BALING 3 July 2026, (The Capital Post) – The state of Kedah continues to strengthen its digital payment agenda as efforts under the Kedah Cashless 2026 initiative gain wider public acceptance, including in rural communities, reflecting steady progress towards a fully cashless administrative ecosystem.
Dato’ Seri Norizan bin Khazali, the State Secretary of Kedah, highlighted during the Kedah Cashless 2026 Appreciation Ceremony held at Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman that the adoption of cashless payments has grown significantly due to continuous efforts by the state government to enhance digital payment systems and public service delivery.
He noted that the iBAYAQ online payment gateway, introduced in 2020 for land administration transactions, has now been expanded to all state revenue-collecting departments, with further enhancements underway to include all local authorities. The state also aims to achieve a fully cashless transaction system in the future as part of its long-term digital governance strategy.
The state government expressed appreciation to Payment Network Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (PayNet) for its strategic collaboration and sponsorship amounting to RM2 million between 2023 and 2025, which supported the implementation and promotion of the initiative.
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The ceremony also recognised high-performing land offices and local authorities for their achievements in implementing digital payment systems. In the 2025 awards, the Baling Land Office emerged as winner in the Large District Land Administration category, while the Yan Land Office won in the Small District category. For local authorities, the Kulim Municipal Council was awarded the Large District category, and the Yan District Council secured the Small District title, with each receiving RM20,000 in prize money.
Also present were Kedah State Financial Officer Dato’ Dr. Nadzman Mustafa, Kedah Director of Lands and Mines Dato’ Muhamad Arof Darus, Baling District Officer Yazlan Sunardie Che Yahaya, and Head of Government & MSME, Payment Network Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Imelda Shubari, among others. – The Capital Post
