By the end of the year, life will be much easier for people travelling constantly between Singapore and Malaysia.
Singapore’s local travel card issuer EZ-Link and Malaysia’s Touch N’ Go have partnered up to introduce a dual-currency Combi Card in the fourth quarter of 2019 which will allow users to pay for toll and parking in both Singapore dollars and Malaysian ringgit.
This announcement of a cross-border Combi card followed a mention of it in the joint statement by Prime Ministers of both countries, PM Lee Hsien Loong and PM Mahathir, following their Leader’s Retreat in Putrajaya on 9 April 2019. It also comes after the signing of a memorandum of understanding between EZ-Link and Touch N’ Go on 30 July 2017.
In a joint statement, the two companies explained that the card – first of its kind in Southeast Asia – will contain both Singapore Dollars and Malaysian ringgit separately in a single card. This means users will be able to pay Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges in Singapore, highway tolls in Malaysia and even parking in both countries using that one card.
Since both currencies will be stored separately, users will have to ensure both balances are sufficiently topped up. If, for example, the Malaysian balance is too low, users won’t be able to pay using the Singapore dollars in the card.
CEO of EZ-Link Nicholas Lee said, “It will be a milestone in EZ-Link’s efforts to continuously innovate to transform people’s lives with technology”
Malaysia’s CEO of Touch N’ Go added, “This synergy between Touch ‘n Go and EZ-Link to create a dual currency cross-border Combi card will undoubtedly make daily transactions fuss-free for Malaysian and Singaporean consumers with faster, simpler and more secure payment options.”
According to the statement, there are also plans to expand the features of the card to include allow users to pay for shopping and dining in both countries as well.
EZ-Link has, to date, issues approximately 30 million CEPAS ez-link cards in Singapore while Touch N’ Go has over 23 million active cards in circulation in Malaysia. This collaboration is set to be a major step forward in allowing for a more seamless and convenient travel experience for residents of both countries.
