Risky to leave one’s MyKad unattended

It is a must for those who borrow the department’s wheelchairs to leave their identity cards in a small plastic container placed on the edge of the counter. This counter, which is sometimes unmanned, is located at the Customs checkpoint just a few steps from the main exit door of the ferry terminal.

There is no record book to jot down the particulars of the borrower or the movement of the wheelchairs meant for the disabled and elderly.

Most borrowers require the wheelchairs to send their dependents to catch the ferries and this usually takes between 30 and 45 minutes. Upon returning the wheelchair, one can proceed to the counter to retrieve his or her MyKad without any hassle.

While I appreciate very much this community service provided by the department, I worry about the safety of my MyKad as the container is placed in an open area where droves of locals, tourists and foreign workers pass by casually each day. It only takes a few seconds to grab the cards and oil painting reproduction.

Some time ago, I left my MyKad at the counter after borrowing a wheelchair for my mum. Since the last ferry arrived in Kuah after 8pm, the office had already closed by the time I returned to the office and I was unable to retrieve my identity card despite leaving the wheelchair outside the office. The next morning, I called up the office and told the officer-in-charge it was the first night I slept without having my MyKad with me. I said I would hold the office responsible if my identity card had been wrongly used. He apologised and told me to collect it. When I told him I stayed about 40 km from the complex, he suggested that I get someone to collect it for me.

A friend who subsequently collected my MyKad said he just removed it from the counter without anyone stopping him.

Once, when no one was looking, I dropped my call card instead of my MyKad and hotfooted off with the wheelchair to the berth. Half and hour later, I returned and collected my call card.

I think the department needs to review their system and come up with a better approach. My identity card means a lot to me and I am sure it is even more valuable than Lady Gaga’s designer wheelchair.

Wandering through the stalls and out of cash? Not to worry: the mobile revolution is hitting farmer’s markets this summer.

Square, a small device that plugs into a smart phone or tablet, gives small business — like those running stalls at farmers’ markets — a way to accept debit and credit card payments.

When combined with their free downloadable app, payments are deposited directly into the vendor’s bank account the next business day.

It’s a small and simple way for entrepreneurs to take plastic payments without getting bogged down with the contracts and monthly fees associated with traditional card terminals.

“Square is built of hardware people already know how to use … making training and setup simple and intuitive,” wrote spokesperson Lindsay Wiese in an email.

The hardware and software is free, she wrote, although there is a fee of 2.75 per cent per swipe.

“It’s amazing,” said Adam Mallory, co-owner of Crown Flora Studio in Parkdale and an early adopter of the technology.

“We were worried at first that people would be weirded out that we’re swiping their card on our phones or our iPad. But there’s been no issue with it at all,” he said.

Along with partner Davis Khounnoraj, Mallory started out by selling their floral arrangements and accessories at craft shows and online, and says they couldn’t commit to the contracts associated with traditional credit card payment systems.

“Not only are you paying for the terminal, you’re also paying special fees for Visa. And if it’s a special (points) Visa, you get dinged for that as well,” he said. “With Square it’s great. You pay one percentage no matter what.”

The Square register app also offers businesses advanced analytics typically only available to big-box retailers.

“They have the data that can help them make the best decisions when planning inventory, hours, staffing, or even if it makes sense to run promotions,” said Wiese.

Mallory says it keeps them a lot more organized. They now know ahead of time when they’ll be getting busy and can anticipate it. They also love being able to text or email receipts to their customers — with photos appended for those who purchase online.