The aspiration to become a smart nation makes sense because we have entered the digital era. It is time to take advantage of technology to ease our way of life.
I am not from the newer generation, and neither am I from the baby boomer period. As such, I support the move towards digitalisation. I believe every level of the government as well as the private sector should work towards such a future.
For quite a few of us, going to an ATM to get cash and carrying it around can be a real burden. Thus, I applaud retail shops that have embraced cashless payments, with some going as far as to remove minimum purchase for credit and debit card users, and accept bank transfers.
The authorities could go one step further by encouraging more retailers to offer cashless transactions as an option for their customers, and perhaps even eliminating minimum purchase to spur it on.
As much as I believe that we should not abandon the old ways and those who are uncomfortable participating should have the option to do so, digitalisation is going to be the future and all we can do is pave the way.
MH
