CYBERJAYA: A total RM66 million has been disbursed to the people under the RM30 e-Tunai Rakyat initiative as of 9pm yesterday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
Lim said there has been encouraging response from the people towards the cashless payment initiative rolled out by the government last week with 2.9 million applications received to date.
“And 2.2 million (applications) has been approved with a total of RM66 million disbursed to the people,” said Lim in his speech at the launching of Cashless Ecosystem for Cyberjaya ceremony here today.
The establishment of the cashless ecosystem here is a collaboration between Cyberview Sdn Bhd and Payment Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), which is an affiliate of Bank Negara Malaysia.
The initiative will be facilitated by DuitNow QR (quick response), which is Malaysia’s national QR code standard.
Cyberview Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badr Mohd Zahri and its managing director Mohd Najib Ibrahim were present.
Also in attendance were PayNet Group chief executive officer Peter Schiesser and its chairman Datuk Ahma Hizzad Baharuddin.
Starting from 8am on Jan 15, Malaysians aged 18 and above with an annual income of RM100,000 and below can start applying for the RM30 free shopping money given out under the e-Tunai initiative via three e-wallet operators – Grab, Boost and Touch 'n Go e-wallet.
“Besides increasing the rate of adoption for cashless payment in the country, the e-Tunai Rakyat incentive will also support the nation’s economic growth.
“This enables users to spend the incentive and amounts topped up by the e-wallet providers at their local merchants and vendors across the country.”