Don’t charge extra for cashless payments, traders told

A trader in Melaka was fined RM200 on Wednesday for imposing a 1% charge on e-wallet transactions.

KOTA KINABALU: Traders have been warning against imposing additional charges on customers who pay by cashless means. “The law does not allow additional charges on customers who pay using QR codes, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said today.

Traders found doing so would face firm action under the law, Bernama quoted him as saying.

“This is the rule set by Bank Negara Malaysia. We will take action if there are traders who charge extra on users for cashless payment,” he told reporters after attending a private company’s bus and lorry handover programme in Papar today.

On Wednesday, domestic trade officers in Melaka issued a RM200 compound on a stall selling food when it imposed an additional charge of 1% on each e-wallet transaction.

Armizan said cashless payments were a global trend. There is no law or regulation that prevents any business premises from accepting only cashless payments, he said.

“It is the merchant’s decision whether or not they give the option for cashless or cash payment. Consumers have the right to choose to patronise premises that offer their preferred payment method,” he said.

However, some consumers are still not used to using cashless transactions, especially in areas with telecommunications issues.

The ministry would look into complaints from users to see whether a local community still needs cash transactions. “We will negotiate with the business premises involved so that they can consider allowing cash transactions. We don’t just wash our hands on the matter,” he said.