YAN: Residents and traders in the Yan district are encouraged to buy and sell using electronic or cashless payment methods, known as e-Duit, to facilitate daily financial transactions and make life easier and more convenient. Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) deputy governor Datuk Marzunisham Omar highlighted this initiative as part of efforts to align with the increasing use of e-payments across Malaysia, which witnessed 11.5 billion transactions in 2023, a significant rise from 9.3 billion in 2022, marking a 24 per cent increase.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the e-Duit Desa initiative, introduced in 2020, aims to raise awareness, build public confidence, and further promote the use of e-payments by offering financial education programmes. These programmes are designed to help rural communities adopt e-payments in a Safe, Simple, and Swift (3S) manner. During the launch of the e-Duit Desa Yan programme, Datuk Marzunisham expressed hope that this initiative would serve as a catalyst for integrating e-payments
into the daily life of Yan district residents, noting that almost all departments and agencies in Kedah now offer e-payment platforms.
Marzunisham also emphasized the transformative impact of e-payments on Malaysians’ daily financial transactions, making life more efficient. However, he cautioned that without proper safety practices, e-payments could pose risks such as financial fraud. He urged the public to adopt the Soal, Sekat, and Sebar (Ask, Block, and Share) approach to safeguard against financial scams. In cases where individuals fall victim to financial fraud, he advised immediate reporting to banking institutions or the National Scam Response Centre via the 997 hotline, as prompt reporting can prevent stolen funds from being transferred out of the system, increasing the likelihood of recovery.
He concluded by stating that BNM and the financial industry are committed to ensuring the financial system remains secure through ongoing enhancements of security features and awareness programmes to foster p
ublic confidence in continuing the use of e-payments.