Young Malaysians generate RM5.4 billion in BNPL transactions in first half of year
Finance ministry data show that people aged 30 and under completed 65.9 million buy-now-pay-later transactions worth RM5.4 billion in the first six months, representing over a third of all BNPL activity.
A written response from the finance ministry, posted on the Parliament website, details that Malaysians 30 years old and younger made 65.9 million buy-now-pay-later purchases worth RM5.4 billion during the first half of the year, accounting for 37.9% of all such transactions and 36.7% of their total value. Across all age groups, the nation recorded 173.9 million BNPL deals amounting to RM14.7 billion. The Consumer Credit Commission reports that BNPL is now widely used in brick-and-mortar outlets for food, retail, transport and other services, driven by the appeal of spreading payments.
Young users carried RM2.4 billion of outstanding BNPL balances, with RM96.8 million classified as non-performing, or 4% of that segment. The sector remains a small share of household debt, about 0.3%, but its rapid growth has led to tighter oversight. The Consumer Credit Act 2025, effective 1 March, brings BNPL schemes under the commission’s licensing and conduct rules, including disclosure, affordability checks for limits above RM1,000 and debt-collection standards.
Why it matters
The surge in BNPL use among young Malaysians highlights a shift in credit habits and triggers new regulatory safeguards.
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