KUCHING: Sarawak’s homegrown e-wallet, SPay Global, is gearing up for cross-border usage across six countries as one of its key initiatives slated for rollout this year.
SiliconNet Technologies Sdn Bhd (SNT) General Manager Hii Saan Chieng said while SPay Global already supports international transactions via UnionPay, the DuitNow integration is expected to make cross-border payments even more seamless.
He said it is currently undergoing testing for compatibility with payment platforms in China, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia.
“For the nationwide rollout, we had to test SPay Global with all banks under the DuitNow platform.
“As for cross-border payments, we’re currently testing compatibility with platforms in China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries.
“Once those connections are fully established through DuitNow, SPay Global can be used in those countries as well,” he said during the Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (SAINS) Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri event here Saturday.
On the same note, Hii said merchants using SPay Global have also begun transitioning to a new national QR code.
This, he said, streamlined transactions and allowed customers to scan a single code using various wallets including Touch ‘n Go, Boost and GrabPay.
“When cross-border goes live, international e-wallets like WeChat Pay and Alipay will also be able to scan this national QR code.
“It benefits both merchants and users by opening more payment channels – whether in Sarawak, Peninsular Malaysia, or overseas,” he added.
Additionally, he noted that user adoption has surged since the rollout of the Sumbangan Keperluan Asas Sarawak (SKAS) initiative.
Noting this was the first time SPay Global was used to disburse aid, he said the response has been very encouraging.
“We have seen our new registrations double, bringing the total number of registered users to 1.5 million,” he added.
According to Hii, many users experienced e-wallet features for the first time through SKAS, while merchants gained exposure to digital transactions.
He expressed optimism that future initiatives can build on this momentum, with SPay Global offering a familiar and controlled platform for aid distribution.
“We observed the surge in the last quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of this year.
“It’s likely due to both SKAS and the DuitNow rollout, which made it more appealing.
“Users realised they only need one app to pay bills, buy goods, and even travel,” he said.
