KUALA LUMPUR: The procurement decision for the open payment system (OPS) for Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s services is expected to be finalised by the end of this year.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 21) the project is in the final stages of the procurement and evaluation process.
"The lengthy implementation timeline is necessary to ensure Prasarana’s full compliance with its internal procurement procedures and standard operating procedures," he said during the question-and-answer session.
"This is to ensure that the procurement is conducted transparently and competitively, in line with the principles of good governance, while delivering optimum value to the government and public transport users."
Zahir Hassan (PH-Wangsa Maju) asked about the delay in implementing the OPS, initially targeted for bus services by the end of 2024 and rail services by August last year.
Loke said the system would cover Prasarana’s public transport networks in the Klang Valley and Penang, including rail and bus services operated by Rapid Rail and Rapid Bus.
He added that the project would be implemented in phases, with 30% of passenger access and fare collection equipment at each Rapid KL rail station expected to support open payments within the first 12 months after the project begins.
Full implementation across the rail network is targeted within 30 months, he said.
"Meanwhile, for Rapid Bus services in the Klang Valley, the open payment system is expected to be fully implemented within 15 months of the project commencement date," he said.
Payment methods would include MyDebit cards, international credit and debit cards, contactless payments using NFC-enabled devices, digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Alipay, QR codes and Touch ‘n Go cards, he added.
Explaining the delay, Loke said the first tender was not awarded, necessitating a retendering process.
"That took time," he said.
He added that the procurement process came under Prasarana, which has autonomy over its tendering procedures, and is fully funding the project.
