KUCHING: Beginning next month, Sarawak Pay can be used globally as it has collaborated with China’s e-payment service provider Union Pay. The collaboration allows the state government’s cashless mobile payment to be accepted under Union Pay.
On top of that, to stop the app from sounding like its usage is confined to Sarawak only, Sarawak Pay will be rebranded as S Pay.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said unlike before Sarawak Pay or S Pay can now be used across the globe as long as retailers accept Union Pay.
“In China we can make use S Pay, and in Singapore they accept Union Pay too,” he told reporters after attending ‘Government Linked Agencies (GLC) Leaders’ Dialogue with Temasek Holdings Singapore’ organised by Sarawak Centre of Performance Excellence (SCOPE) and the State Financial Secretary at the centre’s auditorium in Yayasan Sarawak building, Masjid Road yesterday.
On the rebranding of Sarawak Pay to S Pay, Abang Johari said the state government wants the mobile payment to be global in nature.
“We have consulted experts in marketing in regards to the changed name. The suggested one was S Pay, which can mean Sarawak Pay or Smart Pay,” he said.
Earlier in his speech at the function, Abang Johari said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to facilitate the collaboration between Sarawak Pay and Union Pay.
“Yesterday, I signed MoU’s with Singapore as well as Union Pay. Therefore, we are going to start using Union Pay and Sarawak Pay next month,” he said.
Abang Johari further said that tourists can use Union Pay to purchase things or settle payments in Sarawak.
According to its website, Sarawak Pay was launched in 2017. It is the government’s Fintech Platform that provides the technology and business tools for secure, fast and convenient mobile wallet and digital payment transactions. This initiative is one of the strategic actions to digitise the state economy.
It allows users to keep cash digitally (e-wallet), make payments, transfer money, receive payments just like a physical wallet but with more smart functions such as split bill, request payment from friends, track transaction history, pay utilities and local council bills, and others.
