PayNet launches outbound DuitNow QR payments through Alipay+

Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has launched outbound DuitNow QR payments through Alipay+, Ant International’s unified wallet gateway. Customers can now pay with supported Malaysian mobile banking apps at participating merchants in mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the Philippines, and Laos.

The service is live for customers of Maybank, CIMB, and Hong Leong Bank. Bank Islam is expected to join.

Paying abroad with local banking apps

Customers open the DuitNow QR feature in their Malaysian banking app, scan a merchant QR code displaying the Alipay+ logo, and confirm the transaction in the same app. They do not need to download another app or create an Alipay+ account.

Other banks and e-wallets participating in PayNet can also adopt the service. PayNet plans to add more destinations over time.

The launch is part of PayNet’s roadmap to extend payment connectivity beyond Malaysia. It also aligns with Bank Negara Malaysia’s objectives for faster, more efficient, and inclusive cross-border payments. PayNet CEO Praveen Rajan said payments abroad should feel as familiar as paying at home. He added that stronger payment connectivity can help spending flow across borders and strengthen Malaysia’s economic links with the region.

From inbound payments to two-way connectivity

The new service builds on PayNet’s existing partnership with Alipay+. Since November 2023, travellers using supported Alipay+ partner wallets have been able to pay at DuitNow QR merchants across Malaysia. This has helped local businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, accept payments from international visitors. The new outbound feature extends the connection in the other direction.

PayNet recorded nearly 30 million cross-border transactions in 2025, about 150% more than in 2024. Much of the growth was linked to mainland China.

Danny Chung, General Manager of Alipay+ Global Growth Center at Ant International, said the partnership reflects a shared aim to extend Malaysia’s national payment infrastructure beyond its borders. He also pointed to the goal of building two-way interoperability between national payment systems. According to Ant International, the Alipay+ network connects more than two billion user accounts through over 50 international payment partners, as well as more than 150 million merchants in over 210 markets.