Maybank has forecast a spike in online festive giving in Malaysia via its platform this year.
Datuk Hamirullah Boorhan, Maybank’s Head of Community Financial Services Malaysia says that the bank is expecting a 30% rise in the volume of eDuit Raya transactions performed, and projects more than RM33 million worth of eDuit Raya being sent amongst family and friends. Duit Raya are gifts of cash given to children in paper envelopes during Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Aidilfitri) visits by those who are older.
He added that eDuit Raya has gained much popularity since its launch in 2015. “Over the years,
we have been enhancing the eDuit Raya feature which has contributed to its strong acceptance.
After the Raya QR was introduced in 2018, the transaction volume grew by more than 10 times
while transaction value almost doubled. We continued to see exponential growth in 2019 with more
than 700,000 transactions for eDuit Raya,” he said.
The eDuit Raya can be given in two ways – via Raya QR on the Maybank2u App - a peer-to-peer transaction method whereby the giver scans the receiver's QR code - or via a phone number using the
MAE e-wallet in the Maybank2u App. It is open to all, including non-Maybank customers, who can
sign up for MAE from the Maybank2u App fully online, and start using the feature immediately. MAE is the first and only shari'ah-compliant e-wallet in Malaysia.
Datuk Hamirullah also announced that as an added convenience this year, the bank has expanded
the list of zakat bodies collecting zakat fitrah online. QRPay Zakat Fitrah services will enable customers to fulfil their obligations this Ramadhan via Maybank2u and Maybank QRPay securely and conveniently. With these cashless options, he projected that zakat fitrah payments via Maybank would grow by more than 100% in 2020.
“The convenience in having the eDuit Raya and zakat fitrah online services is particularly significant this year as we have to observe social distancing, crowd control and limit travelling while celebrating this festivity,” he said.
“But as the spirit of giving is important and encouraged during the holy month of Ramadhan and Hari Raya, we want to enable our customers to fulfil their obligations of paying zakat, and keep the tradition of giving duit Raya to their loved ones despite the constraints. With Maybank2u, we can continue to share our blessings and help the less fortunate while prioritising safety.”
Zakat fitrah can be paid online via the Maybank2u website while customers who prefer to use the
QRPay Zakat Fitrah only need to scan the QR code on the respective state zakat board’s websites to
make payment through their Maybank2u App. Currently, 10 State zakat bodies accept payments via
Maybank2u – Kedah, Kelantan, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Terengganu and
Wilayah Persekutuan - while Penang, Wilayah Persekutuan, Sarawak and Perak are also able to
accept payment via QRPay.
Maybank is also rewarding customers through the Raya Paling Gempak (RPG) campaign with prizes worth up to RM2 million. During the campaign period, customers can also donate to the less fortunate customers via Maybank2u website and app. Additionally, Maybank2u App users can choose to donate the cash rewards they receive from campaign initiatives to the MaybankHeart’s People’s Campaign, which aims to raise funds for at risk communities during the COVID-19 outbreak. This feature was first introduced in 2019 and raised over RM600,000 in donations for the less fortunate during the various festive seasons last year.
Zakat fitrah is an obligation on a Muslim and his dependents such as his
wife, children who have not reached maturity, and parents. The person should possess more assets than he and his dependents need on Eid al-Fitr. If he is unable to pay zakat fitrah, the dependents may pay on it for themselves and on his behalf. For those who fast, it redresses sins that occurred during fasting. The money is given to the needy.