Covid-19 Immediate Assistance Program via MAE-i e-wallet to encourage contactless spending

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 September 2021: Maybank Islamic Berhad, under its Covid-19 Immediate Assistance Programme has channeled an amount of RM1 million through Maybank’s electronic wallet or MAE-I to 5,000 eligible individuals nationwide, whose livelihood have been affected by the pandemic.

Through MAE-i, the Bank aims to encourage cashless and contactless spending or transactions as well as to prevent the further spreading of Covid-19 virus infection.

Maybank Islamic CEO Dato’ Mohamed Rafique Merican said this programme also aims to ease and alleviate the burden faced by the low-income group (B40), especially when many of them have lost their source of income when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country.

“This is also to educate these groups to make cashless payment at the counter or online payment for their own convenience.”

He added that for those who have yet to own a MAE account, Maybank Islamic will work with several non-governmental organizations that can assist them with the process of applying for the MAE-i account, while those without smartphones will receive food packs of the equivalent value instead.

MAE-i was launched in March 2020 and is based on Shariah contract of Wakalah (agency), which allows customers to open a Maybank e-Wallet account instantly and can be applied through Maybank’s Mobile Application any time and from anywhere.

The implementation of this programme targets those eligible to receive zakat fund, single mothers, senior citizens, low-income families who are self-employed and are severely affected by the loss of income during the Movement Control Order and National Recovery Plan announced by the National Security Council of Malaysia (MKN) to curb the spread of COVID-19.

“Maybank Islamic has always been in the forefront when it comes to giving back to the communities we serve. This programme is just one of the many CSR initiatives we had implemented especially for those impacted by the pandemic and we shall stay committed to help those in need as part of Maybank Group’s humanising financial services mission,” said Dato’ Mohamed Rafique.

For this Covid-19 Immediate Assistance Programme, Maybank Islamic collaborates with five NGOs, namely Islamic Aid Malaysia, Mercy Malaysia, Islamic Relief Malaysia, Yayasan Pembangunan Ekonomi Islam Malaysia and Yayasan Ikhlas.