TO increase the number of cashless payments, the Penang government is organising the Cashless Day Campaign (Kempen Hari Tanpa Tunai) for state government departments and agencies for a period of three months.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the ongoing campaign started on Dec 1 last year and would be held until Feb 28 this year.
“We are holding the Kempen Hari Tanpa Tunai every Friday.
“Those who wish to make any payment at government office counters on Fridays must make their payments via the e-payment methods provided, such as eWallet, QR Code, online banking, or debit/credit card terminals.
“They can also make payments at the smart kiosks, or online through the government portals such as e-Pay, Aspire, MBSPpay, Cyber Counter and others,” he said in his speech before launching the Cashless Day Campaign (Kempen Hari Tanpa Tunai) for state government departments and agencies today. The launching ceremony was held at Level Three, Komtar.
Chow also said that PayNet is supporting the campaign and would contribute RM500,000 for that purpose.
“A total of RM300,000 will be allocated for a competition in conjunction with the campaign.
“The competition is divided into three categories – Category A, B, and C – and 23 government departments and agencies are eligible to take part in the competition and win cash prizes.
“The selection of winners (government departments and agencies) for each category will be made based on the most number of cashless transactions via the e-payment platform.
Category A is for departments/agencies that have successfully recorded exceeding 30,000 transactions through e-payment in 2021.
Category B is for departments/agencies that have successfully recorded between 1,000 and 30,000 transactions through e-payment in 2021; while Category C is for departments/agencies that have successfully recorded not less than 1,000 transactions through e-payment in 2021.
The winners (government departments and agencies) stand a chance to win cash prizes between RM10,000 and RM70,000.
Chow said the Penang government is committed to promoting digital and smart initiatives in the state, in line with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.
“Penang government departments and agencies have managed to record 2,110,566 cashless transactions (71.99%) from Jan 1 to Nov 30 last year. The revenue received via cashless transaction was RM620,157,685.04 (which was equivalent to 50.16% of the total revenue collected).
“Penang aims to achieve 100% cashless transactions by 2030,” he said, adding that the state’s cashless payment initiative started in April 2020.
Penang Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said people could easily perform cashless transactions using their smartphones.
State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar said the state government encourages digitalisation in many aspects.
“This is a challenge for all of you (the civil servants) to ensure their success. Much effort is needed as there are still digitalisation gaps.
“There is an urgent need to transform the current work culture in the public service so that it is in line with the current technology,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud