Touch ‘n Go eWallet is bringing its seamless cashless experience to Penang with merchant stalls in key heritage streets around George Town enabled with Touch ‘n Go eWallet. The iconic and historic island gets a cashless transformation as Touch ‘n Go eWallet is the first and only e-wallet to officially enable Penangites to experience and enjoy cashless transactions via the various bazaars and night markets in these key heritage streets.
Launched with the support of the Penang State Government and officiated by Penang’s Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow, Touch ‘n Go eWallet will 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. Touch ‘n Go eWallet users will be able to enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience by simply scanning the QR code of the merchants and walking away with their purchases – without the need to deal with bulky wallets or change.
Ignatius Ong, CEO of TNG Digital Sdn. Bhd. said, “We’re truly excited to be bringing our expertise to Penang as this puts us on the right track to achieving our vision of a cashless Malaysia. Our efforts in Penang are unique to Penangites and are for all who reside, work, and travel in this city. Enabling these heritage streets is the continuation of our long-term commitment to drive Penang forward by empowering locals to experience a more convenient, safer and hassle-free way of transacting in their everyday lives.
We want to play an active role in supporting the economic growth of Penang through the facilitation of a digital payment system for local merchants. Homegrown small merchants such as hawker joints and mamak operators will benefit greatly from Touch ‘n Go eWallet as it would help them innovate and stay relevant in the current market landscape. Beyond that, we realised the importance of empowering local startups to cultivate a healthy and thriving business landscape and have established partnerships local, homegrown brands, MULA and DeliverEat.”
Touch ‘n Go eWallet’s foray into Penang is in line with the Penang State Government’s agenda of ‘Penang2030’; an action plan that focuses on improving the liveability, economy, civil participation and balanced development to achieve a ‘Family-focused, Green and Smart State’. Under this plan, Touch ‘n Go eWallet’s support contributes to a vibrant local economy and Penang becoming a green and smart state – with cashless eliminating the need for paper transactions or receipts and the technologically advanced eWallet with its exclusive key features contributing to Penang becoming a more connected and smarter city.
Chief Minister of Penang, Chow Kon Yeow said, “This is a terrific initiative by TNG Digital to elevate Penang to greater digital heights. We want to thank Touch ‘n Go eWallet for its continued efforts that benefit not only the everyday consumers but also our local merchants. I am thrilled to see our local businesses adopt and implement the Touch ‘n Go eWallet as their digital payment mode. With yet more upcoming collaborations with TNG Digital to enable more various other partners such as LinkBike and eGovernment services via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, I believe that Penang will be well on its way to becoming a truly cashless state.”
This initiative is part of a longer-term strategy for Touch ‘n Go eWallet in Penang as the leading eWallet sets its sights on the Northern island, bringing the latest technology in the digital payments landscape to Penang. Touch ‘n Go eWallet began its venture in Penang in 2018, establishing partnerships with local homegrown startups; MULA and DeliverEat where Touch ‘n Go eWallet is offered as a mode of payment for customers using these services. Since then, Touch ‘n Go eWallet is looking to triple its merchant base in Penang within the coming year, adding to its existing total of 110,000 merchants nationwide, with 7 million current users.
In expanding financial inclusivity to the people of Penang, Touch ‘n Go eWallet is extending the reach of the Government’s latest initiative, ‘e-Tunai Rakyat’ where eligible Malaysians can receive RM30 each into their respective eWallet accounts starting 15 January 2020 onwards.