DuitNow: Imposing charge has chain effects

SHAH ALAM - The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) opposes the move by QR DuitNow operators to impose fees on traders using the application.

Its Treasurer-General Nur Asyikin Aminuddin urges the application operator to reconsider its implementation so as not to burden anyone.

She said the implementation of these charges gave the impression that traders would transfer the burden to consumers by raising the prices of food, goods, and services.

"The action of imposing charges on users of the application will undoubtedly burden buyers and traders.

"Why should this fee be implemented when the country's economy is uncertain? Certainly, this situation will put pressure on traders until they are forced to pass the burden on to consumers," she said when contacted by Sinar yesterday.

Earlier, Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), the operator of DuitNow, confirmed that transaction fees would be imposed on users of the application starting on Nov 1.

PayNet said in a statement that when the DuitNow application was introduced in 2019, the operator had exempted the merchant discount rate (MDR) fee that should have been imposed.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Consumer Association (PPIM) chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan also urged the company to withdraw its decision to impose the fee as it would have chain implications.

Nadzim said that the operator should not only think about profits but should also take an approach to facilitate the buying and selling transactions of people who were getting more comfortable with cashless methods.

"PPIM emphasises that we do not agree at all with any proposals that burden traders and ultimately affect the public.

"However, I do not deny that the DuitNow application has a positive impact on people's lives because even without cash, they can still shop.

"However, the operator should not take advantage when most Malaysians are now using the application," he said.