News & Reviews:   singapore

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) today announced the launch of cross-border real-time payment systems connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore. This allows for instant person-to-person (P2P) cross-border fund transfers via Malaysia’s DuitNow and Singapore’s PayNow systems.

There have been quite a few friendly tensions between Malaysia and Singapore lately. As most of you know, Singapore has added six dates of concerts for Coldplay while Malaysia only has one. Then there's also Jocelyn Chia who crossed the line about MH370. And now, there's a drama going on between a Grab delivery partner and two Singaporean men.

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) has revealed that Malaysia and Singapore may hold a round table on cyber security every year. Its Minister, Fahmi Fadzil said that both countries are currently discussing the need for the round table in order to boost cyber security.

Singapore recently inaugurated a new central body to regulate a sweeping range of gambling services, including loot boxes in online video games. Called the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA), the central body seeks to stay ahead amidst shifting trends and a blurring of the line between gambling and gaming.

Grab Malaysia today announced the launch of Grab Intercity, a new service that allows users to purchase bus and ferry tickets via the Grab app. The service has over 15,000 routes to purchase tickets for, including direct bus routes to Singapore.

BigPay today announced the launch of cash pickup services in Indonesia and the Philippines, a new addition to its existing remittance services. Called ‘Cash Pickup’, this new feature allows BigPay users in Malaysia and Singapore to send money to recipients in the aforementioned countries even if the recipients don’t have any bank accounts.

A new study by Visa have found that 93 percent of consumers in Southeast Asia have embraced cashless payment methods, including cards, contactless cards and mobile contactless, mobile wallets and QR code payments. Furthermore, the study found that 74 percent of Malaysian consumers have successfully gone cashless.

Users of the Touch ‘n Go eWallet can now use the platform outside of Malaysia, specifically across the Causeway in Singapore. Announced by the Touch ‘n Go Group via TNG Digital Sdn Bhd today, the company is collaborating with Alipay+ in allowing for the eWallet to be used in paying for ComfortDelGro taxis in Singapore.

Did you know that before the pandemic, the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore air route was the busiest international air route in the world? Well, the route may become more environmentally-friendly if all of the flights would follow this maiden passenger flight by Malaysia Airlines using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

If you are a Fave user, you would be glad to know that a new Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service called FavePay Later in Malaysia and Singapore. It will an interest-free credit which can be used to over 40,000 stores as a pilot. For now, it's rolling out on iOS users today, followed by an Android release in July 2021.