E-wallets not a convenience for some petty traders

While electronic payment solutions may offer consumers many benefits, there are some drawbacks for petty traders.

Several wet market traders in SS2, Petaling Jaya interviewed told Malaysiakini that an "e-wallet" transaction takes up more time.

Many traders at the market have already put up QR codes for their e-wallet accounts several months ago with the help of agents from payment firms.

A normal transaction would see a buyer scanning the QR code and keying-in the amount they wish to transfer.

The vendor would then have to check their phones if they had receive the correct amount.

For roasted poultry seller Agnes Chong (above), this process can be pretty cumbersome since vendors need to operate a mobile phone, on top of handling cash.

"Take the you tiao (Chinese crullers) seller at the adjacent stall. By the time he's done with one transaction, his wares might already be charred.

"If you're busy, you probably won't want to use it. For me, I'll put the QR code card away during the busy festival months," Chong said.

Sometimes, new users don't know how to pay using e-wallets and Chong said she had to spend time teaching them - an added inconvenience.

Another problem for Chong was the fact that transactions take two days to reach her bank account.

"If we rely on e-wallet transactions exclusively, then we will have to dig our reserves to pay suppliers first.

"If it's a small amount, then it is okay. If it involves a large amount, then I think vendors might shy away from e-wallets," she said.

Several of the traders at the markets said they have had a limited number of e-wallet transactions in the past, but expected it to pick up, now that the federal government is encouraging it.

Vegetable and fruit seller Kelly Ho (above) believes that e-wallet transactions do have benefits.

For instance, Ho said, consumers, don't have to wait for change when transacting with e-wallets and it was safer for them too.

As a vendor, she said, e-wallets make recording transactions easier.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng was at the market yesterday morning to promote the use of e-wallets.

The federal government is incentivising the use of e-wallets by offering RM30 for new sign-ups to three e-wallet providers.

"This is is an important step towards a cashless society, which will help to practice transparency and accountability.

"If (one day) we go completely cashless, we can cut down a lot of corruption," Lim said. - Mkini