PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim has questioned the development of an integrated cashless payment system (ICPS) for train and bus fares in the Klang Valley.
The opposition leader said “hundreds of millions” had been spent by Transit Acquirer Sdn Bhd (TASB) on the project, but it has yet to be implemented.
“It turns out that this is a waste of the people’s funds and a huge loss for the country,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Anwar noted that he was informed earlier this year that the Ministry of Finance (MoF) Incorporated had wanted to restart the project and had issued a tender to divest 70% of its ownership in TASB.
“Based on the tender, TASB is said to be worth RM400 million but on what basis?
“Why is it necessary to dispose of the ownership of TASB, which is capable of being a strategic asset to the country?
The government, he said, should own and manage it and wondered who determined the percentage to be divested.
Anwar also questioned why every transit operator would need to pay TASB since they already had a vendor implementing an open payment platform.
He pointed out that in the tender, it was stated that MoF Incorporated would determine the successful bidder without needing to justify it.
This Anwar said could lead to corruption and abuse of power.
“Therefore, it is clear that TASB should not be sold until the previously incurred losses are investigated and accounted for.”
Anwar added that MoF Incorporated should not try to cover losses by selling the government-linked company under an exclusive rights agreement with a 20-year concession.
“I demand a detailed explanation from the finance ministry,” he said.