MOF Dismisses False Claims on New QR Payment Charges

Malaysia's Ministry of Finance (MOF) has officially debunked viral claims alleging that a new service charge will be imposed on quick response (QR) code payments starting 1 November 2026. Responding to an unauthorised infographic circulated across social media platforms including Facebook and Threads under the banner of "Vyra News", the ministry confirmed that no such consumer levy has been announced or planned. For Malaysian consumers, retail payments processed via national digital payment infrastructure remain entirely free of transaction surcharges, maintaining zero-fee retail transactions across daily commerce.

Key Facts

Will Consumers Be Charged for QR Payments From 1 November 2026?

Malaysian consumers will not face any service charges or surcharges when making payments using QR codes from 1 November 2026. The Ministry of Finance dismissed the circulating claims as entirely unfounded, clarifying that no government body or national payment provider has instituted or scheduled transaction fees for retail shoppers scanning QR codes.

The viral post mimicked an authentic news graphic using the imprint "Vyra News" to spread claims across social channels. The MOF reiterated that members of the public should avoid sharing unverified digital assets and rely solely on official government channels to verify regulatory adjustments. The Ministry of Finance confirmed that retail QR code payments in Malaysia carry zero consumer service charges.

How Does the DuitNow QR Fee Structure Actually Work?

National QR transactions operate under Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), which maintains that consumer-facing DuitNow QR transactions remain completely cost-free. While end users pay no fees, commercial merchants are subject to a standard merchant discount rate (MDR) on specific transactions, an established industry fee structure that has existed for several years.

The merchant discount rate is a baseline transaction processing fee levied on businesses, completely distinct from the retail payment amount scanned by shoppers at checkouts. Conflating standard commercial acquiring terms with consumer retail fees is a recurring driver of online misinformation. PayNet maintains zero consumer transaction fees across the DuitNow QR network, with merchant discount rates functioning as a separate commercial mechanism.

What It Means for Malaysian Buyers

For Malaysian shoppers and daily commuters relying on cashless transactions, the official clarification guarantees that scanning DuitNow QR codes at hawker stalls, retail outlets, and commercial chains incurs no extra costs. Consumers do not need to adjust their digital spending habits or switch to physical cash ahead of November 2026.

The ubiquity of the national unified QR standard across retail touchpoints means payment parity remains unchanged nationwide. Users should disregard unverified payment warnings shared via messaging apps and social media, as official fiscal or banking adjustments are communicated directly via Bank Negara Malaysia, PayNet, or the Ministry of Finance. Malaysian consumers can continue using national QR payment facilities across all participating merchants without paying additional service fees.

Common Questions

Are customers charged extra fees when scanning DuitNow QR codes?

No, customers pay no service fees or surcharges when paying via QR codes. Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) stipulates that retail QR code transactions remain entirely free for all consumer end-users across the country.

What originated the claim about a 1 November service fee?

The claim originated from an unofficial digital poster carrying a "Vyra News" logo shared across Threads and Facebook. The Ministry of Finance officially classified the graphic as false information on 19 October 2026.

Do businesses pay any fees to process QR payments?

Yes, merchants may incur a standard merchant discount rate (MDR) applied to processing transaction values. This standard commercial fee has been operational for years and does not alter consumer transaction amounts.

Sources and Methodology

Information sourced from the official Ministry of Finance (MOF) Malaysia public notice published via Facebook and corroborated by payment operational terms from Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), documented on 19 October 2026. No foreign currency conversions were required as all fee evaluations directly reference domestic Malaysian Ringgit (RM) consumer transaction policies.