KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 31 -- Despite the growing push for digital red packets and e-wallet transfers, Malaysians continue to favour physical ang pow - especially crisp new banknotes - as Chinese New Year approaches.

While digital ang pow have gained some traction in corporate settings and among younger users, the practice has yet to displace the traditional exchange of red packets within families and communities.

In Malaysia, giving ang pow is not limited to close relatives but often extends to children of friends, neighbours and even service staff - a broader custom that is less common in China and Hong Kong, where the practice is typically more confined to family circles.

Cultural historians have attributed this to the country's trading ...