Malaysians can look forward to using PayNet’s DuitNow QR to pay for items throughout Southeast Asian countries and Japan soon. This comes after Japan revealed that they’re making their QR code payment systems compatible with Southeast Asian countries.
According to reports by Nikkei Asia, the tentative start date for this initiative will be in April 2025. This will offer Malaysians a chance to make cashless payments within different countries without the need to change money.
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry asserted that they have held extensive discussions with Southeast Asian governments and central banks, including with Indonesia and Cambodia to make this a reality.
Japan has gained a reputation for being one of the few developed countries that still prefer the use of cash over cashless payments. However, efforts are being made to adopt more cashless systems. They have thus started standardising QR code payment systems within the country. This new payment payment is called JPQR, which allows payments to be made through different service providers with a single JPQR-based code, similar to DuitNow QR in Malaysia.
Currently, Malaysians can already use DuitNow QR in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia thanks to a collaboration between these nations’ governments and central banks. Should things proceed smoothly, Malaysians will soon be able to enjoy a more convenient travelling experience to Japan from 2025 onwards.
