KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 4 — Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad said the company’s decision to impose a RM1.20 minimum platform fee was to weed out fraudulent transit users.

“We had between 6,500 and 7,000 people (fraudulently) entering and exiting the same LRT and monorail stations daily prior to the implementation of the minimum fare charge,” Prasarana group communications and strategic marketing department executive vice-president Lim Jun Aun said.

“Upon implementation of the charge on November 15, 2013, the number of people entering and exiting the same LRT and monorail stations dropped to some 2,700 people daily.

“We wish to highlight that although many of our stations are connected to walkways and passes, a number of them are located within the paid area.

“Users can choose to use pedestrian bridges provided by the local authorities, such as in Bangsar, or the covered pedestrian walkway at Medan Tuanku which connects to Sultan Ismail LRT station.”

However, transit users are strongly against Prasarana imposing the fee.

Computer engineer S. Shanmuganratnam asked: “Why build a walkway if they are going to charge users? Isn’t it a waste of funds?

“Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman is such a busy road. They are putting a lot of lives in danger.”

Meanwhile, Marsya Iman said: “RM1.20 is a lot, especially for students who use public transport.”

Tourist Dave Price, 20, from Australia, said: “I would rather risk my life crossing the road than pay the fee.”