Star Trek vs Star Wars: Space Battle!

It’s time for another head-to-head comparison where we pit two similar, yet different and opposing things against each other to see which one comes out on top! With the recent Star Trek movie currently still playing in theatres and a Star Wars film coming out by end of this year, we feel it’s right to put the Trekkies against the Jedis in: Star Trek vs Star Wars!

Star Trek

Set in a distant utopian future where humans and aliens trek among the stars to boldly go where no man has gone before, can this spacefaring TV (and later, film) franchise duke it out with Star Wars? Let’s find out!

No Money Necessary

Why is it that we try our hardest for you to get more for your money? Because it’s everywhere and everyone uses it for everything. But in Star Trek, money is no object. Quite literally, it’s not a thing that anybody uses for anything.

With replicator technology (essentially a highly-advanced 3D printer) and their holodeck (a Virtual Reality room where anybody can recreate any environment down to the atomic structure) there is no need for anyone to fight for resources. You can just replicate food or any provision you need and be free to explore outer space or date hot alien ladies. Sweet.

Encourages Optimism

Star Trek, much like other works of science fiction, use their futuristic setting to comment on the current state of the world. And they’ve chosen to tell a story of a future where racial discord, political strife, (and best of all, crippling debt) is all but erased.

While there is plenty of conflict in their stories, they are all set in a world where humans and aliens manage to work together and settle their differences with reason and rationality (on the part of the heroes anyway). The show often makes us feel better about humanity and where it’s going in the future.

More Content On TV

Star Trek has been on TV and cinemas since 1966 and it would take about 23 days and 25 minutes to watch every minute of Star Trek from the first episode to the most recent films. That’s a lot of space adventures.

Star Wars

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a space opera film franchise took over the hearts and minds of people all over the world. How well does it stack up against Star Trek? Let’s see!

Cooler, with More Fighting

Lightsabers, X-Wing fighters, assassins, and storm troopers: Star Wars is all about the Wars. Set in an ancient time full of political intrigue and conflict, the heroes of Star Wars are just plain cooler than the homogenous crew of the Starship Enterprise.

Things are grimier, grittier, and visiting an alien planet in Star Wars feels a lot more like experiencing a completely different world. Contrast that to Star Trek’s utopian future where everyone dresses alike and speak perfect English to each other via a Universal Translator. Boring.

More Accessible

Everybody understands the Dark Side versus the Light Side, how the Force works, and that a lightsaber can melt droids. Being a story about war, this franchise is full of drama, space battles, and a simple, compelling story of good against evil. It speaks to people of all ages, with little post-viewing analysis needed on the part of the audience.

Star Trek on the other hand often uses its premise to talk about the nature of humanity, free will versus predestination, artificial intelligence, bioethics, and all sorts of philosophical topics that can easily get boring if not handled well. Yawn.

Better Media

Sure, Star Trek has more video content by volume, but Star Wars has better quality. And by that, we mean even as it started back in the 70s, it already had lightsabers, giant bulbous aliens, a tiny green frog-like creature, and a gargantuan space base the size of a moon.

Star Trek meanwhile had aliens that always had the same bodily proportions of a human, with some little plastic bits on their face or weird hair or skin colour here and there. It can be argued as well that since Star Wars has way cooler characters and settings, they make for way funner video games, tie-in animated series, comics, toys, and merchandise.

There you have it! Each franchise has its own thing to offer the masses and its own band of die-hard fans. But which one of these truly comes out on top? We’ll let you decide for yourselves in the comments section down below!

If you’d rather compare
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, or
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Live long and prosper, and may the force be with you.

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PENJANA Economic Recovery Plan: Highlights For Individuals And Businesses

Last Friday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled a short-term national economic recovery plan aimed at helping Malaysia get back to its feet amidst the challenging economic landscape post-MCO. The PENJANA plan, which sees a budget allocation of RM35 billion, is drafted with three goals in mind: to empower the people, propel businesses, and stimulate the economy.

As many as 40 initiatives were included in PENJANA, with an emphasis on providing social support for the people, improving domestic consumption, and supporting the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Here’s a list of highlights that you can look forward to from the PENJANA economic recovery plan.

PENJANA Benefits For Malaysian Individuals

Salary Subsidy Programme

The ongoing
salary subsidy programme
 will be extended for another three months, until the end of September 2020, with some slight tweaks. The existing programme offers an RM600 salary subsidy for three months to all employees who are earning less than RM4,000 per month, and are working for employers who have suffered an income loss of more than 50% since 1 January 2020.

Following the extension, employers enrolled in the programme can also opt to implement policies such as
reduced work week and reduced pay
 (maximum 30%). Employers in the tourism sector and other businesses that were prohibited from operating during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) are now also allowed to receive wage subsidies for employees on unpaid leave, provided the funds go directly to the employees.

Hiring Incentives

(Image: AutoBuzz)

The government has introduced hiring and training incentives for companies so as to curb the rising rate of unemployment within the country. The benefits are as follows:

RM600 per month if employers provide apprenticeships for school leavers and graduates (up to 6 months)

RM800 per month for the employment of individuals below 40 years of age (up to 6 months)

RM1,000 per month for the employment of individuals above 40 years of age (up to 6 months)

RM4,000 training allowance can be claimed by unemployed individuals even if they are not covered under the Employment Insurance System (EIS)

Reskilling And Upskilling Programmes

To enhance the employability of graduates, school leavers, and unemployed individuals, the government has prepared a dedicated RM2 billion fund to support reskilling and upskilling programmes offered through various avenues.

For youths

Government to provide matching fund of RM250 million with the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) to co-fund place-and-train and upskilling programmes.

Enhancing training facilities at community colleges, youth vocational institutes, and industrial training institutes.

Training subsidy of up to RM3,500 over 6 months for programmes offered by Securities industry Development Corporation (SDEC).

Relax the application conditions for the PROTÉGÉ Ready-To-Work (RTW) programme. The programme provides entrepreneurial training through apprenticeships, among others.

For unemployed individuals

Collaboration between the public and private sector to offer upskilling courses in selected sectors, such as electrical & electronics and information communication technology (ICT).

Incentives to promote short courses in local universities.

Promoting entrepreneurship programmes offered by agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MOA), the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Ministry (MEDAC), and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA).

Training subsidy of up to RM800 per month (for 6 months) through the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC).

Supporting The Growth Of The Gig Economy

(Image: SoyaCincau)

The government will provide a matching grant of RM50 million for companies to make SOCSO and EPF contributions for their employees. This includes SOCSO’s employment injury scheme (up to RM162 annually) and EPF’s i-Saraan contribution (up to RM250 annually).

Additionally, Perbadanan Ekonomi Digital Malaysia (MDEC) will be provided with RM25 million for the Global Online Workforce (GLOW) programme, which is intended to train Malaysians so that they can earn income from international clients while working online from home.

Incentives For Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA)

(Image: Focus Malaysia)

To encourage the adoption of a
work-from-home policy
, employers will be allowed tax deductions if they implement or enhance their flexible working arrangements, starting from 1 July 2020.

Employees will also be permitted income tax exemptions of up to RM5,000 if they receive mobile phones, notebooks, and tablets from their employers to facilitate their flexible working arrangements. This is also effective 1 July 2020. In addition to that, there is a special individual income tax relief of up to RM2,500 for the purchase of these items as well, effective 1 June 2020.

Meanwhile, SOCSO will also expand its Employment Injury Scheme to provide coverage for workers involved in accidents while working at home.

Childcare Subsidy

(Image: Malay Mail)

Working parents can benefit from
a subsidy of childcare expenses
 via e-vouchers of RM800 per household for mobile childcare services. The e-vouchers are valid until end of August 2020. The government will also increase the income tax relief for childcare service expenses from RM2,000 to RM3,000 for YA2020 and YA2021.

Additionally, childcare centres can apply for a one-off grant of up to RM5,000 to comply with new healthcare SOPs. These centres must be registered with the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM). There will also be incentives allocated to train new practitioners for child nursing and early education courses under KPWKM, although details have not been released yet.

Public Transport Subsidy

An unlimited monthly travel pass priced at RM30 will be introduced to reduce the cost of daily public transportation. The pass is applicable for all rail services, BRT, RapidKL buses, and MRT feeder buses.

Social Aid For Vulnerable Groups And Enhanced Healthcare Support For PeKa B40

(Image: Harian Metro)

Registered OKUs, single mothers, and volunteers for home help services will be entitled to a
one-off financial assistance of RM300
. Relevant NGOs supporting these groups will also receive grants to aid them in their services. The government is also launching the PENJANA GLC Community programme, which encourages GLCs to adopt a community, implementing socio-economic development programmes with them.

Separately, the government has increased the existing fund for the
PeKa B40
 programme from RM50 million to RM100 million. The extra fund will be used to improve four benefits for the group, namely health screenings, medical device assistance, cancer treatment incentives, and subsidy for transportation for health. The healthcare protection scheme, which was originally made available only for BSH recipients and their registered spouses aged 50 to 60, has been expanded to cover
BSH recipients aged 40 and above
 in 2020.

Free “Productivity Internet”

The government will be replacing the allowance of 1GB free mobile data during the MCO and CMCO period with a
new free internet access plan
. The revised plan will offer Malaysians 1GB of data for specific online learning and productivity tools, as well as news by participating telecommunication companies.

The service will also offer unlimited access to Microsoft Office 365 applications, and the Zoom video conferencing service. Additionally, Malaysians will get free and zero-rated access to all government websites and Covid-19 related apps, such as Gerak Malaysia, MySejahtera, and MyTrace.

Just like before, the free data offered will be valid only from 8am to 6pm daily. It will be available until end of December 2020.

ePenjana Credits For E-Wallets

(Image: The Sun Daily)

In a bid to further encourage e-wallet usage for contactless and cashless payments, as well as to boost consumer spending, the government will provide RM50 of e-wallet credit for eligible individuals. The
ePenjana credits
 will also be matched by participating e-wallet service providers in the form of various vouchers, cashback offers, and discounts.

To qualify for the ePenjana incentive, you must be a citizen aged 18 and above, and are earning an annual income of less than RM100,000. You will also need to take an extra step of
downloading and registering with the MySejahtera app
.

Tax Exemptions And Financial Aid For Home Buyers

(Image: Malay Mail)

The
Home Ownership Campaign
 will be reintroduced to stimulate the property sector and to financially aid home buyers. Through this campaign, home buyers will be exempted from stamp duty fees for land title transfers and loan agreements if the value of the property stands between RM300,000 to RM2.5 million:

Stamp duty exemption for the land title transfers limited to the first RM1 million of the property value

Full exemption is allowed for loan agreements

This benefit is applicable for agreements signed between 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2021, subject to a rebate of at least 10% from the developers.

During the period of the campaign, Malaysians purchasing their third home will also be excused from the financing limit of 70% of the property value. Applicable for homes valued at RM600,000 and above, the new financing limit will be determined by the internal risk management practices of the banks offering the loans instead.

Meanwhile, Malaysians wishing to sell their residential properties between 1 June 2020 to 31 December 2021 will also be exempted from the real property gains tax (RGPT). However, this is limited only to three residential properties per individual.

Tax Incentives For Car Purchase

Between mid-June to end of December 2020, those buying locally assembled cars will enjoy full sales tax exemption. Those purchasing imported cars, on the other hand, will get a 50% sales tax exemption instead.

PENJANA Benefits For Malaysian SMEs

SME E-Commerce And Shop Malaysia Online Campaign

(Image: Free Malaysia Today)

Eligible micro enterprises and SMEs will be encouraged to join an e-commerce campaign to digitalise and future-proof their businesses, as well as to widen their market reach. Through the campaign, the businesses can tap into aids such as on-boarding training, seller subsidies, and sales support.

Meanwhile, the government will also run the Shop Malaysia Online campaign to encourage online consumption. It will see the government collaborating with e-commerce platforms to co-fund digital discount vouchers for the Malaysian public to spend on products from local retailers.

Financial Aid For The Digitisation Of SMEs And Mid-Tier Companies

Grants and loans will also be provided to encourage SMEs and mid-tier companies to digitalise their operations and trade channels. They will be carried out via selected programmes, such as the SME Digitalisation Matching Grant, SME Technology Transformation Fund, and Smart Automation Grant.

A total of RM700 million is allocated for this initiative, with the bulk of it going to the SME Technology Transformation Fund. The fund will be offering up to RM500 million loans, and application opens in July 2020.

Meanwhile, the SME Digitalisation Matching Grant and Smart Automation Grant are both allotted RM100 million each. Note that the Smart Automation Grant has a cap of up to RM1 million per company.

Financing Aid For SMEs, Micro Entrepreneurs, And Other Businesses

Impacted SMEs can tap into a RM2 billion financing facility by banks, offered at a concession rate of 3.5% p.a.. The facility will be available starting mid-June 2020, and each SME can get a maximum loan of RM500,000.

Micro enterprises are also entitled to an aggregated approved financing of up to RM50,000 per enterprise. The interest rate for this facility is also set at 3.5% p.a.. Additionally, RM50 million has been specially earmarked for women entrepreneurs. The government will also dedicate an amount of the funding for youth entrepreneurs and social enterprises.

Meanwhile, bumiputera-owned and
shariah
-compliant businesses can benefit from a RM500 million financial aid set aside for them, provided through Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad (PUNB) and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA). Aids include loans of up to RM1 million at 3.5% p.a. interest rate.

Lastly, the tourism sector will also have a RM1 billion financing facility dedicated to them, but further details will only be revealed in July 2020.

Tax Relief For Covid-19 Related Expenses

(Image: Malay Mail)

Expenses spent by businesses on implementing social distancing practices and Covid-19 prevention – such as Covid-19 testing kits, PPEs, and thermal scanners – are now allowed for tax deductions. This is to encourage businesses to adapt to the new norm and to adhere to new healthcare SOPs.

Setting Up of New Businesses

To encourage the establishment of new businesses, SMEs established between 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2021 will enjoy an income tax rebate of up to RM20,000 per year for three years of assessment. Meanwhile, SMEs aiming for mergers or acquisitions will be exempted from paying stamp duty fees for any applicable instruments, starting from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

***

Of course, this is not the complete list of initiatives announced as part of the PENJANA plan, but we’ve highlighted these as the most relevant ones.

Malaysia is currently in the midst of implementing a
six-phase strategy
 to
reboot the country’s economy
; the six phases are: resolve, resilience, restart, recovery, revitalise, and reform. PENJANA marks the start of the fourth phase, recovery. The final two stages will be introduced in the form of the upcoming Budget 2021 and the 12
th
 Malaysian Plan.

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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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PEMULIH Stimulus Package: Key Takeaways For MSMEs And Businesses

Last night, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin revealed yet another stimulus package in a bid to support Malaysians amidst the country’s ongoing fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Dubbed PEMULIH, it is the eighth stimulus package that the government has rolled out to date.

In total, the PEMULIH stimulus package is worth RM150 billion, and has three key areas of focus: continuing the Prihatin Rakyat agenda, supporting businesses, and increasing vaccination rate. Here are some key initiatives from the package that will be provided to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as businesses.

Unconditional six-month loan moratorium

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

Affected MSMEs – along with B40, M40, and T20 individual borrowers – will be able to tap into
another six-month loan moratorium
. This time, it will be provided without conditions (such as salary cuts or job losses), and no documentations are required during the application process either. Borrowers who wish to apply will only need to approach their respective banks and sign an agreement containing the amended loan terms when their applications are approved. This moratorium is set to begin on 7 July 2021.

Prior to this, the government had allowed an
automatic moratorium that lasted between April to September 2020
. The aid was soon followed by several other
targeted repayment assistances
 between October 2020 until today.

Extension of electricity discount

(Image: Malay Mail)

Selected businesses in the tourism sector will be provided with a
flat 10% discount
 on electricity bills between October and December 2021. These businesses include hotel operators, theme parks, convention centres, shopping malls, local travel agencies, as well as travel and tour agencies. This is an extension of the
ongoing discount
 that was offered to them under the PEMERKASA+ stimulus package, slated to end in September 2021.

Gerak Khas Prihatin (GKP) 4.0

Geran Khas Prihatin was first introduced as a one-off financial aid for eligible SMEs and micro SMEs in the PRIHATIN stimulus package, aimed at ensuring their survival. Since then, the government has updated it several times to offer further assistance, especially to small traders that are still not allowed to operate during the MCO.

In the PEMULIH stimulus package, GKP 4.0 will be implemented with MSMEs receiving an additional cash assistance of RM500 in September and November, respectively. This is on top of an upcoming payment of RM1,000 that will be made in mid-July 2021 under
GKP 3.0, offered via PEMERKASA+
.

Wage Subsidy Programme (PSU) 4.0

(Image: Malay Mail/Choo Choy May)

The latest Wage Subsidy Programme 4.0 will allow selected employers to receive a wage subsidy of RM600 for up to 500 employees, over a period of four months. Specifically, employers from all economic sectors will be eligible to apply for the aid for two months during the second phase of the National Recovery Plan (NRP). Following that, employers in sectors that are categorised as negative can tap into the programme for another two more months during the third phase of the NRP.

Unlike previous versions of the programme – which dictated that
only employees with salaries less than RM4,000
 are eligible for the aid – Wage Subsidy Programme 4.0 will be open to all employees regardless of their salaries.

PenjanaKerjaya Programme 3.0

The
PenjanaKerjaya programme
 – first introduced via the PENJANA stimulus package – was intended to increase job opportunities within the country following the MCO. It offers incentives to businesses that hire new employees or offer reskilling and upskilling programmes for their employees – and the current implementation of the programme is slated to end in June 2021.

Under PEMULIH, this programme will be extended once again, although this time with several updates. Key among these updates is the improvement made to the “Malaysianisation” programme, which seeks to encourage employers to hire local workers instead of foreign workers. This time round, the government is lowering the eligibility criteria for employers to claim this incentive; businesses are allowed to claim when they hire workers with salary starting from RM1,200 instead of the previous RM1,500. Aside from that, the employment contract period will also be reduced from 12 months to 6 months for employees aged 50 and above, the disabled, and ex-convicts.

Small Entrepreneur Digitalisation Empowerment Programme (PUPUK)

PUPUK is a comprehensive initiative meant to encourage digitalisation and the adoption of cashless payments among MSMEs. Ultimately, it encompasses four key steps:

To continue the
Shop Malaysia Online
 and
Go-eCommerce Onboarding
 campaigns, targeting more than 300,000 MSMEs.
Increasing the
SME Digitalisation Grant
 so that SMEs can obtain a matching grant of RM5,000 to digitalise their businesses.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC/SKMM) to work with digital platform providers, telecommunication companies, and rural internet centre communities to encourage MSME participation in trading platforms.
Tap into Program Digitalisasi dan Transformasi Sektor Pertanian to enable agricultural entrepreneurs to adopt the latest technology. This programme will be led via the cooperation of MDEC and Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan.

One-Off Financial Aids For Selected Businesses

(Image: Malay Mail/Ahmad Zamzahuri)

The government will offer special financial assistances to a number of affected businesses, including kindergarten operators, canteen operators, sports facilities, and tourism agencies.

Specifically, kindergarten operators will obtain RM3,000 cash aid to help them purchase sanitation and disinfecting equipment. Meanwhile, registered canteen operators and sport facility operators will be provided RM1,000 and RM3,000, respectively, as a form of support.

Finally, a one-off cash aid of RM3,000 will be given to registered tourism agencies. However, this aid will only be provided when the country enters the third phase of the NRP. These agencies will also be entitled to service tax exemptions until the end of the year.

Additional financial aid by BNM

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will allocate another RM2 billion to its existing fund that is intended to offer financial aid to ailing MSMEs. According to the prime minister, BNM had previously already set aside a total of RM25.1 billion for the fund, and there is still RM6.6 billion remaining from the amount. With this new injection of cash, the fund will now have a total of RM8.6 billion left to disburse to businesses that are in need.

Fund injection for existing microcredit facility

The government will further boost the existing
microcredit facility
 with an additional RM1.1 billion, allowing the facility to support even more MSMEs that need cash assistance. This is on top of an existing RM3 billion that has already been set aside for this purpose.

The additional RM1.1 billion will be provided through the following bodies that offer the microcredit facility:

Agrobank: RM500 million
Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN): RM500 million
Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usahawan Niaga (TEKUN): RM100 million

The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) has also pledged to
refine the implementation of the microcredit facility
 over the upcoming days.

Financial aids for MARA entrepreneurs

MARA entrepreneurs will be allowed to apply for a three-month payment deferment of their business loans, as well as seek a rescheduling of loan repayment of up to 36 months. On top of that, MARA will also extend an ongoing 30% discount on its rental for business premises until December 2021.

Increased guarantee ceiling by SJPP

Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Bhd (SJPP) has agreed to increase its guarantee ceiling by yet another RM20 billion. This is on top of a previous move where it had already hiked the ceiling up by RM10 billion for 2021.

For context, SJPP offers schemes that let the Malaysian government stand in as a guarantor for eligible SMEs when they apply for credit facilities from participating financial institutions. These schemes offer a protection guarantee of up to 80%.

Levy exemption for HRD Corp

Employers who are unable to operate during the ongoing movement control order (MCO) will be given a HRD Corp levy exemption for two months. Meanwhile, businesses that are included in newly established sectors following the expansion of the
Human Resources Development Act 2001
 will be given an extended exemption until 31 December 2021.

General Initiative Networking Programme (JITU)

The government has allocated RM20 million for this programme to provide basic business capital assistance and guide the disabled and homeless in starting or carrying out their own businesses.

***

With this, we hope that you now have a better idea of some relevant aids that are available for MSMEs and businesses under the PEMULIH stimulus package. As the largest package to be announced by the current government since the unveiling of its very first stimulus package back in March 2020 (PRIHATIN package), PEMULIH stimulus package has numerous other initiatives catering to other needs as well. It is hoped that this package will tide the public through as the country carries out the necessary measures to once again curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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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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AmBank Offers 15% Daily Cashback For Its UnionPay Platinum Credit Cardholders

AmBank is currently running the UnionPay 15% Cashback campaign, which lets its UnionPay Platinum credit cardholders earn 15% cashback when they spend a minimum of RM30 on their cards at specific merchants. Starting from 1 March to 31 December 2021, the campaign’s minimum spend requirement must be fulfilled in a single transaction.

Open to both new and existing cardholders, no registration is required in order to participate in this campaign. You can tap into this promo when you perform any online retail transactions with any merchants. Aside from that, it is also applicable when you purchase from selected offline merchants, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and departmental outlets. With more than 50 merchants for you to shop from, some major participating brands include Jaya Grocer, Starbucks, JD Sports, AEON, and Family Mart.

Do note that every
Ambank UnionPay Platinum
 cardholder is only allowed to win a maximum cashback of RM50 during each campaign month, which means that this campaign stops rewarding you when you’ve spent about RM333 in total for the month. Additionally, AmBank has earmarked an amount of RM24,400 for the campaign every month, and it will be disbursed to eligible cardholders on a first come first-served basis.

You can expect to receive your cashback within 12 weeks from the end of each campaign month, and it will be reflected in your statement.

To note, this UnionPay 15% Cashback campaign is actually an updated version of
a previous cashback campaign
 by AmBank – which had ended on 28 February 2021. While it offered a similar reward of 15% cashback, the earlier version was limited only to Friday and weekend expenses.

To find out more about
AmBank’s latest UnionPay 15% Cashback campaign
, head on over to the bank’s website. You can also check out the full list of participating merchants there.

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E-Wallet Payments May Soon Be Available At The Immigration Department

(Image: The Sun)

Malaysians visiting the Immigration Department may soon be able to pay for their transactions using e-wallets. According to the director-general of the Immigration Department, Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud, the department is looking into enabling e-wallets as a payment method. If successful, the roll-out could be done as early as June.

“We are discussing and studying e-wallets as a payment option once the (cashless) system is fully implemented on June 1,” said Khairul.

This comes after the Putrajaya Immigration Department’s move to go cashless last month, implementing an e-payment system where only debit and credit cards are accepted. It was carried out as a trial before the Immigration Department decides if the cashless system can be rolled out across all of its department branches.

(Image: SelangorKini)

Although the
initial feedback
 was mixed, with many customers being caught by surprise, Khairul said that the general public had adapted well to the cashless system. Khairul also said that some divisions have reported good progress since the cashless payments implementation.

“For passport management, we have a 100 per cent success rate. In other divisions, such as visa management or foreign worker management, we have a 60 to 70 per cent success rate,” noted Khairul, who added that this is a good sign for them to fully implement the cashless system from 1 June 2020.

That said, Khairul also stated that there will still be some cash payment counters to attend to those who are not eligible to make use of cashless payments.

(Image: Bahagian Keselamatan & Pasport Putrajaya)

“This is only for certain cases, such as foreigners and students who do not have bank accounts. They can pay with cash,” said Khairul.

The Immigration Department’s initiative to go cashless is in line with the government’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, which promotes the digitalisation of the economy and the growth of a digital society.

(Source:
New Straits Times
)

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Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud

Director-General

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Shared Prosperity Vision 2030

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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BNM: Most Malaysian Households Remain Resilient Despite Covid-19 Impact, Higher Risk For B40

(Image: SoyaCincau)

Most Malaysian households will still be able to weather through their debt despite the negative effects of the current Covid-19 pandemic and an ensuing economic decline, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in a report published today. However, households that fall within the B40 category may face greater difficulty in maintaining their debt repayments.

In the Financial Stability Review 2019, the central bank commented that although the country’s overall household debt has increased since the first half of 2019, most Malaysians can still survive the recent impact on the local economy. The current household debt is revealed to stand at the equivalent of 82.7% of Malaysia’s entire economy, which saw a 0.5% increase from the
household debt in the first half of 2019
. The report also mentioned that the increase is largely driven by home financing.

Bank Negara further commented that the households’ resilience is supported by income growth and adequate financial buffers. This is in reference to the various measures that the
government, banks, and institutions
 in the country have introduced in a bid to help the public, such as the lowering of the
overnight policy rate (OPR)
, a six-month
automatic moratorium
, the
Economic Stimulus Package 2020
, and the
Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package
. Additionally, the prudent lending guidelines practiced by local banks in providing loans – thereby ensuring that all borrowers are properly qualified – have also proved to be vital in reducing the risks of households experiencing financial difficulties as a result of their loans.

“At the aggregate level, both outstanding household financial assets and liquid financial assets remained broadly stable at 2.2 times and 1.4 times of debt, respectively,” said the report.

Households earning below RM3,000, however, face a less optimistic prospect as the report indicated that there is a high likelihood of them defaulting on their loans, particularly mortgages. In Malaysia, such households fall within the category of B40, an income group with a median income of RM3,000 per month.

(Image: EdgeProp)

Additionally, the report mentioned that households in this group typically have about nine times more debt than assets. The situation is primarily caused by the increase in residential loans, which occurred due to the launch of the
Home Ownership Campaign 2019
.

“Low income, coupled with poor financial planning, continued to be the main causes of financial difficulty faced by these borrowers, as they tend to overestimate their ability to cope with higher costs of living and debt obligations,” said BNM, who also noted that the B40 category accounted for more than half of those who sought for credit counselling.

The situation for the B40 category is exacerbated by the ongoing movement control order (MCO), which required the stop of all non-essential businesses. This subsequently meant a halt to their earnings and livelihood as many of them are day labourers who are paid only when they work.

However, the
central bank
 again stressed that the various financial measures that have been offered thus far should lighten their burden, in particular the
Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package
 and the
automatic moratorium
.

(Source:
Malay Mail
,
Bank Negara Malaysia
)

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MAS Unveils MHflypass ASEAN, Priced Between RM1,499 To RM2,699

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has unveiled MHflypass ASEAN, a fixed-rate pass that allows Enrich members to fly to different cities within ASEAN all year round. It is said to offer greater flexibility to passengers as they can use it to plan up to three return trips (or six one-way trips) in the year to selected cities in the region.

There are three zone passes that you can purchase under MHflypass ASEAN, each catering to different needs and destinations. Offered at a price range of between RM1,499 to RM2,699 (not inclusive of tax, and other surcharges), there is also an ongoing introductory promotion that lets you enjoy a RM200 discount on any of the passes between today until 5 June 2022. On top of that, you will also earn Enrich Points with the purchase of each pass.

The following is key information on the three passes under MHflypass ASEAN that you can purchase:

Zone 1

The pass for Zone 1 offers flights between Kuala Lumpur and nine ASEAN cities, namely Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, and Yangon.

Priced at RM1,499, the Zone 1 pass is the most affordable option of MHflypass ASEAN. If you buy it during the promotional period, you’ll only have to pay RM1,299 for the pass. You’ll also get to earn up to 1,499 Enrich Points.

Zone 2

Meanwhile, Zone 2 passes enable you to travel between Kuala Lumpur and three specific ASEAN cities: Manila, Hanoi, and Bali. It retails at RM2,099, but you can get it for RM1,899 during the ongoing early-bird promotion. With the purchase of this pass, you’ll also earn up to 2,099 Enrich Points.

Zone 3

The final pass, Zone 3, encompasses the most extensive destinations at a price of RM2,699 (RM2,499 during the early-bird promotion). It lets you fly between various selected destinations within the ASEAN region – as opposed to the passes for Zone 1 and 2 – which require you to either start or end your journey in Kuala Lumpur.

Buying this pass will also get you up to 2,699 Enrich points. Here’s the full list of the destinations that fall under this pass:

Fly to/from
Destinations covered
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Alor Setar, Langkawi, Penang, Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bahru, Johor Bahru
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Labuan, Sandakan, Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya
Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Singapore
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon.
Bangkok, Phuket
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Manila
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Phnom Penh, Yangon
Phnom Penh
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Yangon
Yangon
Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Surabaya, Singapore, Bangkok, Phuket, Manila, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phnom Penh

***

Aside from offering travel flexibility to its passengers, MHflypass ASEAN also comes with a whole host of other benefits, including:

Priority check-in, boarding, and baggage drop
Standard seat selection
No blackout dates, enabling you to redeem flights throughout the year (subject to seat availability)
Unlimited ‘Go Show’, allowing you to board an earlier flight (applicable to same-day flights, and subject to seat availability)
Unlimited, free change of flight date (subject to seat availability)
Extra baggage allowance (35kg check-in and 7kg cabin)
Complimentary snacks/meals and beverages

If you’d like to get yourself a MHflypass ASEAN pass, you can do so online through
Journify
 or
Enrich
. Note that you cannot purchase the pass through MAS’ call centres, ticket offices, travel agents or any other ground channels.

Additionally, if you’re not yet an Enrich member, you must sign up as one before you can purchase any of the passes. Do also be aware that MHflypass ASEAN is valid only for 365 days from the date of purchase. As such, make sure to utilise your trip quota within the validity period as you will not be eligible for any extension or refund if the quota is not used up.

MHflypass ASEAN is an extension of
MHflypass
 Malaysia, which was introduced back in April 2021. While MHflypass offers flight coupons for travel within Malaysia, MHflypass ASEAN enables passengers to fly to cities within ASEAN.

“This exciting expansion gives our passengers a greater range of cities to discover, simultaneously revitalising the tourism industry across the ASEAN region. With accredited COVID-19 measures put in place for our passengers to #FlyConfidently, we look forward to welcoming them back on board,” said MAS’ Group Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Lau Yin May.

(Source: Malaysia Airlines [
1
,
2
])

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    SueLyn

    6 months ago

Absolute waste of money and imma share my personal experience: 1. You can only book V class seats. However, this isn’t disclosed beforehand. Yes, it’s in the terms and conditions, but there is never a way to check if the dates you want still have V class seats available. You’ll have to buy the pass and use that portal to buy tickets before you can check if the date is available. And once your do, you’re stuck with the pass. Which leads me to the rest of the problems. 2. Unlimited free date changes subject to availability is a lie.
…
Read more »

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PRS Members Can Now Apply For Pre-Retirement Withdrawals Without Incurring Tax Penalty

From now until 31 December 2020, eligible PRS members will be able to apply for pre-retirement withdrawals from their private retirement schemes (PRS) without being charged an 8% tax penalty. The withdrawals will be made from their sub-account B.

According to the FAQ from the Private Pension Administration (PPA), PRS members below the age of 55 years old can apply for these tax-exempted withdrawals from one or more funds. However, it is subject to a maximum amount of RM1,500 per PRS provider. If you do exceed the RM1,500 limit, then you will be charged the usual 8% tax penalty for the excess withdrawal. You are also allowed to take out the full amount from your sub-account B.

To illustrate, if you have RM500 in your sub-account B, you can request to take out the entire sum without penalty. However, if you have RM2,000 in the account, you will only be able to withdraw RM1,500 without incurring the penalty. Should you decide to take out the full RM2,000 sum, then you will be charged an 8% tax penalty on the extra RM500 that you withdrew (which amounts to RM40). That said, members aged 55 years and above are not restricted to the maximum withdrawal limit.

Note also that you are only allowed to withdraw from funds that you have enrolled for at least a year, and that you can only apply once to each PRS provider during the exemption period. After the PRS provider has received your application, it will process your request within 10 days.

PPA also commented that you are not required to disclose your reasons for these withdrawals. That said, it advised all members to be prudent when utilising this facility as these savings are meant for your retirement after all.

Pre-retirement withdrawals from the PRS are typically charged an
8% tax penalty
, except for the purpose of
healthcare and housing
. However, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had announced a temporary penalty exemption during the reveal of the
Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package
.

To find out more about how you can apply for this facility, you will need to contact your PRS providers as the application process for each of them may differ. Alternatively, you can also call the PPA at 1300-131-772, email
[email protected]
, or check out the
full FAQ
 on
PPA’s website
.

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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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Public Bank’s E-Wallet Reload Campaign Offers RM38 Cashback For Visa Cardholders

Public Bank’s latest Visa campaign is set to reward eligible credit cardholders with RM38 monthly cashback when they reload a cumulative amount of RM688 into their e-wallets. The eWallet Top Up With PB Visa Credit Card campaign will begin tomorrow (1 October 2022), and will run all the way until 31 December 2022.

Open to all Public Bank and Public Islamic Bank Visa credit cardholders, you can participate in the campaign by using your Public Bank Visa credit cards to top up any of the seven participating e-wallets:

Boost

FavePay

GrabPay

Lazada Wallet

ShopeePay

Taobao

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet

Each cardholder is permitted to earn the RM38 cashback reward only once per month, provided on a first-come first-served basis. If you manage to win the reward, the amount will be credited into your account within four to eight weeks after the end of each campaign month, and will be reflected in your credit card statement.

Note as well that Public Bank has allocated a total of RM150,000 to be disbursed throughout the whole campaign period, with RM50,000 earmarked for each month.

To join this Visa campaign by Public Bank, you can register your participation by sending an SMS (“
PBIT<space>16-digit principal PB Visa credit card number
”) to 66300. If you have more than one Visa credit cards with Public Bank, you will only need to register one card as qualifying transactions on all your other cards will also be automatically tracked for this campaign. Do also be aware that cardholders who participate in this promo during the campaign period will not be eligible for other credit card offers by Public Bank.

Meanwhile, Public Bank Mastercard cardholders can also check out the
weekend campaign that just began today
, offering 20% cashback for online shopping transactions (RM150 minimum spend for each transaction).

(Source:
Public Bank
)

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PEMULIH Shop Malaysia Online: Deals That You Wouldn't Want To Miss

During the reveal of Malaysia’s latest stimulus package on Monday – the PEMULIH stimulus package – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the government is once again reviving the Shop Malaysia Online campaign for a second round.

The Shop Malaysia Online campaign – which was first announced under the
PENJANA economic package back in 2020
 and further expanded in Budget 2021 – is aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs in the digitalisation of their businesses. During its initial run, the campaign was estimated to have helped
more than 200,000 merchants
 increase their sales through various e-commerce platforms, with the total transaction value coming up to about RM1.8 billion. For instance, Shopee released data to say that it recorded over
RM200 million in sales
 just via the initiative.

This second round of Shop Malaysia Online campaign will see the participation of several e-commerce and online platforms as well, including Boost, Grab, and Lazada –
just to name a few
. Here are the perks that some participating entities have to offer to their consumers.

Boost

Period: 1 July – 31 December 2021

Boost will offer consumers up to 80% instant cashback and discounts from selected merchants, ranging from groceries and F&B, to health and beauty products. Major brands include Watsons Pharmacy, JD Sports, and HappyFresh.

Most deals will need you to meet a minimum spend requirement, and there is also a cap on the quantity of cashback and discounts provided. Additionally, each eligible customer is allowed to earn a maximum of only two cashback rewards under this campaign.

On top of the discount, you can also get up to RM10 cashback when you spend a minimum of RM30 in-store with selected partners. These include Lotus’s, Mr DIY, Mydin, Guardian Pharmacy, and Caring Pharmacy. Do note that all these cashback rewards earned will have a validity period, so be sure to check the T&C to make sure you don’t miss the deadlines.

Aside from that, you can also earn 4x Boost Coins when you spend at least RM50 in a single transaction via Boost with any Boost online partner. The 4x Coins provided will be based on the Boost Coins that you receive through the Shake Rewards, and will be credited immediately to your account.

These bonus Coins, too, have an expiry date; they are set to expire a month after a specific transaction period. For instance, 4x Coins earned during the transaction period of 1 July to 31 July 2021 will expire on 31 August 2021 – so again, make sure to check the T&C. Any coins that are not utilised will be automatically forfeited.

On top of the above individual benefits, you may also tap into few Boosted Deals that give you up to 80% cashback and extra Boost Coins. Depending on the deal and partner that you purchase from, you can get up to RM10 cashback and 8x Boost Coins. Merchant partners participating in these Boosted Deals include F&N Life, Scan Dao Bao, and Watsons.

For more information, check out your Boost app!

Fave

Period: 1 July – 31 August 2021

Fave users can enjoy an 8% Shop Malaysia cashback on their first transaction with selected Fave merchant partners via FavePay, FaveDeals, and Fave eCards. To begin, you’ll need to first key in the promo codes found within the Fave app to claim the Shop Malaysia cashback. Once you’ve obtained it, you can then use the collected cashback to spend on your preferred Fave eCards and Deals.

Do note that the Shop Malaysia cashback will only be valid for 30 days after you’ve claimed it, so make sure to utilise it before it expires! Also, the cashback will be granted instantly for successful FavePay payments and eCard purchases. Meanwhile, it will take three days for the cashback to be credited to you if you redeem it with FaveDeal purchases.

Aside from the 8% Shop Malaysia cashback for all Fave users, new users can also get an exclusive additional 8% cashback. This special cashback is valid for purchases from all categories (via FavePay, FaveDeals, and Fave eCards), with a minimum spend of RM5. It is capped at RM60, and is also valid only for 30 days upon being credited.

Head on over to
Fave’s official website
 for more information.

Grab

Period: 1 – 31 July 2021

Grab users will be entitled to a rebate of up to RM30 when they spend a minimum of RM150 on GrabFood, GrabMart, and selected merchant partners via GrabPay or PayLater by Grab. Specifically, you will earn a RM20 rebate when you use GrabPay, and RM30 rebate for PayLater. There is also a bonus for new Grab users; they will be given an extra RM20 rebate for using either GrabPay or Paylater (with minimum spend of RM150).

For existing users, note that you are entitled to only two redemptions per person throughout the campaign. Provided on a first-come first-served basis, the allocation of rewards are as follows:

GrabPay (RM20 rebate): 59,500 redemptions
PayLater (RM30 rebate): 5,500 redemptions

Meanwhile, the quantity of the additional RM20 reward earmarked for for new users are:

GrabPay: 53,000 redemptions
PayLater: 12,000 redemptions

These rebates will be awarded instantly upon the completion of eligible transactions, and you can find them under the “My Rewards” tab. Click on “Use Now” for the rebate to be credited into your GrabPay e-wallet.

Do also be aware that only selected retail transactions are accepted for this campaign. Transactions with merchants or platforms such as FavePay, Carousell, PosMalaysia, as well as bill, insurance, and telco payment platforms are not eligible. Grab further clarified that its rebates from this campaign will not overlap in redemptions with another
ongoing PayLater rebate
 as well as promotions by several other entities that are also involved in the Shop Malaysia Online initiative (such as Beep by Storehub, Kravve Co, and PG MALL).

You can find out more about
Grab’s participation in the Shop Malaysia Online initiative
 here.

Lazada

Period: 1 July – 31 December 2021

Under this initiative, Lazada will offer a discount of 50% and free shipping for purchases made with selected merchants. These merchants range from categories such as F&B and essential needs, to apparels and beauty products.

To tap into the 50% discount, you’ll need to spend a specified minimum amount on these particular items. For instance, you can get 50% off on
OldTown White Coffee
 when you spend a minimum of RM20 (capped at RM10), whereas some
Khind products
 call for a minimum spend of RM10 (capped at RM5).

Meanwhile, free shipping deals are also available with a minimum spend. Note that these free shipping deals will typically also have a cap. For instance,
SilkyGirl’s official store on Lazada
 offers free shipping capped at RM5 and RM8 if you spend a minimum of RM8 or RM12, respectively.

Aside from these, there are also Brand Mega offers that you can look into for massive discounts – held in conjunction with Lazada’s upcoming
7.7 Mid-Year Sale
. Featured brands include
Anker
,
Gintell
, and
Asadi
.

Head on over to
Lazada’s Shop Malaysia Online page
 here to collect the vouchers that will let you enjoy more savings!

Shopee

Period: 1 – 31 July 2021

Shopee users will have the chance to collect Shopee, seller, and free shipping vouchers via the Shop Malaysia Online initiative – all of which are stackable so that consumers can enjoy extra savings. Through these vouchers, you’ll be able to earn up to 13% Shopee Coin cashback and up to 20% rebates with selected merchants – both applicable with a minimum spend.

Participating online merchants
 come from a range of categories, including groceries, health and beauty, mom and baby, electronics, as well as lifestyle and fashion. Some major brands that you can look forward to buying from include Dr Cardin, Red’s Revenge, and Brilliant Co – but there are also plenty of SMEs and local sellers who offer great deals as well!

There are also
offline merchant deals
 that you can purchase from Shopee to get even more cashback and discounts. These offline deals – which are usually priced between RM0.10 to RM5 – are now going for just RM0.01. Upon purchasing these deals within the Shopee app, you can visit the offline merchant at their physical store to buy items and earn your cashback.

On top of that, Shopee is also hosting a sub-campaign under the Shop Malaysia Online initiative – dubbed the
Shopee Celebrity Squad
. Essentially, this is an event where Shopee promotes specific brands that are specially curated by Shopee “celebrities”. It features exclusive vouchers as well as other activities.

Head on over to
Shopee’s Shop Malaysia Online page
 for more information! You could also check out the e-commerce platform’s upcoming
7.7 Mid-Year Sale
 while you’re there.

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet

Period: N/A

TNG eWallet has merged the Shop Malaysia Online campaign together with its monthly Goal Hunter event. Essentially, the Goal Hunter event lets you win discount and cashback vouchers from a range of merchants by collecting stamps with a minimum spend of RM10. For every two stamps that you collect, you’ll be allowed to claim one reward voucher of your choice.

Among some of the vouchers that you can win include those from Baskin Robbins, Kenny Rogers Roasters, Lazada, BHPetrol, and even Indah Water. Each will have its own minimum spend requirement, so do be sure to check. There are also exclusive monthly prizes to be won if you decide to claim a “Prize Giveaway Voucher” instead of vouchers from merchant partners; these vouchers will give you entries to win the grand prize of the month. In July, the grand prize giveaway is an Apple MacBook Air M1, worth RM4,399.

As usual, only retail payments qualify for this campaign, and transactions such as e-wallet reloads, toll payments via PayDirect/RFID, and parking payments via PayDirect do not count. Each user is allowed to collect up to 10 Goal Hunter stamps per month – with multiple stamps a day. Aside from that, you’re also only allowed to claim a maximum of five reward vouchers per month.

You can find out more about
TNG eWallet’s combined Goal Hunter/Shop Malaysia Online campaign
 here.

Maybank

Period: 1 July – 31 August 2021 (8am to 6pm)

Maybank is also participating in the Shop Malaysia Online initiative via its Sama-Sama Lokal platform, allowing customers to enjoy great savings while they purchase from and help sustain local vendors.

Through this campaign, Maybank customers will be able to get 30% off their orders from Sama-Sama Lokal vendors (capped at RM10) when they spend a minimum of RM30 online via the MAE by Maybank2u (MAE) or Maybank2u app (online bank transfer). This is on top of another RM10 discount on delivery fees. To tap into these perks, you’ll need to key in a promo code (“
SHOPMYSSL
”) when paying for your purchases.

Note that each customer is only allowed to utilise the promo code for five times during the whole campaign period, and each promo code is only valid for one transaction that is added to the purchase cart. Maybank has capped the total promo codes at 62,000 slots for the whole campaign period, with a daily limit of 1,000. The discounts will be provided on a first-come first-served basis.

You can find out more about
Maybank’s Shop Malaysia Online offer here
.

***

With this, we hope that you’ll be able to tap into some great discounts even as you spend to help local vendors during this challenging period. You can also check out the many other platforms that are participating in the
Shop Malaysia Online initiative
 here.

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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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RinggitPlus The Great Escape Campaign FAQ 2018

Q: What is The Great Escape Campaign about?

The Great Escape Campaign rewards you for making new credit card and personal loan applications via RinggitPlus. Approved applications with any of our five participating banks will guarantee you exciting campaign gifts and a chance to win our sweepstake gifts!

Q: Which banks are part of The Great Escape?

The five participating banks are:

For credit card applications

For personal loan applications

Citibank, HSBC, RHB,

Standard Chartered Bank

Alliance Bank, RHB

Q: What are the gifts offered under The Great Escape campaign?

Successfully apply for a credit card or personal loan under The Great Escape Campaign and here’s what you can get:

Credit card or personal loan

Free campaign gift

Citibank credit card

DJI Tello Drone

HSBC credit card

RM500 Lazada e-voucher

RHB credit card

Acer Iconia One 7

Standard Chartered credit card

Xiaomi Amazfit Pace

Alliance Bank personal loan

1x RM350 AirAsia e-voucher

1x RM100 Lazada e-voucher

1x RM50 Agoda e-voucher

RHB personal loan

1x RM350 AirAsia e-voucher

1x RM100 Lazada e-voucher

1x RM50 Agoda e-voucher

You will also be in the running for the chance to win our grand sweepstakes gifts, which are:

1x Volkswagen Polo (yes, you read that right, that’s an actual car!)

1x RM400 Petronas gift card

1x RM400 Touch ’n Go card

Q: How do I apply?

It’s really simple. Just apply for a qualifying credit card or personal loan (as stated on the individual banks’ T&C) on
ringgitplus.com
 during The Great Escape campaign period (12 November 2018 – 14 December 2018).

Q: How long is the approval process?

Each bank has different processing timelines for different products, and thus it is at the bank’s discretion. Customers will be notified by the bank once the bank has started processing their applications.

Q: How and when can I get The Great Escape gifts?

For credit cards, you will be eligible for your gift after your card is approved, received, and activated. For personal loans, you will be eligible after your loan has been approved and disbursed.

Once the bank has notified RinggitPlus of the card activation or loan disbursement, RinggitPlus will send your gift to you within 28 working days. Find out more about the T&Cs and
voucher redemption here.

Q: If I apply for more than one credit card or personal loan, can I get multiple gifts?

Yes, you can get more than one campaign gift if you get your credit card approved and activated or personal loan approved and disbursed from the different participating banks. However, if you are making multiple applications from the same bank, you will only receive one set of The Great Escape campaign gifts once you activate your card or have your loan disbursed.

Q: I already have a credit card or personal loan with one of the banks. Am I still eligible for the gifts if I apply for another card with the same bank during this campaign?

You will not be eligible if you already have a credit card with the bank you are applying from.

Q: How will the sweepstakes draw work?

To be in the running for the grand sweepstakes prize, you will have to have your credit card or personal loan approved and activated or disbursed by 28 February 2019. RinggitPlus will be doing a live show of the draw session in March 2019, where we announce the lucky winner of a shiny new Volkswagen Polo!

Q: If my application is rejected, am I still eligible for any gifts?

No. Only applications which have been approved by the banks are eligible for gifts from The Great Escape Campaign.

Q: How long will this promotion be available?

RinggitPlus The Great Escape Campaign will run from 12 November 2018 to 14 December 2018.

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Bank Negara Hikes OPR Again, From 2.25% To 2.50%

(Image: Bloomberg)

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has once again increased the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points (bps), bringing it from 2.25% to 2.50%. With this, the ceiling and floor rates of the OPR are increased to 2.75% and 2.25%, respectively.

BNM said that this decision to further adjust the degree of monetary accommodation is spurred by the positive growth prospects for Malaysia’s economy. “The transition to endemicity and policy measures have contributed to the stronger growth performance in the second quarter of 2022. Going forward, indicators point to continued growth, underpinned by support from private sector spending,” it said in a statement.

The central bank also noted that Malaysia’s labour market conditions and income prospects remain positive, while unemployment and underemployment continue to decline further. These are also supported by the reopening of international borders, which is expected to stimulate the tourism sector and other relevant businesses. Similarly, investment activity and prospects, too, are looking up as multi-year projects are brought to fruition. As for inflation, BNM believes it will remain partly contained by existing price controls, fuel subsidies, and the prevailing spare capacity in the economy.

(Image: Malay Mail/Ahmad Zamzahuri)

The central bank does caution, however, that external demand may dip due to a slowdown in global growth. Other central banks around the world are also expected to continue adjusting their monetary policy settings to reduce inflationary pressures. In particular, the US government’s aggressive adjustments in US interest rates have resulted in a strong US dollar environment, which led to higher volatility in financial markets that affected other currencies – including the ringgit. Further escalation of geopolitical conflicts and worsening supply chain disruptions, too, are some downside risks to the domestic economy.

That said, BNM believes that these developments are not expected to derail Malaysia’s growth, and will continue to assess evolving conditions and their implications on Malaysia’s domestic inflation and growth. “Any adjustments to the monetary policy settings going forward would be done in a measured and gradual manner, ensuring that monetary policy remains accommodative to support a sustainable economic growth in an environment of price stability,” the central bank reiterated.

This latest increase marks the third OPR hike to be implemented in 2022; in May 2022, BNM increased the OPR by 25bps for the first time –
to 2.0%
 – after
paring it down to an all-time low of 1.75%
 via multiple cuts in 2020 and 2021. Following that, the OPR was raised by
another 25bps in July 2022 to 2.25%
.

(Source:
BNM
)

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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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RHB Will Also Not Charge Compound Interest During The 6-Month Moratorium

(Image: The Borneo Post)

RHB Banking Group (RHB) has announced that it will not be compounding interest during the 6-month moratorium laid down by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), joining several other Malaysian banks that have declared the move as an additional benefit to its customers.

This is applicable to RHB’s retail and small-medium enterprise (SME) customers during the 6-month repayment moratorium starting 1 April 2020. As for Islamic financing, RHB will continue to observe the principle of no compounding of profit as usual.

On 25 March, BNM announced that all banks and development financial institutions would offer an
automatic deferment
 of six months for loan and financing repayments to SME and individuals. However, according to BNM, banks would still be
accruing
 interest on loans/financing during the deferment period, and that interest would be
compounded
 for conventional loans.

(Image: Berita Harian)

“These additional measures introduced by BNM in partnership with the banking industry provides critical relief to ease the financial burden of individuals and businesses, particularly the SMEs during this extremely challenging period,” said Dato’ Khairussaleh Ramli, group managing director of RHB Banking group.

Other banks who have come forward to declare non-compounding interest for the period of the moratorium include
HSBC
, which has also extended this measure to all of its retail and SME customers, and
OCBC
, which will not be compounding interest for its mortgage and SME customers.

(Source:
RHB
)

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Samsung Galaxy Fold Opens For Pre-Order In Malaysia 9 October

Samsung’s innovative foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Fold, is set to be available in Malaysia. Previously only available in a handful of markets globally, Samsung is offering the Galaxy Fold in Malaysia with exclusive access to customer service and support networks.

One of the first foldable smartphones in the world, the Samsung Galaxy Fold was launched earlier this year alongside the
Galaxy S10 series
. The futuristic device can be unfolded to reveal a large 7.3-inch display, giving it a versatility that other phones can’t offer. When the large display is not needed, the Galaxy Fold is a compact smartphone with a 4.6-inch display that still offers full access to the device.

The inner display is the standout technology at the heart of the Galaxy Fold. Samsung calls it the Infinity Flex Display, offering a tablet-level 7.3-inch 2152 x 1536 panel – exceptionally large for immersive entertainment
and
productivity whenever needed. Meanwhile, the “Cover Display” is a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED 1680 x 720 panel.

Foldable display aside, the Samsung Galaxy Fold is also one of the most powerful smartphones made by Samsung. Besides packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset paired with a generous 12GB of RAM and 512GB UFS 3.0 storage, the Galaxy Fold packs a total of six cameras: two front cameras above the foldable display, one “Cover Camera” for use when the phone is folded, and a triple rear camera setup for main photography muscle.

Weighing 276g, the Galaxy Fold has a large 4380mAh dual battery – there’s one battery one each side of the phone. The Fold also supports fast wired and wireless charging, as well as Wireless PowerShare to charge other devices (such as the Galaxy Buds).

As Samsung’s highest-end smartphone in its stable, the company made sure that Galaxy Fold owners are treated to be best it can offer. In the box, Samsung bundles in the wireless Galaxy Buds as well as a carbon fibre finish protective case.

On top of that, for the Malaysian market, the Galaxy Fold will come with exclusive customer care service, which includes 24/7 support online or over the phone, one-year warranty for screen replacement and repairs, and door-to-door delivery for services.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold will be available for pre-order in Malaysia for RM8,388 in two colours: Cosmos Black and Space Silver. Those interested to purchase the device can make a RM800 deposit at participating Samsung outlets nationwide starting 9 October, and can collect their new foldable smartphone from 16 October onwards.

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Pang Tun Yau

Pang Tun Yau

A seasoned tech journalist who now focuses on his other passion, Pang is a firm believer in old-school DCA and optimised spending.

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Bursa Malaysia Introduces Shares2share Securities Donation Scheme

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Razak Ghazali)

Bursa Malaysia has introduced a securities donation scheme called Shares2share that allows investors to donate their listed securities, or proceeds from the sale of these securities, to charities supported by Yayasan Bursa Malaysia.

In a statement, the local bourse said that this new scheme will serve as a cost-effective and easily accessible method for investors to contribute to a good cause. It also noted that there are two donation options that investor donors can choose from: to make donations without a tax receipt, or with a tax receipt (which will allow them to receive a tax deduction).

If you wish to make donations with tax receipts, however, you must be a client of the following 15 investment banks; otherwise, you can only participate in the scheme and donate without a tax receipt:

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd

AmInvestment Bank Bhd

Apex Securities Bhd

BIMB Securities Sdn Bhd

CGS-CIMB Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd

Hong Leong Investment Bank bhd

Inter-Pacific Securities Sdn Bhd

KAF Equities Sdn Bhd

MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd

M&A Securities Sdn Bhd

Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd

RHB Investment Bank Bhd

TA Securities Holdings Bhd

Public Investment Bank Bhd

(Image: The Sun Daily)

Meanwhile, charities that are supported by Yayasan Bursa Malaysia that you can donate to include Cancer Research Malaysia, Malaysian Relief Agency Foundation, Mercy Malaysia, and the National Cancer Society Malaysia – just to name a few.

Bursa also stated that there are no minimum or maximum requirements on the amount of shares that can be transferred for donation. “This means that investor donors may donate their shares in the form of odd lots as well as board lots,” the local bourse elaborated, adding that there are, however, some securities that are excluded from the scheme. These include stocks listed on the LEAP Market, delisted stocks, structured warrants, leveraged and inverse ETFs, non-equity securities, as well as securities classified as PN17 and GN3.

Furthermore, in a show of support for the Shares2share scheme, the 15 participating investment banks have offered to waive the broking commission and their portion of the Central Depository System (CDS) transfer fee for the share donations. Similarly, Bursa Malaysia Securities Clearing (BMSC) – the local bourse’s clearing house that provides clearing and settlement services for the securities market – will also waive the 0.03% clearing fee and CDS transfer fee.

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Arif Kartono)

Chief executive officer of Bursa Malaysia, Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift said that the Shares2share scheme shows the local bourse’s commitment to facilitating initiatives that are beneficial to stakeholders, market participants, and the community at large. “Shares2share will also create additional funding avenues for charitable organisations to facilitate positive impact creation for society and the environment,” he further commented, adding that Yayasan Bursa Malaysia has plans to include more charity organisations in the near future.

(Sources:
Bursa Malaysia
,
The Star
)

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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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3 Common Financial Cyber Threats in Malaysia and How to Beat Them!

The World Wide Web or more commonly known as the internet is arguably the most amazing invention in the history of mankind. Unlike various other ground-breaking disclosures, this one takes top prize for cascading contributions to a myriad of industries ranging from intellectual ingenuity and even modern political pragmatism.

However, all good things have an evil side, in this case; pornography, illegal downloading, bootlegging, cyber attacking and the list just goes on.

But not all threats will affect the average folk quite like the three we’re going to list for you today. The scariest bit? You probably
encounter these on a daily basis and more often than not, fail to realise its potential threats
.

Stranger Danger

Meeting new people over the net can be really fun, we’ll admit that. The companionship cloaked as the fish we’re looking for in an ocean of reality may seem like the answer to our lonely wishes. As exhilarating and promising as it may appear to be, various social media and online platforms have become the dwelling place of folks with surreptitious intentions.

These scammers prey and pounce on the insecurities of those with genuine interests in acquaintanceship or mere companionship; bringing along with them a widespread possibility of threats. Perpetrators utilise various inconspicuous methods to acquire what they first set out to achieve and are highly likely to be successful through deception and trickery.

These threats may come in the form of sexual predatory,
identity thieving
 and most commonly financial fraud.

A popular scenario is luring the victim into false pretenses of infatuation and coupling it with carefully articulated financial sob stories in order to fish out varying sums of money on separate occasions.
Possible traits of these vultures
 include having a suspicious social media account, avoiding meet-ups, constantly talking about finances, and the final blow of a sad tale that needs financial backing from you, the victim.

Many in Malaysia have fallen victim to these to-good-to-be-true scams
 on online platforms, therefore it is important for you to preserve your security by taking extreme precaution when dealing with people on the internet.

Reason should triumph over emotion so follow these ultimate rules of thumb:

1) Always agree to meet in an open, public place preferably with a friend in tow;

2) Never agree to accept or transfer money to anyone on the internet you don’t know enough about; but ultimately;

3) If your new internet Lothario is asking for money in some way, mean or form – get out of there as soon as you can!

Scam E-Mails

We all have at some point come in contact with this internet threat and are pretty accustomed to it. In the same way technology has developed, so have the mechanics of these scams and they’re out to get as many victims as they possibly can.

Email scammers have evolved from the easily recognisable deceptive traits to adopt a more ‘professional’ approach whereby it appears more convincing and sometimes even parasites on current issues like natural disasters and even relief efforts in war torn regions around the world.

Similar to the “Congratulations, you’ve won the lottery!”
email scams
, these modern renditions insist on receiving the victims personal information like bank account number and pin, mobile number and full name, just to name a few.

Some of the more noticeable indicators to this web hazard include not having a specific addressee (usually: Dear customer or friend), you were not expecting to receive a mail from the mentioned organisation, spelling and grammatical errors as well as bearing a stark resemblance of a bogus web page to a prominent site that serves as click-bait.

Avoid
replying to any of these mails or even clicking the links provided at all cost
, even for curiosity sake because it might just cost you a fat sum of hard earned money.

Viruses and Phishing

Probably the most underestimated internet plague of them all; subtle yet catastrophic. It will strike when you least expect and you won’t even notice until the damage is done.

Hackers who control these viruses first identify poorly guarded computers and then take aim by sending in virus drones to
infiltrate your personal computer
.

Once behind the lines of your defense, these viruses are capable of installing other fraudulent software, controlling your browsers, sending out emails from your account and having complete access to your private documents.

The most lethal scenario deserving close attention is where online banking is concerned because this serves as a free-for-all gold mine for these looting cyber criminals.

Methods such as duplicate log-in pages have been recorded whereby the user keys in the required details into fields and
hackers have private information presented to them on a silver platter
. These duplicate pages also exist in social media websites depending on the hackers’ interests.

Counter measures to this include always paying attention to the URL of the bank (or social media) whilst making an online transaction whereby state-of-the-art security measures (the little padlock icon) are set up to strengthen security.

Other
precautionary measures
 include self-regulatory methods like ensuring that your built-in firewall is functioning and its guards are up. Alternatively, you could opt for installing anti-spy or anti-virus software for free or premium ones for a small prevention cost.

Remember, these viruses are capable of doing things a person behind the keyboard would be able to do, maybe even more but all without you suspecting a thing.

The Internet Can Be a Dangerous Place

Global cyber crime statistics
 have been estimated to be a whopping $400 billion a year, that’s RM1.4 trillion! Of course these crimes exist on different scales and this is why conglomerates spend hundreds of thousands to fortify their vaults.

Taking it down a notch to lay people like us, it is safe to say that cracking the code to your bank accounts or Facebook profile is a casual stroll in the park and therefore counter measures must be rolled into motion to avoid financial distress. To avoid getting caught yourself; always practice healthy surfing habits:

1) Keep anti-virus programmes up to date;

2) Use additional safety features such as Google Authenticate and device passwords;

3) Don’t volunteer unnecessary info to strangers; and

4) Partake in a healthy dose of cynicism when conversing with strangers online.

It may sound harsh and altogether just a little cynical but you’re much better be safe than sorry.

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    Jason

    6 months ago

Thanks for that my dear friends!

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You Can Now Buy McDonald’s Gift Certificates At 10% Discount On Lazada

Malaysians are now able to purchase McDonald’s gift certificates from Lazada. To sweeten the deal, the e-commerce platform is offering a 10% discount on all gift certificate purchases as part of the launch offer.

These physical vouchers will be delivered in denominations of RM10, which you can then use to get any items on the menu at any McDonald’s outlet until 31 December 2020. During the ongoing period of movement control order (MCO), however, they can only be used for drive-thru and takeaway orders at selected outlets that are open.

The gift certificate bundles that are available for sale are valued at
RM200
,
RM500
, and
RM1,000
. It’s a little odd, considering the relatively high purchase value may prevent non-regulars from purchasing. That said, maybe sharing the vouchers with family and friends will alleviate this. Once discounted, it means you will be paying RM180, RM450, and RM900 for each certificate, respectively.

Keep a lookout for the flash sale for the
RM 200 McDonald’s gift cards
, starting midnight tonight. Save even more from your purchase by using the best cashback credit cards for online shopping, such as the
Public Bank Visa Signature
,
Standard Chartered Liverpool FC Cash Back Card
, and the
Public Bank Quantum Mastercard
.

As usual with gift certificate purchases, you will not be given any change if your purchases ring up to a total that is less than the value of the gift certificates used. So, make sure you decide and calculate the expenses of your orders beforehand if you wish to use the vouchers!

To find out more about this offer, head on over to
McDonald’s
 page on Lazada.

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Citibank gives you the real taste of Ipoh at Nan Yang Authentic

And what a great taste it is. Which is why Ipoh specialties like bean sprouts chicken rice are much-loved by Malaysians everywhere.

From now up till 31 December, Citibank is offering its credit card holders a
20% discount on the total bill at Nan Yang Authentic, Pavilion KL.

This promotion is valid on all days of the week except for Thursdays, when they’ll get an even better deal: A free noodle dish with every one purchased!

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Taking Care of Your Pets While You’re Away

Having a pet is a very big responsibility. You are ultimately taking care of another living creature and its well-being. This is no different from you taking care of your own child, or elderly parents for that matter.

If you were heading off on a holiday or going to be away from home for a few days, you would make sure your family members who are living with you are well taken cared of if you aren’t taking them with you. So what are your options when it comes to your beloved pets?

Taking Your Pet Along

The most ideal situation for any pet owner would be to bring their pets along with them on their trip. If the trip was just a couple of hours drive and they could sit in the car with you, then problem solved. You only have to ensure that your accommodation at your destination is pet-friendly.

By no means should you try sneaking your pet into a posh hotel either. At some point if the staff discovers it during a room service drop-off, or a cleaning staff makes up your room while you are out, you may be in lots of trouble. You could even be kicked out of the hotel and fined in the process.

Neighbours or Family

You could opt to leave your beloved pet with neighbours, friends or family if it is convenient to them. Well if you have pets like fish, be sure you give home access to someone you can trust to get in there and feed them. You wouldn’t want to come back to an empty or trashed house.

Sending your pet to another home can sometimes be very depressing to your pet. Some dogs for example, feel abandoned and could refuse to eat. If possible, try to give your pet some time to adjust before you actually head off. After all, these precious little things have feelings too.

When you pick a guardian for your pets, make sure you know them well enough and can fully trust these people as well. An acquaintance to this writer once had a family trip and had a pet rabbit that needed care while they were gone. They then went over to the neighbour’s place and requested if they could keep the rabbit for a few days. The neighbour delightedly agreed to help take in the animal. Upon returning, they went over to pick up their fluffy little pet but to their shock, the neighbour no longer had it. The neighbour had eaten it, thinking they no longer wanted the rabbit.

Pet Hotel

If the previous two options are not viable to you, maybe you should invest and put them in a pet hotel. These pet hotels can be rather expensive, but when your options are limited, this has to be one of the costs you factor in to your trip as well.

Some people claim it is bad how they are put in such a confined space, how we don’t know how they are being treated, or if they are even fed at all. That is why you should do your research, check with other pet owners, as well as a vet to ensure the place you have chosen, is a reputable one. That way you are guaranteed they are fed, have a safe place to be and by no accidental incident, gets eaten by a neighbour due to some weird miscommunication.

There are many pet accommodations around.
Happy Furry House
 are among the few pet lodging, which takes in more than just cats and dogs. They take in little furry pets like hamsters as well. Or, if you are looking for some top class hotels, then maybe the
L Residence Pet Vacation Home
 is the one you use to spoil your pet. Their website even claims to have a 32-inch LED television in the suites of the cat, dog and rabbit hotels. Now that is top class luxury for any pet.

Wonders of Having a Pet

Aside from having this slight inconvenience when you travel, it is always fun to have a pet to come home to. Some people even claim aside from Feng Shui reasons, watching a fishes swim back and forth through the aquarium can have very calming effects.

If you are intending to get a pet, be aware that it isn’t just the daily routine of feeding and cleaning up after them that are required. There are all types of other responsibilities such as this one. When you are travelling, you may have to make special arrangements and possibly set aside an additional budget just to ensure they are taken care of.

Before you start making travel plans, be sure to head on over to our website and check out our
comparison tool
. Explore how a travel credit card could give you more for your daily purchases and possibly subsidise your plane tickets, or pick a card that suits your lifestyle for maximum benefits.

Speaking of credit cards, why not participate in our
Travel Getaway Campaign
 and get great freebies like a return flight ticket to
Krabi
 or any of the 19 attractive destinations by applying for selected credit cards?

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Gavin Pereira

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iPhone 11 and iPhone XR Prices Reduced By RM500 Following iPhone 12 Launch

The prices for iPhone 11 and iPhone XR in Malaysia have now been lowered by RM500 , following Apple’s official launch of the latest iPhone 12 series today. You can now get the iPhone 11 starting at RM2,899 and the iPhone XR from RM2,399.

iPhone 11 Prices

To recap, the iPhone 11 was released last year as the entry-level model for the 11 series. It comes with a dual 12MP ultra-wide and main camera for the rear and a 12MP front-facing camera. The iPhone 11 runs on an Apple A13 bionic chip and claims a battery life of 17 hours of video playback.

2019 launch price

Price from Oct 2020

64GB

RM3,399

RM2,899

128GB

RM3,599

RM3,099

256GB

RM4,099

RM3,599

iPhone XR Prices

The 2018-released iPhone XR is a year older and runs on an older Apple A12 Bionic chip, with a very slightly shorter battery life at 16 hours of video playback. It also only has a single rear 12MP camera and a 7MP front camera. However, the iPhone XR has the exact same screen size and resolution as the iPhone 11, at 6.1 inches and 828 x 1792 pixels.

2018 launch price

Price from Sept 2019

Price from Oct 2020

64GB

RM3,599

RM2,899

RM2,399

128GB

RM3,849

RM3,099

RM2,599

256GB

RM4,299

Discontinued

Discontinued

Meanwhile, the price of the
iPhone SE 2020
 remains unchanged while keeping its spot as Apple’s cheapest iPhone from RM1,999 onwards. On the other hand, Apple has officially discontinued the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro Max, which were released as the higher-end models in last year’s iPhone series – although you may still be able to get them through authorised resellers.

Therefore, you could say that Apple’s current available line-up starts off with the iPhone SE 2020 as the budget option, the iPhone 11 and XR with the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini in the below-RM4,000 range, and the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max carrying the premium price tag. However, while the Malaysian price list is out, an official pre-order and release date for the
iPhone 12 in Malaysia
 has not yet been announced.

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Berjaya: Beware Of “Berjaya Investment” Scam

Berjaya Corporation Berhad has advised members of the public to be aware of a scam which makes reference to a “Berjaya Investment Berhad” – a false entity claiming to be affiliated to the public-listed group.

According to Berjaya, the scam involves solicitations for business investments or business ventures. The Berjaya group has confirmed that it has no involvement with the bogus websites which make use of the names “Berjaya Investment, Berjaya Financial Corporation, Tan Sri Chong, and Keith Hunt.”

The public are warned not to respond to any email solicitations from anyone posing as the Berjaya company, its group affiliates, or the company’s officers that appear even remotely suspicious. Berjaya also advised against clicking on links or opening attachments included in any of these emails, as this could result in malware or a virus being loaded into one’s computer.

The group stated that it has made reports to the relevant authorities so that appropriate action can be taken.

(Source:
Free Malaysia Today
)

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Berjaya

Berjaya Corporation Berhad

Investment Scams

Online Scams

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Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

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