PETALING JAYA: Malaysians can now use supported mobile banking apps to make QR payments at participating merchants in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos through a new cross-border payment service launched by Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet).
The service connects DuitNow QR with Alipay+, the unified digital wallet gateway of Ant International, allowing users to scan merchants’ QR codes displaying the Alipay+ logo and complete transactions through their existing Malaysian banking apps.
Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank are the first three participating banks, while Bank Islam is expected to join soon.
Users do not need to download another application or create an Alipay+ account. Instead, they can access the DuitNow QR payment function in their banking app, scan the merchant’s QR code and confirm the transaction within the same application.
PayNet chief executive officer Praveen Rajan said the service would make overseas payments more convenient for Malaysians while extending the reach of the country’s national payment infrastructure.
“Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad,” he said.
Rajan added that collaboration between financial institutions and international payment partners could strengthen regional economic links by facilitating spending across borders.
The launch builds on PayNet’s existing partnership with Ant International, which has enabled travellers using supported Alipay+ partner wallets to make payments at DuitNow QR merchants in Malaysia since November 2023.
The arrangement has allowed local businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, to accept payments from international visitors through Malaysia’s national QR payment standard.
The latest development extends the service in the opposite direction, enabling Malaysian bank customers to make payments at participating Alipay+ merchants overseas. PayNet said more destinations would be added progressively.
Alipay+ connects more than two billion user accounts across over 50 international payment partners and more than 150 million merchants in over 210 markets, according to the companies.
Ant International Alipay+ Global Growth Centre general manager Danny Chung said the partnership would strengthen connections between Malaysia’s payment infrastructure and the global digital economy.
He said the collaboration aimed to improve cross-border travel and commerce, expand opportunities for businesses and consumers, and support more inclusive digital economic growth.
The expansion comes amid rising cross-border payment activity. PayNet recorded nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025, about 150% more than in 2024, with transactions linked to China accounting for much of the growth.
PayNet said the outbound QR payment service was also open to adoption by other participating banks and e-wallet providers, potentially allowing more Malaysians to access overseas QR payments through their existing applications.
The company will continue working with financial institutions and regional partners to expand the service to additional applications and markets.
