KUALA LUMPUR: Although the e-wallet uptake is still low in the country, food truck operators and small traders are hoping that more Malaysians will gradually shift towards cashless payment.
To realise the government’s aspiration of transforming the nation into a cashless society, the food truck operators said it was imperative for e-wallet providers to continue introducing programmes to get consumers to adopt the method.
Apart from introducing incentives, such as discounts and coupons, they also called on e-wallet providers to come up with convenient ways to reload their accounts besides organising campaigns to raise awareness and encourage cashless transactions.
Koperasi Komuniti Food Truck Malaysia Bhd president Mohamed Shaharini Abd Ghani said e-wallet users would increase whenever there were events that provided coupons or rebates for cashless transactions.
“We only see a boost in e-wallet use during certain events, when the organisers offer coupons or rebates to those who make purchases through e-wallets.
“Providing such incentives certainly encourages the public to shift to e-wallet,” he said, adding that only one per cent of customers preferred to use an e-wallet despite the huge number of food truck operators providing the payment option.
Shaharini is also the director of ES Fusion, which runs “Syah Flavor”, known for its Char Koay Teow with three food trucks in Bangi, Selangor and Dataran Pahlawan Melaka.
He added that e-wallet providers should allow consumers to top up at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven.
This, he said, would help to increase the number of customers using e-wallet and get them to participate in the government’s agenda of digitising the nation’s economy.
TAPAK Urban Street Dining managing director Syed Mohd Izmir Syed Amir, however, said incentives could only go so far and stressed the need to create awareness.
“They should collaborate with park operators to create a more impactful campaign.”
Syed Izmir suggested that the e-wallet service in Malaysia should be consolidated for convenience.
“Since there are too many platforms, it can be troublesome for food trucks to adopt to each and every brand.
“Service providers should talk and listen to industry players and try to understand the operation.
“If there is any possibility of consolidating every brand under a single app, that should be the way to getting more Malaysians to adopt the e-wallet payment option,” he said, adding that Tapak owns six food truck parks and more than 100 food trucks operating daily in the Klang Valley.
Syed Izmir was referring to reports about 40 e-wallet service providers in the country. Among the familiar platforms were Touch ‘n Go, Boost, GrabPay, VCash, Razer Pay, Fave, KipplePay and Air Asia’s BigPay.
Small trader Mohd Said Yusuf, 47, said although cash was the most convenient, going cashless was a good move for the future.
“Most of my customers purchase food for RM5 or RM7. And if it is a bulk order amounting to RM100, for example, they will usually do an online transfer.
“Going cashless is good and will be the future soon.
“Having said that, it is a long way to go until Malaysians can transform into a cashless society.
“We will, perhaps, register for e-wallet in a week or two,” said Said, who runs Nasi Lemak Puteri in Denai Alam, Selangor.
A goreng pisang stall operator also said she had not adopted the e-wallet service as her customers were fine with paying in cash.