FELDA SETTLERS ADAPTING TO DIGITAL ERA WITH CASHLESS PAYMENTS

JEMPOL, July 5 (Bernama) -- Cashless transactions are now gaining ground among Felda settlers, making business dealings more efficient and secure while reducing dependence on holding cash.

Through this cashless method, settlers and small traders in Felda Palong in Jempol now use faster and safer payment transactions, thus driving economic progress in the area.

Nur Shafini Yaman, 38, said using cashless digital payment systems or QR Codes in sales and purchases makes it easier for small traders like herself.

“… we (Felda residents) don’t need to go to town to withdraw money. Before (using this method) we had to travel to Bahau, Jempol to go to the bank, but buyers now only need to make payment via QR Code,” she told Bernama.

The ice cream and waffle seller said the cashless initiative provides organised financial transaction records, allowing business dealings to be more structured than conventional methods.

In agreement with her, Nurzuliana Zulkifli, 33, said she does not need to keep a lot of cash on her when selling food, adding that by going cashless the risk of losing money is also reduced. 

She said that through the digital platform, merchants can also expand the reach of the sales market and offer various payment options to customers, making the business more competitive and relevant.

Felda Palong 7 head, Shamsudi Basir said the initiative of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to focus on settlers, enabling them to be familiar with the digital platform, was the right move.

“We encourage using cashless options among Felda citizens in this digital era, where all settlers, especially the first and second generations, must be exposed to cashless payment methods, so this platform should be utilised well.

“This government effort is to ensure that settlers do not fall behind in technological developments, especially among young entrepreneurs,” he said, adding that all payments at government offices and private agencies here also use cashless payments.

The programme of Cashless Society @Nadi Palong 7 today was also attended by state MCMC director Md Tahir Musa as well as the agency’s strategic partners such as Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK), Maybank, Setel (Petronas), Sakupay, TM UNIFI, and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).

The Cashless Society programme is a high-impact initiative by the federal government to drive the growth of the country’s digital economy in line with the Financial Sector Blueprint 2022-2026, which targets an average of 400 digital transactions per individual by 2026.

-- BERNAMA