The traditional practice of distributing crisp, new banknotes in Raya money packets remains a deeply rooted custom in Malaysia, yet the annual rush to banks for fresh bills often leads to long queues. In a bid to bypass the seasonal congestion, one local man has gained social media attention for his unconventional “DIY” approach to preparing his duit raya. A TikTok user, operating under the handle @userstillalive.1, recently showcased his method of restoring the appearance of used currency notes from the comfort of his home.
In the viral video, the individual is seen carefully using a domestic iron at a low temperature setting to smooth out creases and wrinkles on a stack of RM50 notes. By applying gentle heat, he managed to make the circulated bills appear almost as pristine as those freshly issued from a teller machine or bank counter. This creative workaround quickly caught the eye of the online community, sparking a mixture of amusement and curiosity among Malaysians preparing for the upcoming festivities.
The presence of a substantial stack of RM50 notes particularly captured the imagination of netizens, leading to a wave of humorous interactions in the comments section. Many users jokingly enquired about the location and date of the man’s “open house” event, expressing a sudden keen interest in visiting him to collect the high-value duit raya. One commenter cheekily noted that despite being a total stranger, she felt a sudden urge to extend her festive greetings to him in person this year.
Amidst the light-hearted banter, some users pointed out that the effort of ironing the money was perhaps unnecessary, as most recipients would be more than happy to accept the notes regardless of their physical condition. Another user quipped that they already lacked the motivation to iron their own clothing, making the prospect of ironing currency seem like an extraordinary level of dedication. The video has since served as a relatable piece of content for those navigating the hectic final days of Ramadan.
However, the “homemade” method did raise some practical concerns among more cautious viewers regarding the safety of the banknotes. One observant individual cautioned that while the heat might be effective on the paper-based RM50 denominations, it could prove disastrous for the polymer-based RM1 and RM5 notes. These plastic-derived bills are known to be sensitive to high temperatures and could potentially melt or shrink if subjected to a hot iron, leading to permanent damage and loss of value.
