Malaysians Can Now Use DuitNow QR In Five Overseas Nations

Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has officially expanded its cross-border retail payments infrastructure, enabling outbound DuitNow QR connectivity across five overseas destinations through a partnership with Ant International’s Alipay+. Announced on 28 October 2026, the bilateral integration allows outbound Malaysian travellers to scan merchant Alipay+ QR codes abroad directly using their domestic mobile banking applications, eliminating the need to set up separate foreign e-wallets or currency exchange accounts. The rollout initialises with participating retail banks Maybank, CIMB, and Hong Leong Bank across China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines, and Laos. The initiative follows PayNet recording nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025, representing a 150 percent surge over 2024 figures.

Key Facts

Where Can Malaysians Use DuitNow QR Abroad?

Malaysians can use DuitNow QR across five initial regional markets: mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines, and Laos. In these destinations, transactions are accepted wherever merchants display the Alipay+ acceptance mark, allowing travellers to pay directly from existing Malaysian ringgit bank accounts without separate local currency funding.

The outward expansion builds upon an earlier bilateral corridor that previously enabled foreign visitors to scan Malaysian DuitNow QR codes using incoming Alipay+ partner wallets. PayNet confirmed that these initial five markets are the baseline phase, with further bilateral routes planned as negotiations conclude with regional settlement bodies. Outbound DuitNow QR acceptance is operational across five territories, with expansion scheduled across further regional markets over time.

Which Malaysian Banks Support the Alipay+ Integration?

The cross-border payment integration currently supports account holders from Maybank, CIMB, and Hong Leong Bank. Customers of these three commercial lenders can initiate overseas payments natively within their respective mobile banking apps, while users of Bank Islam will gain access later, as integration work remains pending without a specified release date.

Operationally, users open the standard QR scanner inside their existing Maybank, CIMB, or Hong Leong Bank mobile applications, scan the merchant's Alipay+ QR display, review the converted payment amount, and authenticate the transfer. Users do not need to register an Alipay+ profile or download third-party software. Only Maybank, CIMB, and Hong Leong Bank support the cross-border feature at launch, leaving other domestic institutions pending integration.

Why Is PayNet Expanding Cross-Border Connectivity?

PayNet is scaling regional merchant routing to address rapidly growing cross-border payment traffic, having logged nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025 alone. This milestone represented a 150 percent annual surge compared to 2024, with settlement demand driven primarily by commercial and retail transactions originating from or linked to mainland China.

The technical deployment also directly aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia's regulatory framework for interoperable, secure, and cost-efficient regional retail payment networks. PayNet stated it will continue partnering with regional payment switches and local financial institutions to expand compatibility to more banking applications and destination markets. Cross-border retail transaction volumes handled by PayNet grew 150 percent year-on-year to nearly 30 million transactions in 2025.

What It Means for Malaysian Buyers

For Malaysian residents travelling to China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines, and Laos, this development removes the friction of foreign wallet registration or cash currency exchange for routine retail purchases. Users holding active transaction accounts with Maybank, CIMB, or Hong Leong Bank can transact immediately at supported terminals, relying entirely on existing security tokens and biometric authentication methods already established in their banking apps.

Customers banking with other domestic institutions, including Bank Islam, Public Bank, RHB, or standalone non-bank digital wallets, must wait for subsequent integration phases or continue relying on traditional international debit and credit cards. Travellers should also note that overseas merchant acceptance is strictly limited to retail points displaying the official Alipay+ logo rather than unlinked proprietary QR codes. Domestic bank customers gain native ringgit-account settlement across five overseas markets, though app availability remains limited to three banking institutions at launch.

Common Questions

How do travellers make a payment abroad using DuitNow QR?

Open the QR scanning feature within a supported Malaysian banking app, scan the merchant's Alipay+ QR code, verify the local and converted transaction totals, and confirm the payment. No foreign app download, standalone e-wallet profile, or separate Alipay+ account registration is required.

Which financial institutions support the overseas feature at launch?

Maybank, CIMB, and Hong Leong Bank are the only banks supporting the feature at launch. PayNet has confirmed that Bank Islam will implement outbound cross-border processing at a later stage, though an official timeline has not been disclosed.

Which countries accept DuitNow QR via Alipay+?

Outbound merchant scanning is operational in five destinations: mainland China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines, and Laos. PayNet plans to add further international territories alongside financial institutions and regional cross-border partners over time.

Sources and Methodology

Data compiled from PayNet's official press announcement and cross-border connectivity documentation, verified via Lowyat.NET reporting published 28 October 2026. Transaction volume growth metrics and institutional participation rosters reflect official PayNet operating records. No foreign currency exchange calculations or unverified dates were introduced beyond the primary disclosure.