Penang has secured its position as Malaysia’s cashless payments champion for the second consecutive win, recording a 99.40 per cent cashless transaction rate in the public sector under the National Cashless Boleh 5.0 campaign, according to a Bernama report on 17 July.
The state outpaced Kedah, Selangor and Malacca to claim the Outstanding Digital Payment Usage Performance Award, the State Secretary’s Office said. The achievement builds on Penang’s 95 per cent rate from the previous Cashless Boleh 4.0 campaign, bringing the state within striking distance of full cashless adoption.
State Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said all 24 state departments and agencies are actively participating in efforts to expand cashless payment usage among the public. The Penang government is now targeting 100 per cent cashless transactions in the near future, Malay Mail reported.
“The state government is also focusing on continuous improvements through user satisfaction surveys to obtain feedback and better understand users’ experiences with digital payment facilities,” H’ng told reporters after a press conference at Komtar.
Publicity efforts have been intensified through promotional materials at government offices, departmental websites, social media pages and official digital platforms to raise awareness of the convenience, security and benefits of cashless transactions.
The award was presented during a courtesy visit by a Ministry of Finance delegation led by Strategic Financial Control and Corporate Division undersecretary Ghazali Hizam, together with Payments Network Malaysia Berhad (PayNet), to Penang State Secretary Datuk Seri Zulkifli Long at the State Secretary’s Office in Komtar on 17 July.
The recognition reflects the strong synergy between the Ministry of Finance, PayNet and the state government, driven by the Local Government Division as the main coordinator of Penang’s participation in the programme since 2022.
“This success reflects the strong synergy involving the MOF, PayNet, and the state government in expanding the use of cashless payments, driven by the continuous efforts of the Local Government Division as the main coordinator,” the statement said.
H’ng expressed confidence that Penang would continue to lead Malaysia’s digitalisation agenda and serve as a benchmark for other states. “With the commitment and cooperation of all parties, I am confident that Penang will continue to maintain its position as the leading state in the digitalisation agenda,” he said.
