KUALA LUMPUR: Rapid KL will soon let customers pay for bus fares in the Klang Valley with other cashless options apart from Touch n' Go.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said Prasarana Sdn Bhd (Prasarana) would call for a tender for this soon.
"I have also instructed Prasarana to implement this open payment system for Rapid KL buses first.
"We were supposed to implement this system for rail stations as well, but this would need integration at all rail and train stations, and there are alternatives for rail stations such as tokens.
"At present, buses only accept Touch n' Go cards as payment.
"I hope the tender can be done within the next two months and ideally, the open payment system will be rolled out in the next three to six months, but we hope it can be resolved by the end of this year, at least for Rapid KL buses first," he said at a press conference in Parliament, today (March 6).
He said the decision was approved by the cabinet committee on road safety and traffic congestion earlier today (March 6).
Last week, a group of German tourists were left frustrated by their inability to board a bus at Batu Caves for the lack of a Touch 'n Go card to pay for the fare.
However, Loke denied that the decision was made following the viral video, and added that the move had been planned earlier.
"We hope that the tender can be called soon, so riding a public bus would be easier for users in Klang Valley, including tourists."
The Seremban member of Parliament, said the cabinet committee also agreed to the construction of 344 bus stations and over 7,000 metres of covered pedestrian walkways in seven local authorities in Klang Valley.
Some of these facilities will be built this year, he said, with the remainder to follow next year.
Loke also said the Kuala Lumpur City Council (City Hall) would open a contraflow lane from the Sungai Besi toll to the Smart Tunnel, to alleviate traffic congestion towards the city.
Loke said City Hall would iron out details on the contraflow with the relevant concessionaires.
"Last year, a Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) study polled 88 per cent of 713 respondents who agreed contraflow lanes helped with traffic congestion.
"Therefore, the cabinet committee has agreed to City Hall's suggestion to expand the contraflow lane especially from the Sungai Besi toll plaza to the Smart Tunnel," he added.