Several years after they were introduced, RapidKL has announced that its My50 and MyCity passes are now available for purchase online. This may seem like great news to those who prefer to simply buy and go (or are otherwise allergic to human interactions) but unfortunately, it’s not as seamless as it sounds.
Where can you get the passes?
Aside from the usual customer service counters at RapidKL train stations and selected bus hubs, you can now purchase the My50 and MyCity passes through either the MyRapid Pulse app (available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery) or the online MyRapid Shop.
As a recap, the My50 pass (as the name suggests) allows you to enjoy unlimited rides on RapidKL’s LRT, MRT, Monorail and BRT services, as well as RapidKL’s bus and MRT feeder buses within the Klang Valley—all for just RM50. You can also purchase MyCity one-day (RM5) and three-day (RM15) passes that offer pretty much the same perks but for shorter periods.
What’s this catch you’re talking about?
The is a major flaw with this system—according to the FAQ, you can’t simply use the pass after buying it, as it doesn’t automatically go into your MyKad or Touch ‘n Go card. Instead, you’ll have to activate the pass through the aforementioned customer service counters—defeating the purpose of buying the pass online in the first place.
This is likely due to a couple of factors, the first being that the My50 and MyCity passes are only offered to Malaysians, and there probably isn’t a way to authenticate the user’s nationality through the Pulse app or the MyRapid Shop. Even if there was, the fact that the pass still uses the Touch ‘n Go system means it might not be possible to activate the pass unless it’s by actually (physically) being there.
It would be great if users could simply add a pass to their Apple or Google Wallet and tap in or out using their phone. However, most RapidKL rail and bus services use only Touch ‘n Go for payments—MRT aside, there’s no way to pay for your fare using a credit or debit card, and just last month, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Prasarana is still in the midst of finalising the implementation of an open payment system ahead of a 2024 introduction.
