KUALA LUMPUR: The Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) has teamed up with Kiplepay Sdn Bhd to provide prepaid cashless cards for Orang Asli communities in Perak.

       The programme will be carried out through its financial aid initiative “Kasih Ibu Darul Ridzuan” (KIDR).

       NCIA said the cashless cards, which would be reloaded with RM250 monthly provided by the federal government, can be used to purchase basic necessities from local merchants, inclusive of Orang Asli merchants.

       “These merchants include 15 kedai bergerak (mobile merchants), who exist specifically to address location accessibility issues,” it said in a statement.

       NCIA chief executive Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John said the programme is in line with the government’s aim to move the entire nation forward.

       “Mobile merchants provide a service that brings them and their products to their purchasers, rather than the other way around.

       “This solves a key problem that many Orang Asli communities face, particularly those whose villages are in secluded areas that can be accessed only by four-by-four vehicles and boats.

       “By enabling mobile merchants to adopt this feature with Kiplepay’s cashless cards, NCIA hopes that even those in rural areas will be inspired to upskill their digital literacy and embrace digital change,” Jebasingam added.

       Kiplepay Sdn Bhd acting chief executive officer Ricky Lew said the move would encourage communities in rural areas to embrace digital solutions in their lives and in turn bring them more opportunities in the future.

       “With the cashless cards and payment terminals powered by Kiplepay, Orang Asli recipients and merchants will be exposed and have access to safer, contactless payment transactions,” he added.

       Kulop bin Pandak, a retailer at Kampung Orang Asli Tumbuh Hangat in Bota, said the programme helps increase the sales of his business and ease the burden of high cost of living for the recipients.

       He hoped the KIDR initative would continue and be expanded to more eligible recipients.

       The programme has benefitted 4,701 recipients including 1,094 Orang Asli communities in 2021.

       To date, it has onboarded 150 merchants, of which 25 are from the Orang Asli communities.