THE Penang Government's announcement this week of a plan to adopt the e-wallet transaction system in every public market by June this year, has rattled several segments of the public.
State Local Government, Housing Development and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo had said that plans are in place for 56 markets in the state to transition to the cashless payment method soon.
The unhappiness over this announcement may have stemmed from the fact that no assurance was given that cash would continue to remain an option for transactions at these markets.
And the timing of the announcement may have been managed better, at a time when movements have been controlled and many are adjusting differently to being confined indoors, and missing out on their regular outings to the wet markets and other public places.
The fact that Penang was planning to move to a cashless state is not news, since the authoriities had earlier this year, announced its collaboration with e-wallet provider TNG Digital Sdn Bhd to make Penang the first cashless city in the country.
Among others, it was reported that the
TNG eWallet would be enabled as a digital payment method across stalls and hawker joints along key heritage streets in George Town such as Chowrasta Market, Armenian Street, Nagore Street as well as areas in Pulau Tikus and Tanjung Tokong.
The initiative is intended to have homegrown small merchants like hawkers and coffeeshop or restaurant operators evolve and remain relevant in the current market landscape.
The announcement about public markets going cashless in June perhaps should have been precluded by a marketing or public relations exercise in convincing the public, especially the elderly first on the benefits of the use of e-wallets in places they frequent daily like wet markets, "kopitiams" and hawker centres is a more secure, hygienic and seamless way to go.
The state government is well-intentioned in using this time of the Covid-19 outbreak as an opportunity to promote the use of e-wallets, given the contactless nature in which transactions can be conducted and how it can be used as one way to limit infections at this time.
However, issues like various segments of society may be limited because they are technologically-challenged, do not posses smartphones or are carrying smartphones with limited data plans need to be considered.
Security issues such as unscrupulous merchants or so-called friends having access to a credit, debit card or banking account which the e-wallet may be tied to should also be addressed, as there will be groups of people who may not be as savvy or privileged as others.
In adopting to the "new normal" way of doing things, the promotion of cashless transactions can perhaps take baby steps by first educating and hand-holding those who are unsure of the ecosystem in which the system operates.
It is also important to give an assurance that for now, cash remains an option and there is no need to panic or have nightmares about unscrupulous vendors taking advantage of elderly or technology-challenged customers.
Elected representatives can also play a part in allaying the concerns of their voters, instead of directing their queries to the local government authorities.
A survey among Penang residents and how they feel about transitioning to cashless transactions would also be helpful. As it stands, only positive feedback from traders on going cashless has been highlighted.
Senior citizens are already grappling with banks going paperless and leaving them with no physical books to reflect the state of their accounts. They have also been struggling in some instances in dealing with paperless parking coupons when they park.
Let us not add to their anxiety at this time and help them transition smoothly and confidently into embracing yet another digital initiative.