Govt’s decision on alternative cashless options lauded

PETALING JAYA: Consumer groups and the public have welcomed the move to allow other means of cashless payments, aside from Touch ‘n Go (TnG), to be used on highways and public transportation systems.

They described the move as one of the best initiatives made by the government.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) secretary-general Datuk Paul Selva Raj said the government finally listened to consumers’ complaints.

“This matter has been raised for a long time and we are grateful that the Prime Minister has listened to the people’s grouses,” he said.

Paul said TnG had long dominated the market.

“There were many complaints and issues raised about the use of TnG, but because it dominates the market, little was done to address or rectify its problems,” he said.

Paul added that consumers were forced to use TnG because no alternatives were available.

He said that introducing competition into these types of cashless payments would benefit the people by increasing competition and resulting in better services, better quality and the best price for customers.

Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) education officer NV Subbarow said it was high time consumers decided on the type of cashless payment they wanted.

He said ending the TnG monopoly would benefit the consumers as the move would allow for the creation of fair prices.

Malaysia Consumers Movement secretary-general Sukhdave Singh said the move would make the market more competitive, which would be good for consumers.

He also said that it would encourage innovation and make services better.

He said the government should encourage better participation in this space as the country moved towards a digital economy.

User Muhamad Asraff is in favour of the move as many parking lots have already implemented debit cards.

He said that using TnG could be a hassle, especially with a 50sen charge imposed.

Another user, Zack Kenpachi, said the government should have resolved the issue long ago, but the move was deemed better late than never.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in response to a question from a participant in the youth dialogue session programme “Temu Anwar” at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, said the government would reconsider the issue involving TnG’s monopoly in the highway toll collection system.