INTERACTIVE: E-duit raya set for biggest season yet this Aidilfitri

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: With online money transfers now a staple of everyday life in Malaysia, e-Duit Raya is set to see its biggest season yet as families embrace digital gifting ahead of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Data from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reflects the broader rise in digital payments across the country.

The central bank’s latest payment statistics show that total e-money transactions reached RM272.55bil last year, involving 6.37 billion transactions.

This marked a 66% jump in value from RM164.09bil recorded in 2024.

E-money transactions hit a record high in December last year, with 622.4 million transactions valued at RM29.4bil.

E-money refers to prepaid payment instruments that store monetary value electronically, including mobile e-wallets, card-based e-money and prepaid accounts.

According to BNM’s Annual Report 2024, e-wallets accounted for 64% of total e-money transactions, with the remainder attributed to card-based e-money.

The festive season also provides a boost to digital payments.

In April last year, when Aidilfitri was celebrated, e-money transaction volume rose 0.54% month-on-month to 448.3 million transactions.

Users of Touch ’n Go Digital’s (TnG Digital) eWallet platform are increasingly turning to its “Money Packet” feature to send digital duit raya.

“We anticipate continued momentum this year, potentially tracking another 60% uplift in usage from 2025,” the company said when asked about its projection for the upcoming Raya season.

TnG Digital said total Money Packet transaction value during Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 2025 grew by more than 50% compared with the previous year, while the number of transactions increased by 60%.

“Festive periods like Hari Raya Aidilfitri show how deeply digital finance is now embedded in everyday life, including how people connect, give and celebrate,” it said.

The company added that digital gifting has become a natural extension of festive traditions as more Malaysians grow familiar with cashless payments and incorporate them into their celebrations.

“With the ability to set customised amounts and track claims, users gain greater control and transparency in managing festive giving,” it said.

TnG digital said the e-duit raya activity on the platform typically builds up in the days leading up to Aidilfitri, with a noticeable spike on the eve of Raya.

Strong peaks are also recorded throughout the festive weekend, when relatives and friends gather for open houses and house visits.

Despite the surge in digital transactions, demand for physical cash remains strong, particularly smaller denominations used for duit raya packets.

BNM statistics show that the circulation of RM1 notes rose 3.71% month-on-month to RM3.33bil in February last year ahead of Ramadan, before climbing a further 5.8% to RM3.52bil in March when Aidilfitri was celebrated.

Similarly, RM5 notes in circulation increased 3.87% in February to RM3.43bil before surging 7.82% to RM3.7bil the following month.

Among all banknote denominations, RM1 and RM5 recorded the largest increases during the Ramadan and Aidilfitri period.

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