KUCHING: As the Year of the Dragon approaches, the traditional practice of giving red ang pows receives a green twist with the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) urging the Chinese community to embrace e-ang pows.
This call to action is part of its Go Green campaign, a movement to not only reduce the environmental impact of festive celebrations but also to redefine the way we convey good wishes and luck to our loved ones.
In the meantime, banks are also reducing the quantity of new notes for the festive season to steer customers towards eco-friendly alternatives and embrace the digital frontier.
However, departing from the conventional, this initiative challenges age-old traditions, which has prompted reflection on the intersection of culture and environmental stewardship.
As such, New Sarawak Tribune reached out to the Chinese community to gauge their opinions of adopting e-angpows in the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Abraham Siaw Jun Jie, a 21-year-old student, agreed with the call, advocating for a sustainable blend of tradition and technology.
He also suggested a broader shift towards e-money throughout the year, aligning with the ongoing transition to the e-wallet era.
“As we transition into the e-wallet era, I think the government should make this system more accessible and continue promoting its use to the public.
“This shift to using more e-money, not only during Chinese New Year but also throughout the year, should be encouraged,” he said.
However, Siaw proposed improvements to the e-wallet experience, suggesting features such as personalised greetings and animations to enhance the experience of receiving e-ang pows.
Furthermore, he highlighted the efficiency of e-ang pow in tracking both outgoing and incoming ang pows, offering a modern solution to the age-old challenge of keeping count of ang pows.
“After receiving numerous angpows, I often lose track of the givers and have to manually count the total amount.
“With e-ang pows, it could assist in counting and keeping track of both outgoing and incoming ang pows. I’m all for a more efficient and environmentally friendly approach,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ashley Jade Ngui highlighted concerns such as resistance from older generations and the potential loss of customary practices over time.
“These traditional red envelopes hold symbolic importance, representing good luck and the transmission of cultural traditions.
“The loss of the physical experiences of giving and receiving physical red packets, may lead to a loss of this tradition.
“We need to strike a balance between environmental considerations and cultural traditions to ensure a meaningful evolution of this festive practice,” said the 22-year-old digital marketer.
From a personal perspective, Ngui leans towards embracing the convenience of e-ang pow while cherishing the tradition of physical red packets.
According to her, moving to e-ang pows eliminates the need for cumbersome stacks of red packets during house visits, simplifying the process for both givers and receivers.
“However, despite the practical advantages, I am mindful of maintaining the joyous experience of exchanging ang pow.
“Therefore, I intend to strike a balance by integrating e-ang pow for efficiency while still relishing the sentimental value and cultural significance of traditional red packets during festive celebrations,” she said.
Aileen Yap Wen Yee, a 24-year-old student, acknowledged the environmental concerns and the importance of raising awareness, but also noted potential resistance from the older generation.
“I think people might not totally agree with the idea of e-ang pow, especially the older generation, seeing that red ang pows signifies good wishes and luck for the new year ahead,” she said.
For Aileen, the red ang pow signifies not only good wishes but also carries sentimental value.
“I have grown to love the different designs of ang pows that I see every year and also the significance of it,” she added.
On the topic of fewer new notes for the Chinese New Year, she opined that money remains money, yet she highlighted the added charm of receiving new notes.
