Growing debt trap for Malaysia’s youth

Photo: 123rf

ONLINE shopping has become effortless, and many e-commerce platforms have made “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) services a familiar option for consumers. With just a few taps, shoppers can buy the latest gadgets, fashion, or beauty products immediately while deferring payment over weeks or months. While convenient, experts warn that BNPL is quietly encouraging financial challenges, especially among young Malaysians.

As of June 30, total credit involved in BNPL schemes in Malaysia stood at approximately RM3.8bil, representing around 0.2% of total household debt.