A Malaysian man has sparked debate online after questioning why rounding is still applied to purchases, even when paying via card in today’s cashless era.
Notices 1 sen rounding on receipt
In a Facebook post, Mohd Farouk Abd Rahman shared a receipt from a convenience store showing a 1 sen rounding adjustment, bringing the total from RM12.99 to RM13.00.
He questioned whether such rounding is still necessary, especially since cashless payments no longer involve physical coins.
“In today’s cashless era, is rounding still relevant?” he wrote, adding that there is no longer an issue of giving change.
He also pointed out that card payments should ideally reflect the exact amount, but claimed he often encounters 1 to 3 sen differences.
Questions how much is gained from the system
Farouk went on to question how much could be collectively gained from such rounding practices.
“How many millions can be made from a system like this?” he asked, suggesting that even small amounts could add up over time.
He also compared it to petrol stations, noting that payments there are typically charged at the exact amount without rounding.
Netizens share mixed reactions
The post quickly drew mixed reactions from netizens.
Some agreed that rounding should only apply to cash payments, not card or QR transactions.
One commenter said that rounding makes sense when paying with cash, but should not apply when using card or QR.
Others argued that pricing may already factor in slight adjustments, and that rounding is simply part of the system.
Another netizen suggested that lower displayed prices could sometimes be used as a psychological tactic, even if the final payable amount ends up similar after rounding.
Rounding mechanism introduced since 2008
According to information shared, Malaysia introduced a rounding mechanism to the nearest 5 sen in 2008 to reduce the use of 1 sen coins.
Under this system:
- Totals ending in 1, 2, 6, 7 sen are rounded down
- Totals ending in 3, 4, 8, 9 sen are rounded up
The mechanism applies to the total bill, not individual items.
