Beyond My50: A call for bold digitalisation in Malaysia's public transportation — Tan Wei Siang
It offers added convenience, reduces queue times, and reflects growing awareness of the need to modernise Malaysia's public transportation system.
However, this should not be mistaken as a major breakthrough.
At best, it is a preliminary step—an overdue update that scratches only the surface of what true digitalisation could and should look like. If Malaysia is serious about transforming public transport into a world-class, efficient, and sustainable system, we must go far beyond app-based ticketing.
What we urgently need is a fully integrated, digitally powered public transportation ecosystem.
Malaysia still lacks a unified platform that allows commuters to seamlessly plan, pay, and track their journeys across different modes of transport—be it MRT, LRT, buses, KTM trains, or last-mile solutions like bicycles and e-scooters.
A centralised Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform should be introduced, bringing together real-time route planning, mobile payments, fare discounts, and service disruption notifications into one user-friendly interface.
Such systems are already operational in places like Helsinki and Singapore, where multimodal commuting is treated as a single, smooth experience rather than a fragmented patchwork.
Another area that demands urgent attention is route optimisation and service planning.
Currently, many of our bus and train schedules are based on outdated assumptions.
Artificial intelligence and data analytics should be deployed to analyse commuter behaviour, predict peak-hour congestion, and dynamically adjust schedules and fleet deployment.
Demand-responsive transit—where buses or vans are dispatched based on real-time passenger demand—can serve underserved suburbs and rural communities much more effectively than rigid, fixed routes.
The government and local councils must shift from static planning to smart, adaptive service design.
We must also look at how people access public transport.
If physical cards still need to be topped up at machines, or tokens need to be bought at counters, then we have not truly digitalised the user journey.
Malaysia should aim for a future where contactless, cardless, and queue-less travel is the norm.
This could mean using smartphones, QR codes, or even facial recognition for ticket validation—technologies already piloted in parts of China and Japan.
Subscription-based travel models that operate like Netflix, where users pay a monthly fee for unlimited or tiered access, should also be explored.
Digitalisation must also be inclusive.
Public transport apps and platforms should be built with the needs of all users in mind—not just the tech-savvy or urban elite. Accessibility features such as text-to-speech, screen reader support, large icons, and multilingual interfaces in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Chinese, and Tamil must be standard, not optional.
Elderly users and those with disabilities should be able to use public transport apps with confidence, not confusion.
Another often-overlooked area is feedback and responsiveness.
Malaysians regularly endure broken escalators, overcrowded platforms, or late arrivals without any clear way to report issues.
Public transport apps should integrate crowdsourced feedback tools that allow commuters to report faults, rate service quality, and suggest improvements.
Transit agencies can then use this real-time data to maintain infrastructure, respond to service failures, and increase accountability. Digitalisation should also empower users to shape the system—not just use it.
Finally, digitalisation must be underpinned by transparent governance and open data.
Currently, much of Malaysia's transport data is locked within government agencies or private operators.
Opening up anonymised transit data through public APIs would allow startups, universities, and civic groups to innovate on top of it—building better journey planners, accessibility tools, and analytics dashboards.
A culture of open, collaborative innovation would help Malaysia move faster and smarter.
In short, while the My50 pass on TNG is a positive step, we must not stop here.
If we are serious about digital transformation in public transport, then the government must think bigger, move faster, and act bolder.
It is time to reimagine public transportation not just as a daily necessity, but as a digital public service that is efficient, inclusive, and future-ready.
Let us not settle for convenience when transformation is possible.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
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If Malaysia wants to keep up, we can't just rely on cheap labour or global companies setting up plants here. And that's why Penang 3.0 matters. We need to build ecosystems that support our own talents — our own engineers, researchers, designers, and creators. Real progress, not just big promises What gives this vision more weight is that it's already beginning to take shape. Just weeks ago, the Penang Silicon Research and Incubation Space was launched in Bayan Lepas under the PSD@5KM+ initiative, a purpose-built hub for IC design startups. Two major announcements followed: 1. SkyeChip, a Malaysian company, unveiled two cutting-edge chip technologies: HBM3E and Network-on-Chip (NoC), both designed by Malaysian engineers in Penang. 2. Silicon X, another homegrown company, is developing its own proprietary Malaysian chip. These are not isolated success stories. They are proof that local talent, with the right support, can lead global innovation. More importantly, they reflect what Penang 3.0 is truly about. Not just attracting investment but empowering Malaysian companies to compete on their own terms, with their own technologies. This shift aligns with the federal government's National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS), which aims to elevate Malaysia from a backend manufacturing hub to a regional leader in advanced chip design. As Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim, put it: 'Over the next 50 years, the goal is to transform from 'Made in Penang' to 'Made by Penang'.' Why this matters to young people like us Our generation grew up in uncertainty. We entered the workforce during economic downturns, political instability, and a time when many of us were told that 'real' opportunities were elsewhere — in Singapore, or overseas. Many of us still struggle to find jobs that match our skills. Some are underpaid. Others feel like they're constantly helping others foreign companies or brands succeed without building something of their own. But what if that's starting to change? Penang 3.0 is a blueprint for a different kind of future. One where young people don't just work in the economy, but help shape it. One where we're not just executing someone else's designs, but creating products, companies, and ideas of our own. It also reflects something deeper: belief in young talent. And that's something Malaysia has been missing for a long time. Challenges still exist, but so does momentum Of course, this vision won't be achieved overnight. Challenges remain. Young people still face high costs of living. Public transport is limited. Access to funding and mentorship for startups remains uneven. But the momentum is real. Infrastructure projects like the new LRT system, the airport expansion, and the construction of Silicon Island all signal that Penang is preparing for long-term growth. More importantly, this time, the growth is focused on value creation, not just cheap labour. What's more, the leadership behind this vision seems serious. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow's administration has taken a long-view approach. Steven Sim has consistently advocated for structural reform and local empowerment. This mix of political will, industrial maturity, and local ambition is rare, and should not be taken for granted. From Penang, for Malaysia Penang 3.0 may have started as a state vision, but its meaning goes far beyond that. If Penang proves that a Malaysian state can transition from backend to brainpower, then other places can too. This is especially important for northern Malaysia, where many young people feel they have to leave to succeed. A stronger Penang gives hope to those of us, that we do not always have to leave home to chase a future. I am not from Penang, but I believe in what it is trying to become. Because if Penang moves forward, so does the rest of the country. It reminds us that Malaysia can still be a place where we invest in people, in ideas, and in something that lasts. And maybe most of all, it reminds us that our future is still worth building. * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
