PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department is looking into allowing e-wallets as a payment method, in line with the government’s push to create a cashless society.
Immigration director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said if everything went according to plan, e-wallets could be used to pay for immigration matters as early as June.
“We are discussing and studying e-wallets as a payment option once the (cashless) system is fully implemented on June 1,” he said during a walkabout at the Putrajaya Immigration Department recently.
The Immigration Department is among the early adopters of the cashless system.
It implemented an e-payment system last month, accepting payments only via debit and credit cards.
This was part of the government’s move towards a cashless society.
Yesterday, the government rolled out the e-Tunai Rakyat initiative to encourage the public to use e-wallets for digital payments.
The initiative is part of the government’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to reduce barriers to digital technology and to make the digitalisation process inclusive for all.
However, the Immigration Department’s move caught many by surprise.
Reports said customers in several states were taken aback when they found out they could not pay for their transactions in cash at the department’s offices.
Khairul Dzaimee, however, believed that the public had adapted well to the cashless system.
“They say the system eases their dealings with the department.”
He said some divisions under Immigration had shown good progress since the adoption of the cashless system.
“For passport management, we have a 100 per cent success rate. In other divisions, such as visa management or foreign worker management, we have a 60 to 70 per cent success rate.
“This was achieved during the trial period, so it’s a good sign for us to fully implement the cashless system from June 1.”
On how the Immigration Department would help those who did not have bank accounts adapt to the cashless system, Khairul Dzaimee said the department would still have a cash payment counter.
“This is only for certain cases, such as foreigners and students who do not have bank accounts. They can pay with cash.
“For now, there will still be counters that accept cash.”