DIGITAL Penang is aiming to achieve up to 80% of active users performing cashless transactions in the future.
Digital Penang chief executive officer Tony Yeoh pointed out that about 70% of Penangites have so far downloaded the app from cashless service providers but the active users stood at only 30%.
“If you take a look at China, they are responding positively to these cashless transactions. In fact, I would say that they have achieved about 90% of active users since its inception.
“We have a long way to go compared to them but we are on a right track towards digitalisation, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic period.
“Digitalisation is the way forward now and we are trying to explain to the people on the ground.
“Out of the 1.8 million population in Penang, about 1.4 million of people have downloaded e-wallets according to one of the service providers,” Yeoh told Buletin Mutiara during a virtual interview session.
Digital Penang was set up by the state government last year to accelerate efforts in pursuing opportunities in the digital economy as well as to promote a digitally engaged society.
The Digital Penang has four pillars of focus, namely infrastructure, economy, governance, and community.
Yeoh, who was formerly a technologist, said the pandemic has changed the landscape of the society.
“This can be seen as more small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are adopting the digitisation approach.
“These SMEs had received cash aid under the ‘Penang SME Go Digital’ campaign.
“The pandemic has emphasised the importance of going digital,” he said.
On the perception of senior citizens towards cashless transactions, Yeoh noted that old people were still lagging behind as they are not tech-savvy.
“It’s normal but we are confident they can adapt to this initiative as we have
our Digital Coach and Digital Promoter schemes to guide them. Some of them are fast-learners and they have coped with it well,” he said.
Digital Penang’s Strategy and Communication senior manager Timothy Choy, who also participated in the virtual interview session, noted the lack of awareness of cashless transactions among rural folk.
“For instance, you can find the QR codes easily in any merchants or businesses in George Town area.
“However, you may have a difficulty in finding such codes, especially at rural areas.
“That’s why we have our Digital Promoter and Digital Coach on the ground to explain the benefits to the people.
“There are still a lot of ground works to be done in order to achieve our aim,” he added.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting