Grab Offers Extra Incentives Worth Up To RM210 And Internship Opportunities For ePemula Claimants

GrabPay is also offering additional perks for eligible youths who successfully claim their ePemula credit with the e-wallet, provided in a bundle of various Grab vouchers worth up to RM210, as well as a chance to intern with the tech giant. This is on top of the RM150 ePemula credit (to be disbursed in the form of vouchers).

With regard to the additional Grab vouchers worth up to RM210, these extra incentives are divided into two categories:

GrabFood vouchers (worth RM150)
GrabPay’s exclusive merchant partner vouchers (worth RM60)

For the GrabFood vouchers, you can use them with any GrabFood orders that are placed with GrabFood Hot Deals restaurants listed in the app. You will need to spend a minimum of RM25 in order to enjoy a 30% discount on these orders (capped at RM7.50 per order). Among some merchants that you can use the GrabFood vouchers with include KyoChon, A&W, Nando’s, Inside Scoop, and myBurgerLab.

Meanwhile, GrabPay’s exclusive merchant partner vouchers are made up of eleven discount vouchers that you can use for purchases made at nine specific online and offline retailers. The full list of vouchers is as follows:

In-store purchases
Online purchases
– 1x RM2 off myNEWS
– 1x RM3 off Family Mart
– 1x RM5 off Starbucks
– 1x RM5 off Watsons
– 1x RM5 off Baskin Robbins
– 1x RM10 off Harvey Norman
– 1x RM5 off Watsons
– 1x RM10 off Harvey Norman
– 1x RM10 off Bottoms Lab
– 1x RM10 off Innisfree
– 1x RM10 off UniPin Voucher

Similar to the GrabFood vouchers, these merchant partner vouchers will also be subject to a minimum spend requirement – with the amount varying from merchant to merchant – along with other terms and conditions. As such, make sure to check before using them.

Aside from extra vouchers, Grab has also added an interesting twist to its ePemula incentives this time round – by offering a chance to join its internship programme! In promoting the offer, Grab said that successful claimants will get the “opportunity to be part of projects that impact millions of Malaysians across the country.” The tech giant did not share much details on this in its ePemula FAQ; it is likely that Grab will reach out to the claimants in the future instead.

For those who wish to claim their ePemula credit with GrabPay, simply follow the steps below to complete the process:

Go to ‘Payment’ and tap on ePemula.
Verify your identity via the electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) process and claim ePemula.
Key in your personal details and submit.

You will be notified of your submission status within three days from your application date. Upon approval, the ePemula credit will be credited into your account under ‘My Rewards’. Meanwhile, the extra incentive vouchers will be provided to you within two days from the ePemula claim approval date.

If you’re not yet a GrabPay user but wish to register for ePemula via the e-wallet, go ahead and download the app from the
Apple App Store
,
Google Play Store
 or
Huawei AppGallery
 to set up your Grab account. You’ll also need to verify your identity during this process, and once your account is approved – which may take a few days – you can proceed to apply for ePemula.

Note that while some of your extra incentive Grab vouchers can be used for online payments, your ePemula credit is fully intended for in-store purchases (offline payments) only.

Other than GrabPay,
BigPay
,
ShopeePay
, and
Touch ‘n Go eWallet
 have also been selected as
ePemula’s e-wallet partners
. If you’re eligible for the ePemula initiative, you may
register for ePemula
 via any one e-wallet of your choice – between today until 1 June 2022 – and must fully utilise the credit received by 10 June 2022.

(Source:
Grab
)

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Bank ATMs Resume Pre-MCO Hours, RM1 Fee Waiver To Remain For CMCO

(Image: The Malay Mail)

Bank automated teller machines (ATMs) are no longer limited to operating between 8am and 8pm starting from the month of June, said Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

During the movement control order (MCO) period, it was announced that all ATM machines, including 24-hour ones, would only be allowed to operate for 12 hours a day from
8am to 8pm
. This was to prevent people from breaking MCO rules on the pretext of withdrawing cash from ATMs as a matter of emergency.

Now, banks are allowed to resume pre-MCO operating hours as long as social distancing guidelines are maintained.

The senior minister also added that the
RM1 fee waiver
 for MEPS ATM withdrawals will remain throughout the conditional movement control order (CMCO) which is scheduled to end on 9 June. The fee waiver enables customers to freely conduct their withdrawals at the ATMs of any bank closest to their homes, instead of travelling further to use the ATM of a specific bank in order to avoid the RM1 fee.

“There are no changes on the RM1 payment (waiver) for withdrawals through ATMS, so we can still enjoy the benefit so far,” said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

(Source: The Malay Mail [
1
], [
2
])

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5 Reasons You Should Scrutinise Your Bills and Statements

Bills are often terrifying things. Few of us want to look at them even briefly, much less scrutinise in great detail. We either shove money into tellers to pay them off or create an automated billing instruction so we don’t even have to take notice of the frightful things. But by turning a blind eye to your bills and statements may be a dangerous game to play.

There are a lot of pesky little details in bills that you might want to know about. Here are some of the most important.

1. There May Be Fraudulent Charges

Credit cards are unfortunately always at risk of fraudulent transactions; even if you’ve never lost the card. Sometimes, these transactions can be sneaky little sums that you won’t notice on your overall bill until you scrutinise it. Why pay for someone else’s purchase?

The same is also possible on your mobile phone bill. Malaysians aren’t unfamiliar with these scams and
whilst most require your active participation
; it’s easy to make a simple lapse of judgement when your mind is elsewhere. Checking your bill is the best you can do to catch any untoward charges on your line.

2. To Be Aware of Interest and Fees Paid

It’s easy to lock up your bill and not think about the money you are paying on high interest charges and fees but being aware may (hopefully) make you more prudent with swiping your credit card or being tardy with payment. When you don’t scrutinise your bill; you probably don’t know the exact amount you’re being charged on your final total. Perhaps if you did; that next swipe on a non-necessity may not be so attractive.

3. To Be Aware of Exchange Rates Charged on Online Purchases

Shopping online is an addictive way to buy items you can’t easily find in Malaysia. When you click that ‘buy’ button on eBay or Amazon; the estimated conversion you calculated using Oanda or XE is definitely not the rate your credit card will be charging you. Credit card companies are known to offer less than competitive rates for currency conversion on international purchases so you might be thinking you can afford your buy based on the wrong conversion rate.

Knowing the conversion rate also allows you to compare one card with another so you are able to glean optimum exchange rates when making your next purchase online. Granted the rates may change from month to month – by taking a good, long look at your statements (especially if you shop online frequently) you may be able to see which issuer is usually cheaper.

4. For More Effective Budgeting

If you’re anything like the majority; you probably use your credit card for everything from petrol to grocery shopping to utility bills. But if you don’t take a good look at your bill – would you know how much you effectively spend on each item? Looking at your bills will give you an idea about how much you spend and this will in turn assist in creating more realistic budgets in future.

There is little sense in budgeting RM200 for petrol; RM500 for groceries and RM300 for utilities only to exceed all of these amounts and find yourself with ever-growing revolving balances every month.

5. For Maximum Utilisation of Reward Points

If you have a credit card which offers reward points or cashback – looking at your statement is a definite must to see if you’ve been given the rewards you were promised. For cashback; you will need to check if it has been credited as promised to the percentage agreed. For reward points; you will need to determine the number of points you have in order to use it . This is the more pleasant part of bill scrutiny – who doesn’t like the feel of getting rewarded?

You don’t have to re-subscribe to your paper bill (if you’ve switch to the paperless billing method) as there would be a full statement available either in your online banking account or one sent to you monthly via email.

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Stretch your Ringgit when Shopping for your new Laptop Computer

Thinking of getting your next laptop computer but not sure how to go about it? Why not have a read of our top tips below and learn how to stretch your ringgit further and get the best laptop for your budget.

Tip 1. Laptop vs. Desktop or Tablet?

Most people plonk down for a laptop as it gives you a mix of

portability with computing power, even if you have to pay a little more

for it With so many options now in the market, it can be quite a difficult decision to make when deciding between a less-portable desktop computer, a traditional 1.5-3kg lug-around laptop/notebook computer, or a flashy new 7-inch or 10-inch tablet.

This quick table should help you decide:

Feature for Comparison

Desktop

Laptop

Tablet

Most suitable for

Content Creation

(ie. heavy media editing, multi-screen work)

Content Creation and Consumption

(ie. worksheets, slideshows, writing emails)

Content Consumption

(ie. Surfing the web, reading emails)

Computing Power / RM

High Power

Mid Power

Low Power

Portability

Not Portable

Portable

Very Portable

Price Ranges for an “Average” Device

RM1,200 – RM3,000

RM1,500 – RM3,000

RM600 – RM1,500

“Average” here means what we expect 90% of Malaysian consumers to purchase.

Tip 2. Are you buying “too much” laptop

In Malaysia, if you think back to several years ago, RM2,500 was considered a good price for a budget laptop which can do basic stuff like surf the web, edit documents, check emails etc. Today, paying that much will get you a seriously powerful machine, and Apple with their “premium” positioning gets away with charging much more than that.

And it’s not just underpowered plastic boxes in the RM1,800 – RM2,000 price range, either. Intel Core i5 CPUs and touch screens in slim, reasonably attractive bodies, with 128GB SSD hard drives are available in that price range — which is more than adequate for most users, unless you’re planning on editing a lot of HD video or playing very high-end PC games.

Unfortunately not all of us have moved with the times, and things will continue moving further with the inception of touch screens and tablet hybrids looking to push up prices

Tip 3. Think about your Laptop Portability

Now that you’ve decided on the laptop, the next question is usually “What kind of laptop should I buy? Light and basic or bulky powerful ones?”. The best way to answer that question is usually with how frequent you expect to carry around your laptop. Every day? Once a week? Once in a while?

The answer to that should determine what screen size your laptop should have, which largely defines the system size and weight. Everyday and multiple times per day commutes suggest a lightweight 13-inch ultrabook (similar to the Dell XPS 13 or MacBook Air). Making a surprising comeback are ultraportable laptops with 11.6-inch screens, including several recent 11-inch hybrids and Windows tablets, where you may only have to take the screen with you and leave the keyboard base at home or the office.

More common midsize laptops, such as the 14-inch or 15.6-inch model probably sitting on your office desk right now, are OK but not much fun to carry around more than once a day.

Lastly, if you’re convinced you’re never going to need to take your laptop along with you, except something like once a month, then a big 17-inch or larger desktop replacement is a viable option. Keep in mind that most of these big laptops can’t run for very long away from a power outlet though!

There you go! Some quick and handy tips to choosing your next laptop computer, hopefully this will help you make the most out of your budget.

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Newly Earned AirAsia BIG Points Will Expire After 24 Months

AirAsia BIG has updated its BIG Points expiration policy, which will go into effect from 1 June 2019. Following the change, all newly earned BIG Points will expire after 24 months from the date of issuance.

Previously, BIG Points remained valid when you made at least one earning or redemption transaction in a period of 36 months. So, as long as you earned a BIG Point or made a redemption once every three years, your BIG Points would stay valid – which made it so that points expiry was only an issue for the most inactive BIG members.

Now, AirAsiaBIG members will have to make sure to redeem their BIG Points within two years from the date they earned them, or the points will go to waste. However, BIG Points earned from non-AirAsia partner merchants or awarded under specific promotions or campaigns may have different expiry dates, which will be stated on the respective partners merchant or campaign terms and conditions.

Note that this change will apply to all BIG Points earned before 1 June 2019; points earned before that will follow the previous terms subject to change by AirAsia BIG.

(Source:
AirAsia
)

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BMI: Malaysian Household Spending To Grow 5% In 2023

(Image: Malay Mail/Yusof Mat Isa)

BMI, a company under Fitch Solutions, has predicted that Malaysia’s consumer spending will grow by 5% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2023. This growth is also expected to continue into 2024, with the ongoing economic recovery driving strong growth in real consumer spending.

According to its research report, BMI said that this positive development can be attributed to two key factors: an easing inflation and a lower unemployment rate. “Risks to this outlook would be higher-than-anticipated inflation and more aggressive economic weakness which will weigh heavier on household purchasing power,” it said, adding that real household spending over 2024 is forecasted to come up to a total of RM910 billion, based on 2010 prices.

In comparison, the real household spending for 2023 is currently recorded at RM866.6 billion (at 2010 prices), which is itself an improvement over the RM755.1 billion real household spending noted during pre-pandemic times in 2019.

(Image: Samsul Said/Bloomberg)

BMI also highlighted that consumer confidence levels have been quite steady and positive, even though low and middle-income households may be somewhat affected by inflationary pressures in certain commodities – like food and fuel.

As for the local currency, BMI believes that the ringgit will strengthen against the US dollar in 2024, from the current 4.50 to 4.40 next year. “Malaysia remains heavily reliant on imports to meet local demands, and this appreciation will provide ta further tailwind to consumer spending growth as imports become cheaper. We believe this backdrop will significantly mean that consumer spending over the second half of 2023 (2H23) and into the start of 2024 will remain stable,” it further said.

BMI also stressed that although inflation in Malaysia remains somewhat elevated, Malaysia’s situation is still relatively tame in comparison to other markets. “Our country risk team forecasts inflation will trend downwards in 2H23, ending 2023 at 2.5% y-o-y and averaging 2.3% over 2024,” it commented.

(Sources:
The Star
,
The Edge Markets
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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EPF CEO: Basic Protection Scheme For Poorer EPF Members Among New Offerings Being Discussed

(Image: The Edge Markets)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF) CEO Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has shared a little about possible new policies and offerings that could be considered by the fund. In an interview with The Edge, the EPF CEO talked about the idea of tiered dividends, creating different funds for different risk profiles, and introducing a basic protection scheme for poorer EPF members.

Amir Hamzah said that the idea of
tiered dividends
, which had been brought up before, could be considered and that studies would be necessary to explore possibilities along that line.

“Not all members are the same; I’ve got very rich members with millions in and I’ve got poor members with only RM5,000 to RM10,000 in their accounts. Their needs will be very different. For the people with less than RM10,000 in savings, for instance, we could look at offering some basic protection mechanism for them because we’ve got scale,” he suggested. He also revealed that 6.3 million out of the 15-odd million EPF members – or 42% of the total EPF members –
have RM10,000 or less in their Account 1
 savings, which could explain why the EPF is looking at these alternatives.

“On the other side of the scale, you could have a lot of funds and you like the EPF’s track record, for instance, but may have a different investment risk appetite and profile [than general members]. We could have differentiated offerings to these members, perhaps I could create different funds for them to cater for different risk profiles.

“So, I have a tremendous amount of space that we can explore but we’ve not actually articulated that to members just yet. My investment team is looking at the models that can actually work right now. Within the next year, year and a half, you will see a tangible playout of how things can happen. The protection scheme can be sooner than that,” the EPF CEO shared.

Amir Hamzah concluded, “At the end of the day, I think we have a lot of opportunities to make life better for our members because the scale of operations that we have can be tapped to do new things that people didn’t expect us to do,” he said. “If we are able to work together so that we become stronger partners to our members, so that we become more relevant to our members throughout their life, members would not just think of us when they are about to retire.”

(Source:
The Edge
 Markets
)

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Cancer Treatment In Malaysia: How Much Does It Cost?

It is a disease that sends shivers down the spine. With
9.6 million deaths recorded in 2018
 so far, cancer is one of the leading causes of death around the world. But thanks to the marvels of modern medicine, the survival rate of cancer has increased tremendously in recent times.

However, there is another thing that many do not openly talk about regarding cancer: treatment costs and its crippling effects on patients and their loved ones.

How much does cancer treatment cost in Malaysia?

Generally, cancer treatment consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and in some cases, immunotherapy and targeted therapy as well. Different types of cancer have different courses of treatment, which means the treatment course will vary as well.

In 2015 alone,
13% of all recorded deaths in Malaysia
 was due to cancer. The most recent report by the
Malaysian National Cancer Registry
 revealed that the five most common cancer types made up a staggering 51.2% of all cancer cases in Malaysia. Here’s an
estimated treatment cost
 for each of these cancer types if they are done locally:

Breast cancer: up to RM395,000

Colorectal cancer: up to RM85,000

Lung cancer (including trachea & bronchus): up to RM56,000

Lymphoma cancer: up to RM95,000

Nasopharynx cancer: up to RM70,000

Cancer treatment is painfully expensive, and oftentimes, patients who recover are faced with a very uncertain future as they attempt to rebuild their lives with depleted savings. A
2015 report by the George Institute of Global Health
 noted that after a year of diagnosis, only 23% of patients were alive and did not suffer a financial catastrophe (which is defined in this case as “more than 30% of household income spent out-of-pocket for cancer treatment at 12 months following cancer diagnosis”).

The hidden costs of cancer treatment

Should the patient be recommended to seek better treatment abroad, the already-high treatment costs will escalate even further. This usually happens if a particular treatment is not available in Malaysia.

To complement their treatment, some patients may also look to alternative and traditional remedies. Though scientifically unproven, there are still patients who go for traditional treatment alongside medical treatment – you’ll never know, right? But this, too, adds to the total expense of cancer treatment.

Besides the hefty hospital charges, some may also look to professional caregivers after cancer treatment. Professional care or even taking on a domestic helper can be very costly, and given that it’s a long road to recovery, this can add up to a very significant expense.

On top of all this, one must also remember that the patient is stripped of their ability to earn a living. This is especially difficult if the patient is the breadwinner of the family – how would the loved ones cope when all of a sudden, the steady stream of income stops completely?

Choosing the right insurance policy

In Malaysia, an estimated 100,000 people suffer from cancer each year, and the
Ministry of Health estimates
 that one in four Malaysians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 75. What’s worse, the 2015 George Institute report notes that in Malaysia, 29% of cancer patients die within a year of diagnosis.

The most important step, of course, is to ensure that we are properly protected for critical illnesses such as cancer well before it happens. Insurance policies are the key to overcoming potential financial catastrophes in the event of a tragedy such as a positive cancer diagnosis.

Not all insurance policies are created equal. It is crucial to note what the policy will cover, how is the payout handled, and most importantly, if the policy will even cover the cancer type. These may sound trivial, but it is always wise to read the fine print before choosing one.

The new Prudential PRUcancer X plan is a good example of an insurance policy that offers comprehensive coverage for cancer. It also currently holds the distinction of being the policy with the highest amount of coverage against cancer – you can opt for coverage of up to RM2 million, which is far above the coverage offered by other policies.

Prudential Malaysia also designed PRUcancer X to be less of a hassle when applying for it. As such, there are fewer underwriting questions – Prudential strips away the non-cancer related questions, which results in a much easier enrolment process.

On top of that, PRUcancer X is also affordable. The lowest monthly premium is as low as RM34 a month (age 1-20, non-smoker, RM250,000 coverage), which is just a little more than RM1 a day. For the higher age groups, the monthly premiums remain affordable, with the lowest monthly premium for those aged 21-30 being as low as RM51 (RM250,000 coverage), to RM323 for the maximum coverage of RM2 million. The premiums will vary depending on the individual’s risk profile, of course.

Most importantly, PRUcancer X pays out the cancer benefit in one lump sum (up to RM2 million) upon diagnosis, giving you the flexibility to choose the best treatment that you need and to support other financial needs throughout the recovery process. In the event of an early detection of cancer and other specified type of cancer, there’s an immediate 10% from the plan’s coverage amount.The plan also pays a compassionate benefit upon death to assist the immediate family of the deceased on funeral costs.

For the full list of benefits offered by this plan, check out the official
Prudential PRUcancer X product page
.

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    MD Bellal

    1 year ago

Blood cancer treatment need to how much

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BSN Offers 10% Cashback For Credit Card Top-Ups On Selected E-Wallets

Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) is currently running its e-wallet Top Up Cash Back promotion that lets its customers earn 10% cashback when they top up a minimum of RM100 on selected e-wallets via BSN credit cards. Applicable to reloads carried out for Touch ‘n Go eWallet, GrabPay, Boost, and Setel, these reloads must be carried out in a single transaction.

Open to all new and existing BSN principal credit cardmembers, you will be automatically enrolled for the campaign if you are eligible for it; no registration is required. Note as well that the maximum amount of cashback that you can earn each month is capped at RM10 per cardmember, offered on a first-come first-served basis. This essentially means that each cardmember can earn the promotional cashback one time per campaign month.

Additionally, only 1,000 cardmembers are entitled to this promo each campaign month, as shown in the following allocation schedule:

In the terms and condition of the campaign, BSN also stated that the cashback earned will be credited to your card account within 12 weeks from the end of each campaign month.

You can find out more about
BSN’s e-wallet Top Up Cash Back promotion
 on the bank’s website. The ongoing campaign will continue all the way until 15 May 2021.

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Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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EPF: Minimum Of RM1 Million Needed For Retirement In 20 To 30 Years

(Image: Khazanah Research Institute)

Chief strategy officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Nurhisham Hussein has said that individuals who are retiring in 20 to 30 years will need to have savings of at least RM900,000 to RM1 million. The amount is the “bare minimum” required, after factoring in variables such as inflation and medical bills – among others.

Meanwhile, Malaysians who are retiring in the next few years and staying in Kuala Lumpur will need about RM600,000 to have a “dignified” retirement. “When you look at the RM600,000 savings threshold, only about 4% of Malaysians could afford to retire. It’s a little lower outside of the Klang Valley,” Nurhisham further shared, adding that the amount will only cover ordinary outpatient medical needs or visits to general practitioners.

Nurhisham also stated that Alor Setar was found to be the most affordable place in country to lead a comfortable life upon retirement, but even that requires the retiree to have savings of at least RM480,000. This figure is twice the basic threshold for retirement savings of RM240,000.

(Image: BusinessToday)

For context, the basic threshold for retirement savings is a pre-determined amount in your EPF Akaun 1 that is set according to age, enabling members to achieve a minimum savings of RM240,000 when they reach the retirement age of 55. This is to ensure that members will have at least RM1,000 per month when they retire, in order to support their basic needs for 20 years (from 55 years old to 75 years old).

Despite these figures, Nurhisham said that at present, about 52% of EPF members have less than RM10,000 in their accounts, while 27% have less than RM1,000. Meanwhile, about 56% contributors, who are at the age of 54, only have less than RM50,000 in their EPF savings – an amount that can only sustain them for a little over four years, assuming that they only spend RM1,000 per month.

“That’s rather worrying. Obviously, I think the withdrawals have had a significant impact on retirement adequacy,” Nurhisham said, referring to the four Covid-related withdrawals that had been allowed thus far:
i-Lestari
,
i-Sinar
,
i-Citra
, and the
RM10,000 special withdrawal facility
.

(Image: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan)

It was also noted that prior to Covid-19, about 22% members met the basic threshold for retirement savings, but the number fell to 14% after these withdrawals. A total of
RM145 billion was reported to have been withdrawn
 by members via the four withdrawal facilities.

Furthermore, Nurhisham said that one way for Malaysians to address this situation is to find multiple sources of savings and investments to complement their EPF savings. He also highlighted that the public can open an EPF account earlier on, instead of waiting to do so only upon formal employment.

Nurhisham is not the first individual to raise the alarm on this issue of insufficient retirement funds; several financial experts and planners have also expressed their concerns. Economist Dr Barjoyai Bardai, for instance, had previously claimed that Malaysians may need to work beyond the retirement age of 60 given the current condition of members’ EPF savings. Financial planner
Azril Ikram also highlighted before in RinggitPlus financial planning workshops
 that Malaysians need savings of approximately RM1 million in order to retire comfortably.

(Source:
The Star
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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SME Association: Almost 40% Of SMEs Will Close If Full Lockdown Is Imposed

(Image: Hari Anggara)

The SME Association of Malaysia has cautioned that nearly 40% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will shut down for good if the government decides to impose a full lockdown on the economy as part of the current movement control order (MCO 3.0).

According to a statement, the association has carried out a web dialogue with its members, on top of an ongoing nationwide survey on the impact of MCO 3.0 to derive various statistics.

“The initial report indicates that 91% of SMEs expect business revenue to be affected by MCO 3.0, with 37.5% of these companies expecting a drop of more than 50% in business performance. The survey also shows that 84.5% of SMEs will be significantly affected by MCO 3.0,” said the president of the SME Association of Malaysia, Datuk Michael Kang in a statement.

(Image: The Star)

Kang further added that if the government decides to carry over the same restrictions from the first nationwide MCO to MCO 3.0, more than 40% of SMEs will fall into a worse financial situation, with two million jobs lost. He also shared that 65% of survey respondents believe that a blanket automatic loan moratorium is necessary. Meanwhile, 88.5% concurred that the delay of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP) will significantly affect business performance.

“50.4% even state that they would like there to be a private immunisation programme, and are even willing to bear the costs themselves. The most important finding was that 95.8% requested that the government allocate more incentives to assist SMEs as quickly as possible,” said Kang.

Kang also emphasised that many industries have been suffering since the start of the Covid-29 pandemic in March last year. These include tourism and related businesses, events management, private education, and enrichment centres.

“Should a full lockdown be imposed, it will spell the immediate end for all businesses across the nation,” said Kang.

(Source:
The Edge Markets
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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Association: Grab Should Compensate Riders And Drivers Affected By Service Disruption

(Image: Malay Mail/Hari Anggara)

Grab Drivers Malaysia Association has commented that Grab Malaysia should compensate its drivers and riders following the service disruption that took place yesterday, causing them to be unable to accept bookings or orders.

The president of the association, Arif Asyraf said that the outage – which affected several countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia – caused a loss of revenue for these daily wage earners. “The service disruption started around 8.55am in the morning and lasted throughout the peak hours in the morning. Since then, I’ve been receiving hundreds of complaints from GrabCar drivers. Disruption during peak hours will surely affect the income of drivers and riders who were forced to search for other alternatives to make up for the income lost,” he said.

(Image: Bloomberg)

During
Grab’s service disruption yesterday
, users, drivers, and food delivery riders were all affected – with many of them taking to Grab’s social media pages to vent their frustration. Specifically, many users commented that they were late to work, and were charged for their ride bookings even though it was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, some food delivery riders said that the application went down several times after picking up a few orders, which forced them to find alternative ways to deliver the food.

Since then, Grab had responded to say that it
will refund customers
 who had their bookings or food orders cancelled due to the service disruption. It did not, however, offer to compensate its drivers and riders.

As for Grab’s recovery from yesterday’s outage, the tech giant shared on its Twitter account this morning that “[o]ur service should be back to normal gradually with some features still affected/unavailable.” A quick check at the time of writing showed that most of Grab’s services are already back online. That said, the tech giant has yet to offer an explanation as to what caused the disruption yesterday.

Taufiq, so sorry for the ongoing issue with the Grab app😥 Our service should be back to normal gradually with some features still affected/unavailable. In the mean time you way want to restart the phone and retry on the booking. Sincere apologies for the inco…
— Grab Malaysia (@GrabMY)
November 17, 2021

(Source:
New Straits Times
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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Budget 2021 Has Been Passed By Dewan Negara

(Image: Malay Mail)

Dewan Negara has officially passed Budget 2021 today, with unanimous support from senators after its third reading by Deputy Finance Minister, Mohd Shahar Abdullah.

Prior to this, the national Budget was passed at the policy stage with a voice vote on 26 November, after which it was debated at the committee stage. During the debate, allocations for all 27 ministries were scrutinised in detail and approved, before the Budget made its way to Dewan Rakyat.

The Bill was subsequently passed
 in the Parliament on 15 December, with 111 Members of Parliament (MPs) voting in favour of it and 108 MPs against it. It then went on to the Senate (Dewan Negara) for five days of debate and winding down by each ministry before eventually being approved today.

Budget 2021, which has an allocation of RM322.54 billion, is the largest Budget to have been tabled in Malaysia thus far. You can read about our coverage on Budget 2021 here, starting from its
announcement
 to the
winding down
 before the policy stage vote.

(Source:
The Edge Markets
)

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Headed to KLCC? Park at These Places for Cheaper Fees!

Looking for parking in KL can be a nightmare due to traffic congestion, limited spaces and exorbitant rates at parking lots, but don’t give up and pull a roadside park job. There are actually economical options that won’t involve you running a marathon to get to your destination.

We’ve rounded up five of the cheapest car parks in the KLCC area to help you ‘deposit’ your car while you shop, eat, drink and take in the sights:

1.
Avenue K Parking

If you are planning on shopping at Avenue K, then rejoice, because
parking is FREE
! On weekends, if you spend RM250 cumulatively (two receipts max.), parking is free all day but on weekdays, free parking only applies for the first two hours.

Still, if you want to venture outside Avenue K, parking rates are still decent at RM3 for the first hour and another RM3 for each subsequent hour. Parking from 6pm to 6.59am is charged a flat rate of RM6.

2.
Metro Parking, Bangunan Getah Asli

This parking lot
 is the closest on our list to major malls in Jalan Ampang (only a 5-minute walk to Suria KLCC), making it one of the most convenient when shopping. The rates are respectable at RM3.50 per hour and another RM3 for each subsequent hour on weekdays from 6am to 5pm.

Parking charges on weekends, public holidays and after working hours on weekdays (5pm to 12am) is certainly one of the cheapest you’ll find at only RM3.50 per entry.

3.
Wisma BSN Parking, Jalan Ampang

The nice thing about
this parking lot
 is that it does have a cap on charges, so if you are planning on spending the whole day shopping or running errands, you won’t be hit with excessive parking fees.

Charges for the first hour are RM2 followed by another RM2 for each subsequent hour and capped at RM12. Expectedly with its attractive parking rates and being only 8 minutes away from Suria KLCC, vacant spot fills up quickly.

4.
KL Multi-Level Parking, Jalan Binjai

While this isn’t exactly the cheapest
parking spot
 per se, it is still reasonable and quite economical if you plan to be there early (RM12 flat rate for early birds entering between 6.30am and 9am). Plus, you’ll find vacant parking spots much easier.

It does involve a 10-minute walk to Suria KLCC, so you might want to keep that in mind if you are carrying heavy shopping bags. Weekday rates are a standard RM3 per hour, on weekends; it’s RM3 for the first three hours and RM2 for each subsequent hour, capped at RM10.

[UPDATE: 14/09/2016] We’re sad to learn that the multi-level parking here no longer exists. Thanks for the heads up, readers!

5.
Menara Atlan, Jalan Ampang

Weekend and public holiday
parking
 here is a dream at only RM3 per entry and with a walking distance to KLCC, clocked at approximately 7 minutes. Parking after 6pm on weekdays is at RM3 per entry till 6am the following day. Early bird parking starts from 6am to 9am with a nice low rate of only RM1.

Parking charges for the first hour on weekdays from 9am to 6pm are RM4; and RM2.50 for each subsequent hour.

Bonus Tip!
 To avoid driving in circles to find parking and paying a small fortune in parking fees, don’t forget to plan your trip and look for nearby parking with your GPS device or Google Maps.

Now you know how to save on parking, but why stop there? Go ahead and trim other automobile-related expenses too! For example, did you know you could enjoy comprehensive car insurance plans at budget-happy rates? Just have a look at our
comparison page
 to discover the most affordable plan for your vehicle.

Image credits:
TripAdvisor
,
SkyscraperCity.com
,
Wikimapia
,
Binjai Car Park
, and
Atlan Holdings Sdn Bhd
.

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    Lau C.L

    1 year ago

Weekend parking at Bgn Getah Asli is RM8 per entry. No more RM3.50.

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    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Very good

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We’ve got you: the credit card safety net

“You me I have to pay… HOW MUCH?” Don’t let your bills make you go red in the face.

It’s not a big calamity. Not the kind you call Bruce Willis to try dying one more time for. But it is those little everyday problems that make you want to pull your hair out; leave you red-faced or just in a stickler of a situation you’d rather not be in.

In a
previous article
, we showed you how your credit card could come to your rescue in major emergencies. But it’s not every day you find yourself stranded on a highway, in a foreign country or with a seriously ill relative. Even so, you’ll find your credit card can be one of the best friend’s you’ll ever have.

Even if just for you, to Live Another Day.

Social Emergency No. 1: The Friend Who Flaked Out on You

You’re out for drinks with a bud you haven’t seen for years. Halfway through, he coolly announces that he’s left his wallet at home and he hopes you’ve got enough cash on you to foot the bill. And as ‘luck’ would have it, he had an RM50 main course and 5 drinks whilst you kept your orders well within the RM50 you had in your pocket.

There are always variations but I am sure you’ve all had that – when you just had to foot the bill, for whatever reason. Washing dishes is  never pretty. Your credit card will come in handy at that time. Just make sure you get your mates to pay up later!

Social Emergency No. 2: The Lazy Price Checker

Grocery shopping on a day when you’d rather be playing your Wii/golfing/watching Desperate Housewives reruns is hard enough; doing all those calculations in your head before going to the check-out counter when you have 30 items in your cart is another thing.

How embarrassing when you get to the cashier and find yourself RM40 short.

You could put some items back and earn the wrath of everyone in the line as well as your wife/mum/stomach by leaving stuff off your shopping list or you could pay with your credit card first. And remember next time to bring a calculator.

Social Emergency No. 3: Little Miss Forget-Ful

Forgetting you only have RM5 in your pocket, you waltz into a restaurant and order an RM30 set meal. After eating to your heart’s content, you get that sinking feeling in your tummy; not from bad shrimp but from knowing you should’ve gone to the ATM first.

Again, you’re going to be pleased you have a working credit card and will not be forced to call someone to ‘save’ you or worse, beg the restaurant manager to let you go to the ATM.

Social Emergency No.4: The Ominous Unpaid Bill

Between juggling work and your hectic soccer mom social calendar, you forgot to pay your cell phone bill. You could find yourself stranded without a working phone line when you most need one but luckily most service providers will allow you an emergency call to their hotline for you to pay via phone with your credit card.

It could be the internet bill, gym membership or just any bill that slipped your mind and you find you need to make payment ASAP. Most service providers will take credit card payment over the phone, making it super easy for you to get things done. And you earn rewards points too that can be converted to all kinds of gifts!

In the End

Make the most of the convenience of using credit cards and earn rewards points while you do so. Get a card with a good rewards programme and turn these little mishaps into great gifts or cash back.

Check out our site on the cards with the best
Rewards Programme
 or
Cash Back Plan
 to make your decision – then apply online within the same links above.

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BKC Recipients Without Bank Accounts To Receive Cash Vouchers Without Delay

(Image: The Star)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged for cash vouchers to be distributed without delay to Special Covid-19 Aid (BKC) recipients who do not have bank accounts. This is following the kick-off of the
Phase One payments of the BKC initiative
 that began yesterday.

While the payments of the BKC will be credited into the accounts of 10 million recipients, Ismail Sabri also requested for the Finance Ministry to ensure a smooth payment process, especially to recipients who reside in rural areas, have less access to banks, or do not have a bank account. The government’s database indicated that there are 708,223 eligible BKC recipients who do not have a bank account.

“As such, the prime minister wants the BKC cash vouchers prepared by the Finance Ministry to reach those recipients without any delay,” said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) via a statement. These cash vouchers for those without bank accounts will be distributed at Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) counters.

(Image: Asia Insurance Review)

The
BKC initiative
 is a cash assistance that is provided to households and individuals from various income categories, namely the hardcore poor, B40, and M40. The initiative’s eligibility criteria is determined based on the Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR 2021) recipient criteria. The full BKC payments – which will be paid out in three separate phases – range between RM1,300 to RM100, depending on the income class.

Under the Phase One payment, eligible recipients can expect to first receive between RM500 to RM100, and the crediting of the money will be carried out from 6 to 10 September 2021. Eligible recipients can check their status at the
BKC website
.

In observing the start of the Phase One payments of the BKC at several BSN branches yesterday, the PMO also said that Ismail Sabri hoped the cash aid will be a measure of help to those who are in need. “The prime minister hoped that the BKC will alleviate the burden of the Malaysian Family affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” it commented.

(Source:
The Edge Markets
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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GrabUnlimited 1-Sen/Month Introductory Promo Set To End In March 2022

Grab has announced that the introductory promo for its GrabUnlimited monthly subscription pack – priced at 1 sen per month – will end within a week, on 1 March 2022. Following this update, the pack will then be priced at RM7.90 per month, although there is another special promotion that existing subscribers can still tap into exclusively in March.

“The introductory price of 1 sen/month will end [on 1 March 2022], and GrabUnlimited will be priced at RM7.90/month. However, existing subscribers can still enjoy a special promotional price of 99 sen in the month of March, as long as your subscription is renewed without any interruption,” Grab shared in a notice. It also noted that examples of such interruptions include intentionally cancelling your subscription before the renewal date and having insufficient balance in your GrabPay Wallet to renew the subscription pack.

“Should any of these happen, you will no longer be entitled to the promotional price of 99 sen, and will be required to renew or resubscribe at the normal price of RM7.90/month,” Grab further clarified.

Meanwhile, if you’re subscribing to the GrabUnlimited pack for the first time after this update takes effect, you’ll also be entitled to this 99-sen promotion for your first month.

The
GrabUnlimited subscription pack
 was first introduced at the end of 2021, offering savings of more than RM400 per month via a variety of vouchers for Grab services. These include discount vouchers of up to 50% for GrabFood, free deliveries for GrabFood and GrabMart, as well as bonus vouchers for GrabCar rides. The pack is, however, available only to users in three areas – Penang, Johor Bahru, and Kuching – as it is still in its beta phase.

(Source:
Grab
)

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Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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Do You Save More When You’re Single, or When You’re Married?

The life of a married couple differs quite a bit compared to the single life. But in what way does this affect your savings? Are you better of financially when you’re flying solo or is being tied down the way to go to kick your finances up a notch? Let’s try to find out the answer together.

Since there are many variables between being single and being married, we’ll segment our evaluation into these 4 categories: income, housing, transportation, and debt. We’ll look at how one group deals with these 4 things and then move over to the other group to see how they compare with each other. Here we go!

When You’re Single

Income

Being single means you have more time to yourself. Which also means more time to dedicate to either picking up a new skill that you can make more money from or even more time to
generate some side income
 to supplement your current one. Some employers also prefer to hire those who are not yet married because they don’t have to worry about single employees taking leave to take care of their kids or look after their spouse.

Housing

You live alone so 100% of the rent is comes out of your expenses. However, with less stuff and more mobility, it’s much easier for you to move around to find
cheaper places to live
. You can also potentially save a lot of money if you live with fellow single roommates. A big disadvantage however, is that it’s also gonna be a lot tougher on a single income to afford buying a house on your own.

Transportation

When you’re single you don’t need a fancy
expensive car
 to drive you around. Your car or motorcycle also isn’t shared with anyone else which means potentially lesser fuel expenses on your part. But not sharing your car also means not sharing the cost of the vehicle or petrol with anyone. Meaning all your travel expenses are completely your responsibility.

Debt

Managing your debt on your own with just a single income is much harder than having somebody else along to help you out, but at least this way you know exactly how much you owe and how much
you need to repay
. With only yourself as the sole person to take care of financially, your commitments are potentially a lot less as well.

So How Does Being Single Affect Your Savings?

The advantage here is in having total control and freedom to do what you need to with whatever resources you have. You don’t have to compromise on ideal living conditions or discuss any big purchases with anybody. Making huge financially impactful decisions is easier as well and more work opportunities may be available to you.

On the other hand, this also means you have to work harder and be better prepared since in times of financial stress, you won’t have another pair of hands or another flow of income from a partner to help keep you afloat.

When You’re Married

Income

Under the most financially productive circumstances, you both may be making money while sharing resources at the same time. Doing this means you can earn more together than you can by yourselves. However, being attached also means less time to explore alternative sources of income, but if both partners are drawing salaries, neither of you may need to do that.

Housing

Living together means you both pay rent for the same space. Having an automatic roommate translates to only needing to pay half of the rent, assuming its a double income household. Having two credit lines also means it might be easier to get a house loan and come up with the cash towards financing a house and build equity. On the flipside, if your marriage’s financial situation is not doing so hot then it’s also harder to
move freely about
or rent places since you both need to agree on where to go. Moving to cheaper places is also more difficult since you have more items shared between the two of you.

Transportation

When you live with a partner you can share a car and the expenses towards that car can be shared as well, cutting it in half. As long as you plan out where to go and split expenses evenly this should work out great. But the vehicle you both choose might also be something with better safety features and passenger capacity since you may be expected to start a family soon. This may offset your savings somewhat.

Debt

If you both share expenses and earnings then you may also share debt as well. After all, knowing the kind of debt your partner has is an important question to ask before starting a family together. Having two sources of income to manage your debt is much easier, but if only one of you is making money and using that to pay off debts incurred by the both of you, then this arrangement might not be so good.

So How Does Being Married Affect Your Savings?

Double the income and half the spending means a good strong advantage compared to being single. However, this is heavily dependent on both parties in the marriage having solidly communicated, shared financial goals and mutually complementary money habits. If both partners are in lockstep when it comes to this, then there is great potential to save way more than the single version of yourselves ever can. But if each partner is wildly incompatible when it comes to financial values, then things can end up being much harder than being single. This is even before taking into the account the
potential additions to the family
.

What Does This Mean?

The pros of being single when it comes to finances is the freedom and flexibility in ways to earn money whereas the advantages of being married is the doubling of resources available and the halving of resources consumed. With either marital status, what remains the most important is being aware of ones financial values and knowing how to practice them consistently towards productive ends. To that point, you can check out our
savings account comparisons page
 to see which savings account suits your savings goals the best.

Have anything to add to this article? Do share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments section down below!

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Ahmad Mudhakkir

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TNG eWallet Technical Difficulties: Users Automatically Logged Out, Notified Of Transactions That They Did Not Perform

(
Update: TNG eWallet has announced that its services are up and running again.
)

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet is currently facing some technical issues, with many users stating that they were automatically logged out upon firing up the app. Most attempts to log back in were also initially unsuccessful, while several users who managed to do so eventually said that they are seeing an incorrect account balance or received notifications for transactions that they did not perform.

TNG eWallet has also acknowledged the issue, and stated in an announcement post on Facebook that it is currently working to resolve the matter. “If you have enough balance in your eWallet, you are still able to pay for tolls and parking via PayDirect and RFID,” it further said in the notice, indicating that these two functions are not affected.

Reports of TNG eWallet’s technical issues began flooding in this morning at approximately 10am, with users stating that they were presented with the message “Your log in session has expired. Please log in again” when they tried to use the app. Many of those who attempted to do so are then met with a “Heavy traffic reported” notice, stating that “heavy traffic is causing delays in processing your request.”

(Image: The Sun Daily/Insan Sepi FB)

As of the time of writing, TNG eWallet appears to have regained some functionality, with most users now able to log back in (although some also said that their attempts were rejected due to “suspicious activity”). However, those who did are now reporting that their account balance is incorrect, and in some cases, both their eWallet and GO+ balance are missing. Some also received notifications for transactions that they did not perform, while others said that they are unable to check their transaction history.

Meanwhile, TNG eWallet urged its users to remain patient as it continues to troubleshoot and rectify the problem. If you are heading out today, be sure to bring some cash with you, or opt for other alternatives and options for your payments instead.

(Source:
TNG eWallet
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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JOI® PCs, Laptops & Tablets: For All Walks Of Life

With almost everything in our daily lives powered digitally, it’s important that we’re all equipped with well-capable electronic devices. For the little ones, having a digital device could assist in expanding their creativity and entertain them with their favourite movies while learners need something that allows them to attend online classes, submit assignments, do research, and write papers. On the other hand, those who are building their career would most likely use theirs to carry out daily tasks as required by their employer.

It’s no surprise that there are endless choices of products in the market with so many different people looking to fulfil their unique needs. Malaysian-based electronics brand, JOI® offers a variety of digital devices at competitive prices. As a collaboration between Intel®, Microsoft and SNS Network, JOI® develops and produces a myriad of IoT (Internet of Things) devices and solutions.

Let’s explore how people from different walks of life can enjoy JOI® products.

For Educators Cultivating A Healthy Learning Environment

The
JOI® Smartboard
 is a digital device that has the potential to make learning more engaging and interactive. With up to 20 touch points and sizes of up to 86 inches, students can collaborate with one another and convey their ideas through visuals and even mind mapping, which is especially essential for visual learners.

The JOI® Smartboard comes with an ops module that can be fitted with Intel® Core
™
 i3, i5 or i7 Processors, based on performance preferences. So whether it’s for moderate or heavy use, users can select the processor that works best for them. The ops module also comes equipped with Windows 10 Pro, Dual DDR slot, 128/256GB SSD, ports for HDMI, DP, and VGA, as well as 6 USB 3.0 ports.

Teachers, lecturers, and professors may even perform wireless transfers of relevant files throughout the class without the need to physically transfer data. Screenshare Pro allows educators to mirror other devices onto the JOI® Smartboard for a much larger real estate. On top of that, JOI® Smartboard has pre-installed Android applications and sidebar widgets that one can typically find on tablets and mobile devices, that may be of assistance when conducting classes.

For Learners Who Will Become Future Leaders

These days, students of all ages are expected to have an electronic device at the ready. While they may have different requirements based on their scope of study, JOI® offers a wide range of products that can fulfil unique student needs.

Students may find a variety of JOI® laptops capable of carrying out their everyday tasks, such as the  JOI Classmate® 10, JOI Classmate® 30, JOI® Book 143 Pro, and JOI® Book 200 Pro.
JOI Classmate® 10
 and
JOI Classmate® 30
 are beginner-friendly and can withstand drops from up to 2 feet, which may prove to be helpful for those with less careful tendencies.

JOI Classmate® 10 comes with Intel® Celeron® N4020 whereas JOI Classmate® 30 is fitted with Intel® Core
™
 i3-1005G1 Processor, which would work great for young students.

Furthermore, older students such as those who plan to carry their devices into the workforce later on may benefit from
JOI® Book 143 Pro
, which weighs only 1.25kg and
JOI® Book 200 Pro
, a laptop equipped with backlit keys that can easily be used in the dark.

JOI® Book 143 Pro is built with the capable Intel® Celeron® N4120, whereas JOI® Book 200 Pro is equipped with the quad-core Intel® Pentium® J3710, which is suitable for education and the workplace.

For Career Builders Seeking To Enhance Productivity

Whether you work in the creative, finance, education or other industries, chances are, you too are required to have a device to work on. While JOI® Book 143 Pro, and JOI® Book 200 Pro also make great devices to speed through daily tasks with, JOI® also offers other products that may assist in fulfilling your everyday duties.

For those who are constantly on the go,
JOI® Book Touch 330 Pro
 may become your next favourite work device as it only weighs 1.3kg, is 12.8mm thin, and is a tablet-laptop hybrid. The 13.3” Full HD display provides clear, crisp visuals and performance is also nothing short of capable as it is powered by an Intel® Celeron® N4120 Processor. On top of that, you can securely lock and unlock with Windows Hello, using fingerprint verification.

JOI® AIO (120 Pro
) is an all-in-one monitor computer that only requires minimal accessories, unlike traditional desktops. The hardware is all within the 21.5” Full HD monitor itself so all you need is just a mouse and keyboard – which you’ll get for free! JOI® AIO (120 Pro) also comes equipped with a webcam, microphone, and speaker so whenever you have a video call scheduled, you’re all ready to go.

Complete with an Intel® Celeron® Processor 3867U processor, the JOI® AIO (120 Pro) is made adequate for work tasks, multimedia, browsing, and multitasking.

On the other hand, if you already have a monitor that you love and trust, why not opt for the
JOI® PC 226
? It comes complete with Intel® Pentium® Gold G6400 Processor, 4GB Windows 10 Pro, 240GB SATA SSD, and Intel® UHD Graphics 610 so you can work as much as you’d like, or stream your favourite content enjoyably in your free time. The JOI® PC 226 also comes in a combo with a keyboard and mouse!

Additionally, the JOI® PC 226 is fitted with an Intel® Pentium® Gold G6400 Processor, which is proficient in productivity and even mid-range gaming for some after-work destressing.

***

So if you’re in the market for a new device, why not consider getting one from JOI®? They have a device suited for people across all ages, including those who are studying, working, and even teaching. Plus, products are all competitively-priced and there’s also an option for instalments for easy payments.

Click here
 to shop JOI® products online.

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Lisa Ameera Azman

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JomPAY Transactions On TNG eWallet Now Draw From Transferable Balance

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet has introduced a new restriction that now blocks JomPAY transactions from tapping into users’ non-transferable balance, drawing instead from their transferable balance. This differs from before, where payments made using JomPAY would utilise the funds stored under your non-transferable balance.

While TNG eWallet has not published an announcement with regard to this on its official pages – as of the time of writing,
TNG eWallet’s support page
 has yet to reflect this revision – its app is already updated to indicate that JomPAY transactions will take from your TNG eWallet transferable balance, as you can see below:

Previously, TNG eWallet noted that its transferable balance can be transferred to other TNG eWallets, other bank accounts or e-wallets, its
TNG GO+ features
, as well as investments (including
GOinvest
 and more recently,
ASNB
) – with no explicit mention of JomPAY.

For those who are not aware, your total TNG eWallet balance is actually divided into two types of balances, namely
transferable and non-transferable balance
; this depends on the top-up source of your fund. As you can expect, the types of payments and transactions that you can do with transferable and non-transferable balance, too, will differ.

Here’s a quick summary of the differences between these two types of balances:

TNG eWallet transferable balance
TNG eWallet non-transferable balance
Top-up sources
Online banking
Debit cards
DuitNow
Direct Credit
GoPinjam
Credit cards
Reload PINs
Usage
1) Can be transferred to a variety of other avenues, including:
– Other TNG eWallets
– Other bank accounts & e-wallets
– Investments
– JomPAY
2) Can also be used for retail payments
1) Cannot be used transferred to any other avenues
2) Can only be used for retail payments

Meanwhile, TNG eWallet’s JomPAY feature was
officially unveiled in June 2023
, powered by Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) and Bank Rakyat.

The introduction of this new JomPAY restriction is the latest in a series of constraints that TNG eWallet has been gradually implementing in the past year, which include the
recent classification of reload PINs as non-transferable funds
. This comes as it continues to adapt and streamline its functions to ensure that its users utilise the eWallet responsibly.

(Source: Touch ‘n Go)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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How To Get Your EPF Statement Online

How to check your EPF statement online

Many of us are visual learners, so we at RinggitPlus decided to make a video tutorial on how you can get your EPF statement in 6 easy steps – watch the video below!

All you need is available online

Before making an application for a bank loan or credit card, you’d need to prepare some supporting documents such as a copy of your MyKad, latest salary slips, and EPF statement. You have your NRIC in your wallet, and you’ll gleefully find your salary slip on your desk every end-of-month, but how do you get your latest EPF form fast? In fact, how to check EPF account balance?

Usually, you’d have to visit the nearest KWSP centre or EPF kiosks to print it out, but that’s a terribly good way to waste your time! Nowadays, you can go on the KWSP website and open an i-Akaun. This lets you check your EPF account balance (from Account 1 and 2), and print out your latest statement. But first, you’d need an activation code to start using your online KWSP account.

How to get EPF i-Akaun Activation Code?

Get an activation code by calling KWSP at

03-8922-6000
 and answer a few simple questions to confirm your details. The code will then be sent via SMS once you have confirmed your mobile number. You will then receive an SMS similar to the one on the right.

Alternatively, you can also get your EPF activation code by printing it out at an EPF kiosk in
various locations nationwide
.

How to activate KWSP i-Akaun?

Go to the
KWSP homepage
. Login as an i-Akaun member. You’d have to activate the account first, click on “i-Akaun activation” below the User ID field.

Enter your MyKad number and activation code. Next, fill in your new account personal and security details – confirm a username, password, and 3 secret questions and answers. Lastly, pick one out of the 5 images plus a secret phrase and you’re done. It’s that easy – you don’t even need to check your EPF number to do it, so it doesn’t matter if you forgot your EPF number.

How to print EPF statement from KWSP?

Let’s go back to the

i-Akaun login page
. Enter your new username and password – your secret phrase will appear to authenticate your session.

At your i-Akaun homepage, click ‘MyAccount’ on the top navigation bar. You can now choose from all years’ EPF statements to view. Remember, the bank will always ask for the latest copy when applying for their banking products. At the bottom of your online EPF statement, there is an option to print a copy – and there you have it!

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    Gina

    3 years ago

Hi, i would like to know how much i have in my EPF account for education withdrawal. With this recent MCO, i’ve tried getting an activation code from calling KWSP at 03-8922-6000 to open an i- Akaun but i can’t get through, the line seems to be disconnected. Would really appreciate your advice on this matter.

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    intan noor alyaani bt azmuddin

    1 year ago

tak dapat kwsp account epf

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Malaysian E-Hailing Drivers Association Disappointed At Exclusion From Economic Stimulus Package

(Image: SoyaCincau)

The Malaysia E-Hailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) has expressed disappointment that e-hailing drivers were left out from the Economic Stimulus Package 2020.

In the announcement of the stimulus package yesterday, interim Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir said that the government will be giving a
one-off payment
 of RM600 to taxi drivers, tourist bus drivers, tourist guides, and registered trishaw drivers.

“The tendency of passengers to not go out unnecessarily due to the Covid-19 outbreak also affects the income of e-hailing drivers following lesser passengers, whether tourists or locals, the same as for taxi drivers,” said the chairman of MeHDA, Daryl Chong.

Chong also contended that if e-hailing drivers were to be subjected to the same operating rules as taxi drivers, then they should also be eligible for financial aids that are provided for taxi drivers. E-hailing drivers were required to register for the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence since the start of 2019, along with Puspakom inspections as well.

“We urge the government to reconsider the decision and to include e-hailing drivers in the stimulus package,” Chong further said.

The Economic Stimulus Package 2020 was introduced to help Malaysia’s economy cope with the impact of the global Covid-19 outbreak. It contains a variety of incentives, such as
vouchers for domestic travel
,
reduction of EPF contribution
, cash aid for
government staff in Covid-19 frontline
 and
BSH recipients
,
assistance for businesses
, and
boosts for e-commerce players
.

(Source:
The Star
,
Malay Mail
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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Samsung Launches Galaxy S21 FE 5G In Malaysia With RM350 Pre-Order Rebate

Samsung has officially announced the new Galaxy S21 FE 5G, and has immediately announced the Malaysian pre-order for the device, ongoing until 10 January 2022. With retail prices starting at RM2,899, the pre-order includes an instant RM350 rebate and Samsung Care+.

Described as a smartphone that “houses premium fan-favourite features from the Galaxy S21 in a well-rounded package”, the new model features the same Exynos 2100 processor as the current S21 flagship, with 8GB of RAM and internal storage of either 128GB or 256GB. Its display sits between the S21 and S21+ in terms of size with a 6.4” Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x Display. It also offers a 12MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 8MP 3x telephoto camera, while the front camera is a 32MP selfie camera.

Interested customers can make their pre-orders through various channels, including Samsung Experience stores, the Samsung Malaysia online store, as well as authorised online and offline partners. On top of that, Samsung said that
trade-in and overtrade options are made available
 too – although this is eligible only to selected devices, and terms and conditions apply.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G will be available in four colour options – Graphite, Olive, Lavender, and White – at the following retail prices:

Galaxy S21 FE 5G (128GB)
: RM2,899
Galaxy S21 FE 5G (256GB)
: RM3,099

As usual, you can expect to reap some pretty generous perks via the pre-order promo as well – this time worth RM570. Specifically, you’ll get an RM350 e-voucher (available with voucher code “
S21FEFANS
” on the Samsung Malaysia online store), and one year of free protection under SamsungCare+ (Accidental Damage and Liquid Damage) that is worth RM220. Note that the e-voucher can be used as a direct rebate off the total bill, instantly knocking RM350 off the RRP.

The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is also now available for pre-order at the official Samsung stores in
Lazada
and
Shopee
. In addition to the RM350 vouchers, you could also get some extra savings via platform vouchers on both websites.

On top of that, customers who purchase the new Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G will also receive 30% off selected accessories, and 20% off selected wearables between 6 January to 28 February 2022. Among some items that are up for grabs via these discounts include silicone covers with straps and clear standing covers for the new model, as well as the Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch4 Classic, and Galaxy Buds.

Finally, Samsung said that pre-ordered Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G phones will start shipping on 11 January 2022 onwards.

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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TM-Owned Unifi Offers Free Access To TV Channels And Broadband Perks Until 31 March 2020

Telekom Malaysia (TM) has announced several perks for its subscribers to help them cope during the 14-day period of movement restriction order imposed by the government. Extended through the broadband service provider, unifi, eligible customers will be able to enjoy free access to live TV channels, unlimited LTE weekly passes, and extra LTE hotspot quotas. The perks will last from now until 31 March 2020.

To begin with, customers with unifi TV will be entitled to complimentary viewing for all live TV channels, including National Geographic, FOX Movies, FOXlife, tvN, and Nickelodeon. That said, the offer is extended only to residential subscribers. Those who are subscribed to the unifi Basic 30Mbps plan are also not eligible for this perk.

You can also access the free live TV channels on unifi PlayTV, a video streaming service via the playtv@unifi app on multiple devices. The playtv@unifi app is downloadable on
Google Play
 and the
App Store
.

Additionally, unifi Mobile is giving its customers complimentary access to the unlimited weekly LTE pass. Also known as the BEBAS Weekly pass, it gives you unlimited data for LTE coverage, and typically costs RM20.00 for a validity of 7 days. You can get this free pass through the mobile@unifi app, and it will last 7 days from the date of your redemption.

You can also take advantage of the 999GB of LTE hotspot quota that TM is giving to selected postpaid customers. If you are subscribed to any of the following plans, you will be eligible for this benefit:

Ultimate Plan (unifi Mobile 99 at RM59, with 12-month contract)

unifi Mobile 99

webe RM79

unifi Mobile Pek Jasa/Senior Citizen Plan

unifi Mobile Biz 99

unifi Mobile Biz 79

Note that no applications are necessary for the extra LTE hotspot quota, but you will have to make sure that you are within unifi Mobile’s LTE coverage in order to make use of it.

Aside from TM’s unifi,
Astro
 and
iflix
, too, have announced that its customers will be able to enjoy complimentary access to various selected locked content, from now until 31 March 2020.

(Source:
Lowyat.NET
,
unifi
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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Local Airlines Provide Flexibilities To Affected Passengers During MCO 2.0

(Image: Miera Zulyana)

Following the reimplementation of the movement control order (MCO 2.0) in several states and the Federal Territories, local airlines are offering their passengers certain flexibilities, including the option to change their travel dates. Here are the alternatives that are provided by Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB), AirAsia, and Malindo Airways.

Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB)

MAB passengers who are affected by MCO 2.0 will be given the
flexibility to rebook
 their travels with a one-time fare difference and service fee waiver, applicable only for wholly domestic trips between 13 to 26 January 2021. Additionally, note that all re-bookings must be made on or before 30 June 2021, and completed by 31 December 2021.

Meanwhile, passengers who wish to cancel their flight will have the option to convert their tickets into a travel voucher or open ticket, which must also be used by 31 December. This is allowed for all types of tickets except for Enrich redemption tickets.

As for those of you with Enrich redemption tickets, they will be converted into open tickets, with re-bookings to be done by 30 June and the journey completed by 31 December. Full refunds are not allowed, and you will also not be able to opt for a travel voucher.

Passengers can submit their requests for these flexibilities via
MAB’s online Assistance Request form
. Alternatively, you can call the airline’s Global Contact Centre at 1-300-88-3000 (in Malaysia) or +603 7843 3000 (abroad) for assistance. Those who made their bookings via a travel agent will need to contact their travel agency for assistance instead.

AirAsia

AirAsia passengers who are departing between 13 to 26 January 2021 can choose to cancel their flights if they wish to. In return, they will be allowed to tap into
unlimited flight changes
, where they can make as many changes as they like to their travel dates at no cost, as long as it is on the same route and the date is before 31 March 2021. Note that this option is also subject to seat availability.

To tap into this option, passengers will need to chat with AirAsia’s AVA and take the following steps:

Select “Flights” from AVA’s main menu.

Select “Covid-19 Flight Changes”.

Select “AirAsia Malaysia Domestic (AK) Flights”.

Select “I want to move my flight”.

Enter your booking details and personal details as requested, and select a new flight date and time.

AirAsia also clarified that passengers who are affected by flight cancellations due to MCO 2.0 will receive a separate email or SMS, informing them of their available options.

Malindo Air

Malindo Air is also giving passengers who are affected by MCO 2.0 the
flexibility
 to change their travel dates once at no additional costs, or to request for a refund.

According to the airline, passengers who bought their tickets on or before 11 January 2021, for travel between 13 to 26 January 2021, can move their travel dates within 12 months from the original flight date for free. A fare difference does, however, apply if the price of the new flight is higher than the original fare.

Meanwhile, refunds are permitted in the form of travel vouchers, and these vouchers must be redeemed within 12 months of the voucher date. The airline also clarified that the travel date is based on seat inventory range of 11 months ahead of redemption date.

For more information, you can call Malindo Air’s call centre at 03-7841 5388 or send an email to
[email protected]
.

***

Admittedly, air travel has not been easy under the new norms implemented by the government in its fight against the spread of Covid-19 within Malaysia. However, these are necessary measures in curbing and breaking the chain of infection. Accordingly, travellers should also check in with their respective airlines frequently to get the latest updates on flight changes and other standard operating procedures (SOPs). Finally, stay safe, everyone!

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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SPAN, Shopee Collaborate On Jimat Air 1.0, Offer RM200 Rebate For Washing Machines

The government has teamed up with e-commerce platform Shopee to roll out the Jimat Air 1.0 initiative, which offers RM200 vouchers to eligible users for the purchase of water-efficient washing machines. Led by the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN), the initiative will require you to take some quick action by 20 September 2021.

Read on to find out more about the Jimat Air 1.0 initiative.

What is Jimat Air 1.0?

The Jimat Air 1.0 initiative is similar in spirit to the
SAVE 2.0 campaign
 that was previously launched by the government. Just as how the SAVE 2.0 campaign sought to increase public awareness and the use of energy-efficient electrical products (air conditioners and fridges) among the public, the Jimat Air 1.0 initiative also seeks to improve Malaysians’ accessibility to water-efficient washing machine for everyday use. It is likely an expansion of the SAVE 2.0 campaign, given that SEDA had announced back in April 2021 that it intends to
extend the SAVE 2.0 offer to cover more electrical appliances
, including washing machines and televisions.

Under this initiative, eligible individuals will also be able to obtain an RM200 e-voucher to use when they purchase selected water-efficient washing machines. Approved products include models from brands such as Toshiba, Midea, Samsung, Panasonic, and Electrolux.

That said, unlike the SAVE 2.0 campaign which saw its vouchers being distributed via two e-commerce platforms – Shopee and Lazada – SPAN seemed to have appointed only Shopee as the exclusive partner for the Jimat Air 1.0 initiative this time round.

Who is eligible for Jimat Air 1.0?

According to Shopee’s official landing page for Jimat Air 1.0, consumers who wish to tap into initiative must verify their ShopeePay e-wallets by 20 September 2021. The RM200 rebate e-voucher will then be credited to
all
verified ShopeePay users on 24 September 2021.

In other words, there will be no registration or application processes to go through (such as
during the Save 2.0 campaign
); instead, the vouchers will be automatically credited into your account if you are a verified ShopeePay user. Additionally, each user is eligible to only one voucher throughout the whole campaign period.

Aside from the above conditions, there doesn’t seem to be any other requirements that must be met. There are also no mentions of the overall quota provided by SPAN or Shopee.

Step-by-step guide to obtain and use Jimat 1.0 RM200 vouchers

As we have mentioned before, you must first ensure that your ShopeePay e-wallet is verified by 20 September 2021 if you wish to obtain a Jimat 1.0 voucher. The verification process is a standard eKYC authentication procedure, which requires you to upload a photo of your MyKad and a selfie. This process may take up to 24 hours for confirmation, so make sure to do it as soon as you can.

Once done, wait until 24 September for the Jimat Air 1.0 voucher to be credited into your account; it will be parked under the “My Vouchers” tab in your account profile page. From there, go ahead and browse for any washing machines with the Jimat Air 1.0 label, and add it to your shopping cart. For convenience, you can check them out on the official
Shopee Jimat Air 1.0 landing page here
.

Note that the payment for these purchases must be done using ShopeePay (whether online or offline), with the Jimat Air 1.0 voucher applied during the checkout process.

***

Shopee also reminded users to turn on their push notification settings in order to get notified when the Jimat Air 1.0 voucher has been credited into their accounts. If you have any enquiries regarding the Jimat Air 1.0 initiative, you can call SPAN at +603 8317 9333 or reach out to them through their
official Facebook page
.

(Source:
Shopee
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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UOB Upgrades Complimentary Travel Benefits For Visa Infinite & Privilege Banking Visa Infinite Credit Cardholders

UOB Malaysia has updated some of the complimentary travel benefits for its UOB Visa Infinite and UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite credit card. These include increasing the number of complimentary airport lounge access allowed, as well as complimentary airport limousine service to 12 times per calendar year (one time per calendar month).

With this update, UOB Visa Infinite and UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite cardholders will gain 12x access to airport lounges in Asia Pacific and international airport lounges (from 4x/year currently), via the Airport Companion by DragonPass mobile app. Prior to this, cardholders of both cards had less accessibility to airport lounges, as you can see in the table below:

Cards
Complimentary access to airport lounge before 1 July 2022
Complimentary access to airport lounge after 1 July 2022
UOB Visa Infinite
4x access to airport lounges in Asia Pacific per calendar year
12x access to airport lounges in Asia Pacific per calendar year (capped at 1x per month)
UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite
6x access to international airport lounge per calendar year
12x access to international airport lounge per calendar year (capped at 1x per month)

The list of airport lounges will also be expanded to include more lounges as
DragonPass and Plaza Premium Group have recently announced a strategic partnership
. This means UOB Visa Infinite and UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite cardholders will now also have access to more than 180 lounges managed by Plaza Premium Lounge, on top of an existing 1,200 and more lounges already available via the DragonPass network.

Meanwhile, the complimentary airport limousine service has also been revised to permit a maximum of 12x redemptions per cardholder (1x per calendar month), up from the previous 4x redemption allowed. Note that you must meet a minimum spend requirement of RM5,000 on airlines, hotels, and/or travel agency expenses (either in a single or cumulative transactions) to make one redemption.

Other privileges and benefits for both cards continue to remain unchanged. Cardholders will continue to earn 8x UNIRinggit for overseas spend, 5x UNIRinggit for dining (if your total dining spend per calendar month is ≥RM1,000), and 1x UNIRinggit for local spend. You’ll also still be able to enjoy up to 20% discount at over 200 airport dining outlets, as well as travel insurance with coverage of up to RM500,000.

Additionally, the minimum income requirement UOB Visa Infinite card is still set at RM120,000 per annum (equivalent to RM10,000 per month). Meanwhile, the UOB Privilege Banking Visa Infinite card is by invitation only.

The revisions above are slated to take effect starting from 1 July 2022.

(Source:
UOB
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Previously covered recruitment-related stories and had a short stint as a copywriter for the property industry. She subsequently developed an interest in investment and robo-advisors.

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