KUALA LUMPUR (June 13): Digital payment service provider GHL Systems Bhd said the Alipay payment option is now up and running in over 100 merchants across more than 500 in-store locations in Malaysia.
GHL said that the pioneering merchants for the 500 locations will now be able to accept payments from Alipay app users, with more outlets expecting to adopt the system soon.
They include KK Super Mart (250 outlets), myNews.com (63 outlets), Orange Convenience Store (36 outlets), fashion footwear Crocs (26 outlets), Leather Avenue (15 outlets), 168 Stores (15 outlets), Wah Lee Electrical (13 outlets) and Ban Heang (eight outlets).
Additionally, the company foresees more merchants, chain stores, restaurants, hotels and other business establishments getting onboard with Alipay acceptance. “At least 1,000 locations are expected to be turned on by the third quarter of 2017,” it said in a statement.
The collaboration with Alipay is not GHL’s first; the company first tied up with the China-based digital payment giant in Thailand in 2016, with over 200 merchants in the country as at Feb 21 this year.
GHL group chief executive offier Danny Leong said: “We are very excited with this relationship with Alipay as we believe we have the necessary infrastructure and resources on the ground to enable this rapid deployment.
“I am proud of the team at GHL which has enabled us to achieve this milestone following our success in Thailand last year,” said Leong.
Alipay Malaysia country head Greta Gunawan said Alipay’s acceptance at the 500 locations bodes well for the convenience of Alipay users, which, at its initial stage, will come from some three million Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia.
“Alipay is going to help boost Chinese tourists spending at these merchants and better connect merchants with the Chinese customers,” said Greta.
GHL shares closed three sen or 2.01% lower at RM1.46 with over 20.77 million shares traded, giving a market capitalisation of RM966.26 million.
The counter has been trading at its five-year high for over two months, beginning with a steep 40.35% jump in two days to RM1.60 on April 5.