Single electronic payment system for transport by 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Commuters can expect significantly more comfortable and seamless rail-based travel when a single, integrated electronic payment system for the public transport sector is implemented.
Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Syed Albar said Touch n Go will be supplying the card while the commission will provide the system.
He pointed out that integrated fares and ticketing is necessary to make public transport more attractive both in terms of convenience and cost as this system will be more efficient and cost-effective.
"Currently, the penetration of electronic transit card systems in Malaysia is only 10% and this is not good as it means it is difficult for people to travel between different mode of rail-based service such as LRT, KTM and monorail because commuters are required to purchase different tickets.
"However, once we have this integrated electronic ticketing system by Jan 2017, travel will be much easier for the public because commuters are only required to pay once for the whole journey across all modes, with no penalty for interchanging between services," he told reporters during a press conference after a media briefing and tour on the integration of rail-based services.
He added that the commission will ensure the cashless system will be compatible with all modes of public transport, except taxis.
Syed Hamid said the federal government had given the commission the go-ahead to have a separate company to be solely in charge of the integrated ticketing system, including R&D and testing the system.
With the system, operators will have extensive reporting on peak hour traffic patterns, which enables better capacity planning and utilisation of their train carts, reduce leakages or embezzlement and enable the creation of a cashless society.