A Malaysian woman has gone viral after sharing how she handled a child who complained about receiving duit raya that wasn’t “good enough”.
In a Threads post, she recounted giving a child RM5 but not in brand new notes.
“Ee duit buruk”
According to her, the child opened the packet and immediately reacted:
Ew, not even a new note.”.”
Taken aback, she took back the RM5 and replaced it with a fresh RM1 instead.
The child, along with their parents, fell silent.
Slowly increasing amount each year
In follow-up comments, the woman explained that she initially intended not to give anything at all, but felt bad after seeing the child’s reaction.
Instead, she decided to turn it into a small “lesson”.
Each year, she would gradually increase the amount by RM1, from RM1 to RM2, then RM3, until eventually returning to RM5.
Over time, she noticed a change.
The child stopped complaining and would always say thank you.“
Teasing from siblings, but lesson stuck
She also shared that the child was sometimes teased by siblings for receiving the least duit raya.
At one point, she even comforted the child, telling them:
RM1 or RM2, it’s still duit raya, right?”
The child agreed but she still continued increasing the amount slowly over the years.
She added that the experience became a form of teaching, saying children are “pure” and just need guidance.
Netizens share similar experiences
The post sparked discussion online, with many Malaysians sharing their own duit raya encounters.
One shared:
“I gave RM50 and they said ‘RM50 only?’ next year I gave RM10.”
Others emphasised the importance of teaching children to appreciate the gesture, not the amount.
No matter how much duit raya someone gives, just say thank you.”
“It’s about appreciation, not value”
The story resonated with many, especially during the festive season where duit raya is commonly exchanged.
While some found the situation amusing, others pointed out that it reflects a bigger issue of entitlement and upbringing.
In the end, many agreed on one thing: It’s not about how much you receive but how you respond to it.
