BNM faults autopay vendors

Operators were given time to recalibrate machines for new coins, says bank

PETALING JAYA: Operators and vendors of autopay machines were given more than six months to upgrade their machines to accept the recently introduced new, smaller coins, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

“Vendors are urged to expedite the recalibration of the machines for the convenience of the public,” said the central bank in a statement to The Star yesterday, adding that it had engaged key operators and vendors prior to introducing the coins.

It was reported that autopay machines were rejecting the coins, frustrating consumers who need to pay for their parking charges.

The bank said it was aware of the issues faced by Malaysians in using the new coins at autopay machines.

“We acknowledge that the introduction of the series of new coins will result in short-term inconvenience to the public during this transitional process,” it said.

The new series are in the denominations of 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen and 50 sen.

BNM said the coin had enhanced security features and would enable visually-impaired users to easily distinguish the different denominations.

The bank urged those who come across autopay machines which could not accept the new coins to contact their hotline at 03-2690 7307 or 03-2698 8044 (ext 8252).

However, shopping mall operators maintained that the bank had not engaged with them to recaliberate the machines.

Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management (PPK) president H. C. Chan said the authorities had not informed them about the need to upgrade the machines.

“There was no such notice issued to our association and our members,” he said yesterday.