Grab Malaysia is continuing its collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) to support the Retail Digitisation Initiative (ReDI) specifically in Pangkor Island.
ReDI aims to digitalise MSMEs across Malaysia, thus helping Pangkor businesses thrive in the new normal. Through the initiative, Grab strives to bring on board businesses to the platform and help them embrace cashless adoption as the Government encourages tourism to the island.
Present at the launch of ReDI in Pangkor was Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs and Datuk Seri Hj. Hasnol Zam Zam bin Hj. Ahmad, Secretary General Minister of Domestic Trade & Consumer Affairs. To mark the launch of ReDI, KPDNHEP also gave out RM20 in GrabPay credits to the first 100 members of the public who visited the Grab booth which can then be used to support their local businesses.
Extending the effort to Pangkor is timely as Malaysia transitions towards an endemic status and reopens its borders which may potentially see tourist hotspots like Pangkor blossom once again.
“We are honoured to continue our collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) in the ReDI effort. This ongoing partnership reflects our long-standing commitment to provide inclusive solutions and encourage more Malaysians to embrace the digital economy. We hope that our collaborative effort with the Ministry and the Manjung Municipal Council will see more small and traditional businesses in Pangkor adopt a cashless culture as they recover from the steep decline in tourism caused by the pandemic,” said Ben Chin, Director of Outer Cities Operations, Grab Malaysia.
Commitment to drive cashless adoption for an inclusive digital economy
In addition to helping businesses digitalise, Grab also collaborated with Paynet to roll out the GrabPay DuitNow QR to encourage consumers to adopt cashless payments through the use of an interoperable QR code. The DuitNow QR provides consumers with a safe and easy payment method for in-store purchases, and gives merchants access to millions of consumers who are moving towards a digital-first lifestyle. “We hope that this will encourage Pangkor tourists to transact conveniently and seamlessly for all their holiday and recreational needs. We are committed to working alongside the ministry and council to ensure a smooth digitalisation journey for both these MSMEs and the locals,” added Chin.
This is the second time Grab and KPDNHEP are collaborating to support small businesses. In 2021, both parties launched the Minggu Peniaga Kecil which impacted thousands of MSMEs through a monthly Grab-fully funded promotional campaign to increase sales and adapt to the growing demand for online services. Additionally, Grab also supported the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation in its 2020 and 2021 Shop Malaysia Online (SMO) campaign that aimed to encourage businesses to embrace the digital economy while encouraging consumer spending.
