PETALING JAYA: Times are tough but the tradition of giving ang pow remains strong with those celebrating Chinese New Year already setting aside a budget for it.
The only question is: How much to give?
“I am maintaining my practice of giving all my younger family members RM50 each. I can afford this with my monthly pension of RM5,200,” said former civil servant Lee Peng Song, 70.
Previously, he would give a bigger ang pow to his elders, but they had since passed on.
“Most of my ang pow will be just for the younger generation,” he said, noting that he would probably be giving away around RM1,500 in ang pow this Lunar New Year.
An interior designer, who only wanted to be known as Jan, said that thanks to a successful side hustle last year, she would be able to maintain her annual RM3,000 ang pow budget this year.
“My little hand-painted figurines that I made with my husband sold quite well last year,” she said.
“I plan to give at least RM800 to my parents while friends and relatives will get around RM10 to RM20 each with kids getting anywhere from RM5 to RM10,” she said.
Entrepreneur Wayne Wong, 31, said he would continue the tradition of giving red packets despite not having completed the traditional Chinese wedding ceremony yet.
Ang pow is traditionally given only by married couples.
“My wife and I registered our marriage in early 2020. We were planning for the ceremony later that year but the pandemic hit and we didn’t manage to have it.
“But we have already started giving ang pow to family members who are still single and to our parents despite not being traditionally married,” he said.
Wong, however, acknowledged that his ang pow would be smaller this year in view of the rising cost of living.
“It is the symbolism of giving the red packets which matters more,” he said.
“It’s all about family members getting together with the ang pow being a ‘bonus’,” he added.
On the other hand, bank lending manager Ben Lee, 66, intends to spend more on ang pow money this year.
“I understand the financial struggles of my young relatives, who are not earning much.
“I plan to give around RM2,500 in total compared to the RM2,000 I gave last year,” he said, adding that he was thankful that he has a stable job and savings throughout the years.
Lee plans to give his two grandchildren RM500 each.
“Adults will get RM100. Other people’s kids will get RM30,” he said.
As for the recipients of ang pow, most of those interviewed were less optimistic about their collection this year.
Electronic design engineer Nixon Lee, 25, said he had already prepared himself mentally to receive less ang pow money.
“I’ll probably get less than RM600,” he said, noting that he used to get around RM1,000.
Telesales executive Timmothy Chan, 26, quipped that he had heard from his relatives’ chatter that smaller ang pow would be given out due to the rising cost of living.
“I’ll probably only get RM800 this year compared to the RM1,000-plus I got previously,” he said.
Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Association Hall vice-president Ng Geok Chee said that ang pow is a blessing given by the elders “so the amount does not need to be big”.
In fact, she suggested that the giver leave a meaningful message, besides money, inside the red packet.
Historian Lee Eng Kew said ang pow packets would feature symbols and characters conveying good health and fortune to the recipients.
“The main significance is the red paper as it symbolises good luck,” he said.
Thus, he said the amount is not important as it would depend on the giver’s financial capability.
“In the old days, we were happy to get RM2, RM5 or RM10,” added Lee.
