Touch ‘n Go Sdn Bhd has launched a 3-month campaign in Penang to encourage cashless and seamless payment options for an integrated mobility experience covering toll, transit and parking among Penangites.
An officiation ceremony for the campaign was held today at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Georgetown which was graced by Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Chow Kon Yeow as the guest of honour. The event was also attended by Penang state officials, and various government agencies.
Touch ‘n Go Chief Executive Officer, Praba Sangarajoo said, “Penang has a clear objective of building a resilient digital infrastructure by 2030. Considering the pivotal role that transportation plays in the development of any city or region, an efficient mobility ecosystem not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also drives economic growth and environmental sustainability.
“Being a homegrown fintech company and a pioneer in integrated mobility solutions, Touch ‘n Go is excited to play a key role in driving Penang’s smart city agenda through the introduction of high-value products and solutions that incorporate the latest innovations in RFID and NFC technology to enable a seamless and integrated mobility experience for Penangites,” he said.
Commenting on Touch ‘n Go’s presence in Penang, YAB Chow Kon Yeow said, “The implementation of e-payment services, such as Touch ‘n Go RFID, is encouraged as it is convenient, efficient, and secure. With Touch ‘n Go embarking on this journey with us, we are confident of the ability to achieve the state’s mission to go 100 percent cashless by the year 2030. The state applauds Touch ‘n Go’s initiative and support, and we would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude for organizing this campaign to assist and equip Penangites with the right tools to go fully cashless.”
The “Walao Eh Just In Penang” roadshow will run from now till December 2023 across multiple locations in Penang Island and Seberang Perai. The roadshow aims to introduce seamless mobility solutions to Penangites, in the form of Touch ‘n Go’s RFID and enhanced Touch ‘n Go card. A specially fitted mobile truck will be parked at key locations and Penangites will be able to enjoy special campaign offers on RFID tags as well as purchase exclusive Touch ‘n Go bundle sets consisting of one RFID tag and an enhanced Touch ‘n Go card. Users will also be able to enjoy instant rebates upon purchase of these products at the roadshow locations. They can also opt to get complimentary fitment of their RFID tag to their vehicles by the fitment crew on site.
Touch ‘n Go has led the digital transformation of Malaysia’s progress towards a cashless society for more than 2 decades, with the Touch ‘n Go card playing a significant role as one of the initial drivers of cashless mobility. This payment form factor has since expanded across other mobility verticals, creating an integrated platform within the nation’s growing and increasingly complex mobility ecosystem for people to conveniently pay for tolls, bus, ferry and rail transportation, and parking.
The introduction of Touch ‘n Go’s Near-Field Communication (“NFC”) reload capabilities was a real game changer to how Touch ‘n Go products are used for cashless payments as it enabled users to conveniently perform reloads directly via their mobile phones within seconds, anytime, anywhere. Besides the enhanced Touch ‘n Go card, the company added special design cards and charms to its NFC-enabled product range, allowing more personalization for its users. Users are also assured that their transactions using these products are safe and secure through the Touch ‘n Go eWallet.
Beyond tolls and transit, Touch ‘n Go’s cashless convenience extends to seamless payments for carparks. There are approximately 1,500 Touch ‘n Go-enabled parking sites nationwide, with 125 in Penang alone, where users need not worry about having enough cash for parking or locating a machine or kiosk to make payment. They can also have peace of mind within the carpark vicinity when they sign up for Touch ‘n Go’s personal accident insurance/takaful, ParkInsure, which provides them insurance protection within these carparks when they utilize their Touch ‘n Go card for entry. At a premium of RM5 per month via the Touch ‘n Go eWallet, ParkInsure is affordable and accessible to all segments of the public.
Touch ‘n Go RFID was developed with the objective of providing a more seamless and convenient way of making toll payments. Beyond enabling seamless payments for tolls, the RFID mobility use case also enables contactless fuel payments. As more and more people appreciate the seamless convenience which RFID offers, there has been strong growth in its adoption and usage, and there are currently 3 million RFID customers to date.
At the event, Praba also presented a mock cheque for RM50,000 to YAB Chow Kon Yeow, being a contribution to Jabatan Kebajikan Malaysia for the development of key initiatives and programmes which focus on digital inclusion and tech literacy for the various local communities.
“Human talent plays a pivotal role in driving the smart city and digital agenda forward. I hope that our contribution to Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat in support of key initiatives to advance digital inclusion in Penang will bring about more progress and transformation, especially among the youth groups and underprivileged communities,” said Praba.
A second mock cheque of RM15,000 was presented to Penang Heritage Trust for the preservation and conservation of heritage buildings in Penang.
Visitors to the “Walao Eh Just In Penang” roadshow locations will enjoy various fun activities, as well as the chance to win exciting prizes such as Touch ‘n Go eWallet reload PINs, vouchers, and merchandise. Complimentary RFID tag fitment will also be available. For more information and the list of the roadshow locations, visit https://www.touchngo.com.my/promotion/penang-rfid-campaign-2023.
