SARAWAK has launched a cashless mobile payment solution, in line with its digital economy agenda and taking it a step closer to becoming a cashless society by 2030.

SarawakPay, launched by Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg at the foyer of the state legislative assembly building today, enables payment by way of an electronic wallet (e-Wallet), credit card or internet banking.

The e-Wallet, licensed under PaymentGalaxy Wallet and governed by Bank Negara Malaysia, is the first of its kind to be implemented in the country by a state government.

For the first-phase pilot rollout, Bank Negara is restricting each top-up of the SarawakPay e-Wallet balance to a maximum of RM200.

The state government is applying to Bank Negara to increase the amount to RM1,500.

Abang Johari said the digital economy drive was not “to show off we are tech savvy”.

“It is to meet the aspirations of young people. The world is changing and business transaction is changing.”

He said the changes had been significant in the last decade, and if the state “does not do anything now, we will be left behind”.

“I am not doing my service as chief minister if I do not connect the people to the internet.”

SarawakPay has a “Scan & Pay” feature that allows each payment to be made by scanning the QR code on a bill.

At the moment, SarawakPay can be used to make payments for government-linked services only, such as paying off bills from Sarawak Economic Development Corporation-owned hotels Grand Margherita and Riverside Majestic, as well as the Sarawak Energy Bhd electricity bill, Kuching Water Board bill and all 26 local councils’ assessment bills.

SarawakPay will be expanded to include all government agencies, as well as local retailers and merchants, in the state next year.

The state government said it would also apply to Bank Negara to include features, like wallet transfer, Pay Anyone, Go Dutch, supplementary wallet and standing instructions, in the mobile payment solution. – November 15, 2017.