However, the longstanding tradition is now running into two adversaries, Covid-19 and digitalisation.

With the movement control order (MCO) in place, families are unable to visit each other and enterprising financial institutions are pushing the digitalised e-ang pows as the alternative of the future.

However, the question is: Will the Chinese bite? Is the community ready to embrace a digital shift in a deep-rooted tradition?

While some might praise the e-ang pow for its convenience, especially during the pandemic, others might say it detracts from the tradition and also lacks intimacy.

Speaking to FMT, the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) sought to give an assurance that the significance behind the tradition would remain, whether the ang pow is physical or digital.

“Giving ang pow is a form of greeting in the Chinese culture. The seniors are fond of expressing love, passion to the juniors by way of giving. To the elderly, giving ang pow symbolises the offer of good fortune and shared blessings.

“Switching to e-ang pow does not affect the tradition, it will not lose its value in a modern method,” Huazong president Goh Tian Chuan said.

In fact, due to health risks posed by the pandemic, the Chinese association is encouraging people to give e-ang pow.

“Huazong is open-minded. As long as the Chinese community accepts the modernity in the tradition and both parties – those who give and accept e-ang pow – are happy, there is no problem. With the new norm during these times of Covid-19, e-ang pow is an acceptable practice,” he said.

Goh added that adapting to change was important to preserve old traditions.

“The ang pow tradition is part of our cultural heritage, and integrity as a Chinese.

“The importance of intangible cultural heritage is not the cultural manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that are being passed on from generation to generation,” he said.

Darryn Wee, 27, says ang pow will only be given to close family members, those they get to meet, this year.

She says her family members still have mixed feelings about incorporating digitalisation into the traditions.

While her family was open to the idea of holding a “lou sang” session via video conference with the rest of the extended family members, the e-ang pow idea was too much of a stretch.

“I’m still on the fence but my dad is not agreeable. He says it lacks human connection whenever you do things digitally. The act of giving money is just symbolic, what matters is meeting with each other,” she told FMT.

However, Wee said the restricted celebrations this year provided a good opportunity for people to reduce waste.

“Perhaps this year actually teaches us that by not travelling and spending excessively, we would not create more waste and be able to reduce our carbon footprint,” she added.

Meanwhile, the financial industry is riding on the e-ang pow wave.

Maybank, which launched its e-ang pow service back in 2016, said it expected a continued rise in digital adoption and targeted a 100% growth in both number and value of e-ang pow transactions this Chinese New Year.

“This year will be Maybank’s 6th year of rolling out the electronic service and we expect a continued increase in usage having seen encouraging growth in the past few years,” Maybank group chief executive officer (community financial services) John Chong told FMT.

He added that Maybank expected close to 1.7 million e-ang pow transactions amounting to over RM60 million.

Asked if the e-ang pow practice was only prevalent among the younger generation, Chong said there was a continued increase in online transactions among the older generation as well.

“We believe the younger generation is playing an ‘influencer’ role to the older generation. With them sending e-ang pow to their parents and older relatives, this encourages more uptake from the older groups,” he added.

Touch ‘n Go is also bringing back its e-ang pow feature on the e-wallet app for the second year running to provide a convenient solution for users to transfer money to their family and friends, both near and far.

Another e-wallet player, Boost is offering users six e-ang pow packet designs with the option to include a personalised greeting as well.

They can also send a customised e-ang pow to up to 10 people at any one time in equal or different amounts for each. They can even send e-ang pows to charities.