Ipoh, Malaysia, 16 January 2020 - Perak Transit Berhad (Perak Transit), Touch 'n Go, and NEC Corporation of Malaysia (NEC) today officially launched a cashless bus fare payment system for myBAS Ipoh, a public bus service operating in Ipoh, Perak. myBAS Ipoh is the first bus network under Perak Transit to offer a cashless commuting experience in Malaysia.

Passengers of myBAS Ipoh are now able to pay for their trip by tapping any Touch ‘n Go cards (including Touch 'n Go enabled IC) to the card readers installed in coaches. This system gives commuters a seamless boarding process, offering greater convenience and enhances Perak Transit's operations.

For this project, NEC provided an Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) consisting of smart card readers, on board communications devices and a central fare transaction system (clearing house). The AFCS uses contactless smart cards for accurate and reliable fare collection and eliminates the need for passengers to bring coins with them.

Dato' Cheong Peak Sooi, Executive Director, Perak Transit Berhad, said, "NEC has been a valued partner in our digitalisation of the passenger's commuting experience. Through this cashless payment system, we are able to obtain accurate information such as the number of passengers boarding and alighting at each stop at any time. With this data, we can improve our current services and plan for future routes more efficiently. We hope to extend this cashless payment system to other bus networks in our portfolio in the future."

Chong Kai Wooi, Managing Director, NEC Corporation of Malaysia, said, "NEC is grateful that Perak Transit has given us the opportunity to contribute to the betterment of public transportation in Ipoh through our transit management platform integrated with the Touch 'n Go cashless payment system for myBAS."

"While more than 70 per cent of the Malaysian population is concentrated in urban areas, the future will see even more people migrating to cities. Hence, a better, more efficient transportation ecosystem is crucial for safe and secure mobility," he added.

myBAS Ipoh's current coverage spans over 310km, with 16 different routes serviced by over 60 coaches. The number of riders has increased steadily since its inception in 2016, with monthly ridership reaching 163,000 in 2019. myBAS Ipoh has also deployed NEC's fleet management system for its operations. The fleet management system has been in operation since March 2018, and has enhanced on-time transit performance and service regularity.

In addition to its roles as the main bus operator in Ipoh and the operator of the Express Bus Terminal in Ipoh, Perak Transit Berhad also operates the Hop-On Hop-Off bus service that covers various iconic attractions in the city.

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