Loke: Bus service providers must provide cashless payment system to continue receiving subsidies

Anthony Loke (in white) with Perak Housing, Local Government, Public Transport, Non-Islamic and Village Affairs Committee chairman Paul Yong Choo Kiong (right) at the launching of cashless payment system for myBAS Ipoh at Terminal Meru Raya (formerly Terminal Amanjaya).

IPOH: Bus service providers that receive subsidies from the government must provide a cashless payment system, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said it was part of the government's plans to transform towards digitising the economy.

“Before receiving the subsidy, the operators are required to use the system.

“We will give them some time to make the changes and it would not cost them much, ” he told a press conference after launching the cashless payment system for myBAS Ipoh at Terminal Meru Raya (formerly Terminal Amanjaya) here on Thursday (Jan 16).

“If they fail to do so, we will review their subsidy agreement, ” he said.

Loke had in June last year urged public transport operators to adopt the system to improve the ticketing services.

He said with faster transactions, it would create less queues and congestion at ticketing points.

Without elaborating on the timeframe given to the companies, Loke said many e-wallet companies have expressed their desire to help bus service providers to set up the systems for their vehicles.

“With the implementation of the system, we are certain that it will create a more systematic public transportation," he added.