want the tng monoply continue just because wanna be safe if anything bad happened? really? if you are so phobia and traumatic with this, go buy prepaid visa/mastercard, topup and use that card for toll purpose only ok? now we have choice but you still complaint. previously we have no choice but you happy? are you ok?
I just have to say he is much better than Wee… I mean Wee is all talk less action, Loke get things done… definitely moving towards the right direction….
for show or not, at least we are benefitting from Loke’s tenure. Wee was a typical politician, talk only.
Actually, toll collection system is under works ministry.
Once /credit payment method available, surely soon TNG will cease to exist eventually. Sayonara Touch N’ Go
Wonder what is MyCC doing all these while curbing these monopolistic practices other than praising this move by govt recently?
It seems that only by a change of govt suddenly MyCC sprang into action?
Enable more payment options, full stop. The rest is up to consumer. Just hope this can be realized fast. Same goes to MLFF.
This is great news. This might also help more people to be convinced to take public transport system as well. Stop building new highways so that more will take public transport system. Hopefully TnG will look to improve itself otherwise, they will disappear into oblivion.
Actually there are pros and cons. With more options given, some toll requires tagging in and tagging out by using the same payment method/card. Using two different payment types increases the possibility of mixing up & confusion, and then toll users will be penalized with the full toll amount. Also, for those users with insufficient reload/credit, please impose penalty so that they will be more alert to reload or setup auto reload to avoid congestion at toll. In Singapore, users will be penalized if they pass through toll gate with insufficient credit.
Good to hv mutiple payment systems to avoid line congestion. good job mr. loke
Not true. Credit/Debit card will be slower as your card info needs to be channel to the bank whereas they need to verify the merchant and check available balance in your card. Comparing to TnG card which is immediately deducted from your reload card/account. What needs to be introduced is another TnG type paymnent system. As for reducing congestion, implement more toll lanes.
Technically speaking it would be slower but does it the delay in sub 1-2 seconds compared to touchngo matter? I would use my credit card even if it takes up to 5 seconds for it to be scanned.
Just look at Singapore which have integrated with Apple/Google Pay, around 1-2 seconds at most, almost everyone have forgotten about nets which is the equivalent of touchngo in Singapore.
Wait n see how many problems will arise n ppl will rethink wht they hv just commented in here.
T-money from S.Korea is one of the best systems. They should consider bringing that system in.
Tng dah guna berpuluh tahun ok jer, just that when selling nfc card start buat hal, create troubles to rakyat and opportunities for scammers.
Gov should introduce its own payment gateway and allow any service providers like TnG. Grab, Bonus link, Visa, Master card, Debit card or any other card payment system to pay through the Gov payment gateway. The Gov should charge the service providers a small fee may be 2 cents per transaction and a solid deposit from these service providers. End of the day the people benefit from the competition from these service providers, Gov makes money and end the monopoly of TnG.
T&G closed its office at Penang Bridge and we have cards with balance that is expired. Is T&G a service provider? Why the hassle? Is T&G not making profit? Service provider must make it practical for consumers not otherwise. Malaysia should break the monopoly tradition benefitting certain monsters