Prasarana expects open-payment procurement decision by end-2026
The phased rollout is expected to bring full network integration within 30 months, with Rapid Bus services in the Klang Valley taking up to 15 months.
Prasarana’s procurement decision for an open-payment system is expected by the end of 2026, Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat. He said procurement and evaluation were nearing completion, with implementation to proceed in stages across its public transport networks.
Within 12 months of the project starting, 30% of station gates and equipment on Rapid KL are expected to support open payments, Loke said. He put the expected timetable for full network integration at 30 months, while the rollout for Rapid Bus services in the Klang Valley should take up to 15 months.
Loke said a fresh tender had been needed because the initial tender was not awarded. He suggested internal issues may have contributed to the time taken. Prasarana manages procurement without Transport Ministry involvement, he said, adding that the timeline allows compliance with internal procedures intended to ensure transparency, competition and good governance.
The planned payment options include approved e-wallets, MyDebit and Touch ‘n Go cards, international credit and debit cards using EMV technology, and contactless NFC devices. QR ticketing, payments using QR codes and other methods approved in future are also intended to be supported. Prasarana began debit-card payment tests in 2023, but an anticipated launch the following year did not happen.
