Paying with your phone abroad is about to feel a lot more like paying at home. Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has switched on outbound DuitNow QR payments through Alipay+, so Malaysians can now scan to pay at participating merchants in five overseas markets using the banking app they already have on their phone.
The connectivity went live on 28 October 2026. There is no separate wallet to download and no Alipay+ account to create: you open the DuitNow QR function in your Malaysian banking app, scan a merchant QR that carries the Alipay+ logo, then review and confirm the payment in the same app.
Quick facts
- Where: China, Hong Kong SAR, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos, with more markets added progressively.
- Which banks: Maybank, CIMB and Hong Leong Bank at launch, with Bank Islam set to join soon.
- How: scan the merchant's Alipay+ QR from your banking app's DuitNow QR screen, then confirm.
- What you need: nothing new, no extra app and no Alipay+ account.
- Why now: part of PayNet's cross-border roadmap, aligned with Bank Negara Malaysia's push for faster, more inclusive regional payments.
How it works
At a participating merchant in any of the five destinations, you open the DuitNow QR payment function inside your bank's app and scan the merchant's QR code showing the Alipay+ logo. The amount, the merchant and the exchange are shown for you to review and confirm, all within the same app. For anyone who already pays by DuitNow QR at a mamak or a pasar back home, the steps are identical.
Where you can use it
The launch covers five markets that are among the most common destinations for Malaysian travellers and shoppers: China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines and Laos. PayNet says more markets will be switched on over time as it extends the service.
Why it matters
DuitNow is already woven into daily life here. Malaysians made 5.4 billion DuitNow payments in 2025, and the average DuitNow transfer is worth about RM669. Extending that habit across borders means less fumbling for cash or foreign wallets on a trip, and it keeps the rails Malaysians already trust working when they leave the country. It also builds on earlier moves to open up the network, such as Paydibs connecting directly to PayNet.
"Cross-border payments should feel as familiar as paying at home. This connectivity gives Malaysians an easier way to pay abroad," said Praveen Rajan, Chief Executive Officer of PayNet. He added that the tie-up shows how collaboration between banks and global payment partners can extend Malaysia's national payment infrastructure beyond its borders, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia's vision for more efficient regional payments.
