Uber has activated cash payments in Kuala Lumpur, increasing the number of Malaysian cities that supports the option to four. This follows – apparent – successful trials in Penang, Ipoh, and Johor Bahru. KL appears to be the last stop for cash payments in the country; at least until Uber expands again.
Cash payments can be made through the Uber app before hailing a ride. Users simply choose the cash payment option, which will inform the driver that he or she will have to collect physical money at the end of the ride. Aside from that, the feature functions just like any other Uber ride.
Experiments with cash payments in Malaysia began in Johor Bahru in March, and later spread to Ipoh and Penang two weeks later. The introduction of the feature in the cities outside the Klang Valley was originally done as cash is still the main medium of transaction in those locations; while there is a large proliferation of credit and debit cards in the country’s capital.
News of Uber’s planned introduction of cash payments to Kuala Lumpur leaked earlier this morning, long before the ride-sharing company had planned to make an announcement. Uber does not know how the leak got out, but the feature should be appearing in the app about now.
