50 sen for 20 sen

Okay, so it is almost 3 years late. And only now I am saying that I am coming to realize this; about why Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian currency authority, came out with its then latest 'new' currency notes and coins. Well, I got embarrassed again, yesterday. I was called back by a newspaper vendor for giving him RM 1 and 15 sen instead of RM 1 and 20 sen for a copy of the daily, The Star. Believe me, I did not do it knowingly. The latest 5 sen coin is about the same size as 10 sen coin and I had carelessly given him 5 sen instead of 10 sen. (Latest means year 2012. Ha ha!)

Yes, maybe the government thinks Malaysians are very careless with money, just chucking money here and there, without realizing the value of money, in life. So the Bank Negara Malaysia issued the latest coins; 5 sen and 10 sen coins are almost similar in size, 20 cents coin are almost about the same size and colour of 50 sen coin. The 50 sen coin is only slightly bigger. "But the 50 sen coins have slightly curved edges", BNM says. Okay, you win BNM! But we have still got to scrutinize to differentiate. The 10 sen coin is also about the same size as 20 sen coin, only slightly smaller. Look at the color, you stupid! Yes, sir BNM! 20 sen coin is copper color, 10 sen and 5 sen are stainless steel. 

RM 1 note is the same color as RM 50 note (blueish); only that RM 50 note is bigger. To make matters worse, the old RM 1 notes with their blueish color too close to the RM 50 note are still in circulation.(My son once wondered where his RM 50 had gone!)

So the government has achieved its purpose, now. People will, now, carefully observe the value of the money in their hands, before departing with it. Ha! What brilliance! Well done BNM!