Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet), Malaysia’s national payments network, has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Ant International. This Chinese company provides global digital payments and financial technology services. This new agreement strengthens their partnership and will help improve digital payment solutions.
The renewed partnership will focus on four main areas: boosting tourism with cross-border digital payments, improving fraud protection, developing talent, and promoting sustainability.
With this new MoU, Malaysia’s national QR standard, DuitNow QR, will be accepted worldwide through Ant International’s payment network, Alipay+.
This means Malaysian travellers will soon be able to pay overseas using their local e-wallet or banking app at millions of Alipay+ merchants worldwide. It greatly expands the global reach of DuitNow QR and makes it easier for Malaysians to use their favorite payment app while traveling abroad.
Ant International is honored to have been a contributor to Malaysia’s innovation and growth story for over a decade, thanks to the country’s visionary digital economy agenda and support of industry leaders like PayNet.
“We are committed to deepening our investments and partnerships in Malaysia, to help strengthen its position as a key fintech hub in Southeast Asia, and drive inclusive growth in the region and beyond with world-class innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Douglas Feagin, President, Ant International.
PayNet’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Farhan Ahmad, emphasized that Ant International is a global payments leader and this next phase of their partnership demonstrates the strength of Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure and their ability to scale it globally.
“Not only will this partnership drive global acceptance of our DuitNow payments, it is the beginning of a deep collaboration around reducing fraud, developing future-ready talent, and building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient digital global payments ecosystem – one that benefits Malaysians at home and while travelling, as well as tourists visiting our country,” he added.
The new partnership builds on the first MoU signed in August 2023, which allowed Alipay+ payments to be accepted in Malaysia through DuitNow QR.
Today, users of 15 international e-wallets and payment apps can scan and pay at over 2.6 million DuitNow QR merchants across the country. This makes spending in Malaysia easier for tourists and helps direct money to local small and medium businesses (SMEs), boosting their role in the economy.
To help Malaysia reach its national goal of attracting 45 million tourists before Visit Malaysia 2026, Ant International and PayNet will launch global campaigns to promote Malaysia and give local SMEs more exposure by tapping into tourist spending.
Both companies will also work together to fight cross-border scams and fraud. They plan to use advanced security technology, share threat intelligence, and run fraud risk audits, powered by Ant International’s AI-driven defense systems.
In addition, Ant International and PayNet are joining forces to grow fintech talent. They co-launched PayHack, Malaysia’s biggest intervarsity hackathon, giving students a chance to showcase ideas, solve problems, network, and learn from industry mentors. Ant International will also continue supporting talent development through its Digital Business Centre in Kuala Lumpur and initiatives like 10×1000 Tech for Inclusion, working with PayNet and local partners like the Fintech Association of Malaysia.
On sustainability, the two companies will launch programs to raise awareness and adoption of eco-friendly and socially impactful initiatives in mobile payments. This includes improving SME inclusion and making technology more accessible. They will also build on Malaysia’s existing ESG (environmental, social, governance) efforts to strengthen the payments ecosystem.
With PayNet’s trusted infrastructure and Ant International’s global network, this expanded MoU not only enables Malaysians to pay seamlessly abroad but also helps grow the local economy.
The partnership lays the foundation for a future-ready, inclusive global digital economy, powering cross-border interoperability to nurture future talent, advancing digital security, and promoting inclusive innovation, said the statement.
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