PUTRAJAYA: Public response towards the e-Tunai initiative has been overwhelming, with about 200,000 applications received as of noon today.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said of those applications, 160,000 had been approved.
According to him, the encouraging figures dispel an earlier media report that the e-Tunai initiative had received a lukewarm response.
“We have even received reports that some e-wallet applications hang, especially the Touch `n Go e-Wallet, because many users will not want to miss getting an extra RM30 from the operator on top of the RM30 from the government,” he said, after presenting an allocation of RM100 million to upgrade and maintain tahfiz schools, pondok schools and Sekolah Menengah Agama Rakyat.
Starting from 8am today, Malaysians aged 18 and above with an annual income of RM100,000 and below can start applying for the RM30 free shopping money given under the e-Tunai initiative via three e-wallet operators- Grab, Boost and Touch 'n Go e-wallet.
It was reported those qualified can apply for their RM30 until March 9 and had until March 14 to spend it.
The government expect about 15 million Malaysians to benefit from the initiative, which provides those eligible with a one-time RM30 free shopping money.
The RM450 million e-Tunai Rakyat initiative is designed to widen digital payments adoption among Malaysian consumers and merchants, particularly among small retail businesses.
The initiative was part of the government's commitment to fulfil the Shared Prosperity agenda by reducing barriers to digitalisation and improving financial inclusivity in the country.