Sarawak Pay hits RM14 mln mark
Chief Minister: 172,429 e-payment deals managed via app since 2017 launch, 68,500 individual users registered
KUCHING: Sarawak Pay has managed 172,429 transactions valued at a total of RM14,199,124.53 since the mobile application’s launch in 2017.
In highlighting this, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said records as at April 28 this year showed that the number of individuals registering with Sarawak Pay stood at 68,500, while registered companies numbered 2,400.
According to him, the numbers are still increasing.
“All these are happening within the two years since Sarawak Pay was launched. It shows that Sarawakians are technology-savvy people,” he spoke at the launch of Sarawak Pay as a mode of payment by KK Super Mart at Kota Sentosa near here yesterday.
Abang Johari regarded the mobile e-payment platform such as Sarawak Pay as a new way of conducting business in the modern era, which everyone, including local farmers, should embrace.
“It allows farmers and small industries to sell their products via retail outlets such as KK Super Mart. For example, (with) KK Super Mart having presence in Nepal and India – we could even sell our durian paste in India, through this outlet.
“The demand would be high and we could produce more.
“Farmers could get payment immediately if they had Sarawak Pay. They could use the money to plant more. This is the new way of doing business and Sarawak must follow suit. It’s why the state government launched Sarawak Pay,” he said.
Abang Johari added that Sarawak Pay had signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on collaboration with e-payment service providers in Singapore and China.
“We have signed a MoU with Singapore Nets, a collaboration which is now pending approval from Bank Negara and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. That means if you go to Singapore, you can use Sarawak Pay to settle payments.
“Last month, we had a MoU signing with China’s Union Pay. We are still waiting for Bank Negara to approve it. Once approved, then you can use Sarawak Pay anywhere there (China) that accepts Union Pay,” he said.
Abang Johari also explained that while Sarawak Pay could not expand to other countries on its own, it could work through collaborations with similar mobile payment service providers in those countries – such tie-ups would, however, be subject to approval from Bank Negara Malaysia and the central banks of the countries involved.
On a related note, Abang Johari pointed out that the government would be upgrading the infrastructure to gear Kuching towards a ‘Smart City’ status.
“(It will be) Kuching first, particularly in the Heritage areas. We will equip smart devices using 5G technology (and) we will be working with Huawei on this.
“With 5G, transactions can be done in three seconds.
“Once we are done with Kuching, we move on to Greater Kuching. Kota Sentosa is in Greater Kuching.
“We will set aside about RM6 million to upgrade facilities in Padawan Municipal Council areas,” he said.
Earlier, KK Super Mart founder and KK Group of Companies executive chairman Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan said Sarawak Pay would be introduced at eight KK Super Mart outlets across Kuching, and 12 outlets in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as one Slimming Sanctuary outlet and one Clara International outlet – also in Kuching.
“Our target is that within one month, Sarawak Pay would be used at all 380 KK Super Mart outlets throughout Malaysia, and also other companies under the KK Group of Companies such as Baiwago Plus Cafe, KK Hotel, KK Kopitiam, KK Food Court, KK Fresh Mart, KK Motorsports, KK Badminton Court and all Slimming Sanctuary beauty salons.”
Chai also acknowledged the signing of a MoU between Sarawak government and Huawei over leveraging on Huawei’s expertise in digital training and infrastructure in Sarawak, and also developing digital talents and technology innovation here.
“As a Sarawakian myself, I am very grateful to have such a farsighted state government.
“We still have much to improve on building digital economy, but I am glad that we have a clear blueprint on how to achieve that, and that we have already started striking partnerships to help us achieve our goal,” he enthused.
Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Secretary Datuk Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Batu Kitang assemblyman Lo Khere Chiang who is also Padawan Municipal Council chairman, Sarawak Information System (Sains) chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, Sarawak Multimedia Authority general manager Dr Zaidi Razak, SiliconNet Technologies director Datu William Patrick Nyigor, and SiliconNet Technologies general manager Dr Anderson Tiong were also present at the event.
All these are happening within the two years since Sarawak Pay was launched. It shows that Sarawakians are technology-savvy people. — Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg