KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 — Starting tomorrow, Uber users in Johor Baru will be able to pay for their fares with cash, a new feature the ride-sharing service is testing out for the first time in Malaysia.

Having previously operated entirely on electronic payments, the move is meant open Uber up to a wider demographic of users in Malaysia where cash is still king.

“Cash is the dominant payment option for residents and visitors in cities across Malaysia.

"With the introduction of this cash payment test, our technology becomes instantly accessible to more people in Johor Baru," Uber Malaysia's general manager Leon Foong said in a statement today.

JB will act as a pilot city for Uber to test out its cash payment option, which will only be available for selected users for the time being.

Foong explained that the move was to allow Uber to test response to the move among different groups.

"The service will roll out gradually to all riders over the next few weeks," the statement read.

Uber users in other major cities in the region including Ho Chi Minh City, Bali and Bangkok, have since embraced the cash payment option which has allowed the ride-sharing service to further enhance the feature.

"So riders are encouraged to ride and share their feedback with Uber," the statement said.

Uber Malaysia had hitherto operated entirely cashless, with users having to save their credit card details in their individual accounts.

The company’s biggest competitor Grab, however, offers both cash and cashless options to its users.