The metro lines of Kuala Lumpur started off as privately owned. The 1997-1998 Asian Financial Crisis bankrupted the cronies of politicians that owned the lines and had to be bailed-out via nationalization. Subsequent lines were built by the state and so a single-payment method for all the lines, including buses, was easily implemented. And because all the lines and buses of Kuala Lumpur are owned by the state, a cheap, heavily subsidized, concessionary pass could be launched. The MY50 monthly pass as it is called, is very popular, with over 220,000 subscribers.