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Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Works Ministry: MLFF toll system to use B2B model, won't cost government ‘single sen'
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — The Works Ministry is proceeding with the Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) toll collection system through a direct business-to-business (B2B) model as the agreement with the original project proponent was terminated last year, Parliament heard today. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the B2B model ensures there will be no financial outlay from the government. 'The government remains committed to implementing the MLFF system via a B2B model, with no financial burden on the government. 'Private service providers will be allowed to negotiate directly with the 33 existing highway concessionaires,' he said. Ahmad Maslan said a proof-of-concept (PoC) trial for the MLFF system is currently being conducted at the Alam Impian toll plaza on the Kemuning–Shah Alam Expressway. This trial, a collaboration with Touch 'n Go and CIMB, involves the installation of gantries and other supporting infrastructure. Responding to a supplementary question from Tanjong Manis MP Yusuf Abdul Wahab on how the system would handle toll evasion, the deputy minister explained that it will use a combination of radio-frequency identification (RFID) and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to identify all vehicles. He said those who fail to pay will receive notices, and future enforcement could include blocking road tax renewals. 'RM3.46 billion cost won't materialise' Ahmad Maslan also addressed recent concerns raised by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) regarding a previously projected cost of RM3.46 billion to the government. 'The previously mentioned RM3.46 billion cost will not materialise, as the government has decided to implement the MLFF system through a B2B model. 'This means that not a single sen of government funds will be involved,' he asserted, adding that discussions of multi-billion ringgit figures are no longer relevant. He explained that a two-year timeframe has been designated to give private service providers ample opportunity to finalise their negotiations with the highway concessionaires. In the interim, he said the ministry is working to improve existing RFID lanes and has introduced open payment systems (SPT) allowing debit and credit card use at toll booths to enhance payment flexibility.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Malay Mail
AI scams are getting real: Here are the cases happening in Malaysia that you should know about
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Scams used to be easy to spot — all it took was some bad grammar, a weird link, or a dodgy phone call. But in today's digital era, fraudsters are using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate people we know and trust in order to steal money or personal data. Malay Mail has compiled some of the real-life scams behind AI-powered fraud wave: Voice-cloning scams via phone or WhatsApp In May this year, a woman in Selangor lost RM5,000 after falling victim to a sophisticated voice cloning scam that used AI to mimic her employer's voice, The Rakyat Post reported. The incident occurred during a routine workday at a local shop when the company phone rang repeatedly. On the line was someone who sounded exactly like her boss and he requested several Touch 'n Go (TnG) PINs, claiming it was an urgent matter. It wasn't the first time he had made such requests, so she didn't hesitate. The woman quickly went from one convenience store to another, purchasing RM5,000 worth of TnG top-up codes and sending them as instructed. Then the line went dead. When she eventually managed to contact her real boss through a different channel, he confirmed he had never made the call. His phone had been off the entire time. Police later confirmed it was an AI-driven scam. As of 2024, The Star had reported at least three AI voice scam cases where victims lost thousands of ringgit. In Kuala Terengganu, a travel agent lost RM49,800 after receiving a highly convincing phone call from someone who sounded exactly like her close friend. Believing her friend was in urgent trouble, she transferred the money without hesitation. In Kuala Lumpur, a 26-year-old interior designer was scammed out of RM3,000 in a similar incident, where the caller impersonated a trusted contact using AI-generated audio. In Penang, a 50-year-old housewife fell victim to the same tactic, losing RM4,800 after speaking with a familiar-sounding voice on the other end of the line. Last year, the police investigated 454 fraud cases involving deepfake technology, with total reported losses amounting to RM2.72 million, according to Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf. He said these scams frequently involve the use of AI-generated voices to impersonate family members, friends, or acquaintances, often via WhatsApp voice calls or messages. Scammers typically claim to be in urgent need of help and request money through bank transfers or prepaid top-up PINs Deepfake video investment scams featuring VIPs Scammers are now leveraging AI to produce highly convincing videos of politicians, business leaders, and celebrities to trick victims into bogus investment schemes. These AI-generated deepfake videos commonly feature well-known figures including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, tycoon Tan Sri Robert Kuok, former chief justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, and Capital A Bhd CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, appearing to endorse fake investment opportunities and quick-money schemes. Even the monarchy wasn't spared — on July 10, the Johor Royal Press Office issued a public warning after detecting an AI-generated deepfake video of His Majesty Sultan Ismail, King of Malaysia on Facebook, falsely promoting an investment scheme. The palace reminded the public that impersonating the King is a serious offence and urged people not to fall for these scams. On Saturday (July 5), MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong said Malaysians lost a staggering RM2.11 billion to such scams last year, with 13,956 cases reported. 'The AI-generated videos look so real that people can't tell the difference. Anyone watching would think it is the prime minister himself asking the public to invest, unaware that it's an AI-generated fake.' Chong was quoted as saying by News Straits Times. He also said 85 per cent of victims were convinced to invest after watching fake promotional videos featuring seemingly genuine endorsements from public figures. Recommended reading:
Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Step-by-step guide: How to renew your Rapid KL My50 Travel Pass using TNG eWallet
KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 — As announced last week, public transport users in the Klang Valley can now renew their Rapid KL My50 Travel Pass via Touch 'n Go eWallet (TNG eWallet). This means there's no need to queue to renew over the counter and you don't need to use your physical MyKad (NRIC). Available starting July 1, Malaysian commuters can renew the My50 Travel Pass conveniently using their smartphone and tap using the Touch 'n Go card. What do you need? To renew your Rapid KL My50 Travel Pass, you'll need the following Smartphone with NFC functionality Verified Touch 'n Go eWallet (completed eKYC to verify you're a Malaysian) Enhanced Touch 'n Go Card with NFC (Buy Online) or Touch 'n Go Charm Step-by-step: How to purchase or renew My50 Travel Pass via Touch 'n Go eWallet How to find Travel Pass in TNG eWallet 1. If you haven't already, link your Enhanced TNG Card to your TNG eWallet (Tap on Cards to proceed) 2. To purchase/renew the My50 Travel Pass, go to the Travel Pass section. To do so, tap on MORE under Favourites, then look for Travel Pass 3. Next, you'll need to allow TNG eWallet to exchange personal data with the Travel Pass app How to buy and renew My50 Travel Pass on TNG eWallet 4. In the Travel Pass mini-app, tap on 'Add Card' to link the card for your My50 Travel pass (only supported TNG cards/charms will be available) 5. Tap the selected TNG card to your phone's NFC reader 6. Select the date for activation (Default is today's date) 7. Confirm and Pay RM50 from your eWallet balance 8. Tap the selected TNG card again to activate the pass and you should be good to go Things that you should know This renewal feature via TNG eWallet isn't mandatory and it is an extra renewal option to provide convenience to regular public transport users. For those who don't have an NFC-compatible smartphone or prefer to continue using the MyKad for the My50 Travel Pass, not to worry. You can still continue to renew the My50 Travel Pass on your MyKad over at the counter as usual. The My50 Travel Pass provides 30-day of unlimited rides on MRT, LRT, BRT, Monorail as well as Rapid KL Buses and Feeder Buses in the Klang Valley. This is a benefit for Malaysians only and that's why the Travel Pass feature is only for verified TNG eWallet Malaysian users. Take note that the Travel Pass renewal on TNG eWallet is only for users aged 12 years old and above with a valid MyKad. For students below 12 years old, you can still purchase or renew the My50 pass at Rapid KL counters. Only one active Travel Pass is allowed per Malaysian. This means you can only activate one Enhanced TNG card or TNG Charm at any given time. If you have an existing active Travel Pass on your MyKad, you'll have to wait until it expires before you can activate on your desired TNG card. Once purchased, the My50 Travel Pass is non-refundable and non-transferable. You can renew the My50 Travel Pass at any time after the current 30-day cycle ends but take note that the new pass will start on the day of activation. If you've lost your TNG card with the My50 Travel Pass activated, you'll need to terminate the lost card via the TNG Portal. Once the TNG card is terminated successfully, you can purchase and activate a new My50 Travel Pass and activate it on your new TNG card. — SoyaCincau
Malay Mail
01-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Beyond My50: A call for bold digitalisation in Malaysia's public transportation — Tan Wei Siang
JULY 1 — The recent move to allow the purchase of the My50 unlimited travel pass through the Touch 'n Go eWallet app is a welcome development. 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.
Malay Mail
27-06-2025
- Malay Mail
Unemployed woman loses RM62,000 in phone scam to ‘TNG rep' and ‘Perak cop'
JERTIH, June 27—A woman lost RM62,000 after being duped by a phone scam syndicate posing as a police officer yesterday afternoon. Besut district police chief Supt Azamuddin Ahmad @ Abu said the 19-year-old unemployed woman answered a phone call belonging to her father from an individual who introduced himself as a representative from Touch 'n Go headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. 'The individual claimed that the victim's father had a RM25,000 summons related to a Touch 'n Go account, then the call was supposedly connected to the Perak police contingent headquarters and spoke to a police officer. 'The victim was further shocked when he was told her that a bank account had been opened in her father's name involved in a money laundering and drug case,' he said in a statement today. Azamuddin said the suspect asked the victim to pay RM60,000 if she wanted to clear his name and because she was afraid, the victim sold jewellery belonging to her mother, who is a retired teacher, to get money for the payment as instructed. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code, he said. — Bernama
