Boost and TNG eWallet Offer Rakyat-Centric Cashback During MCO

Boost and Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet have launched promotional campaigns aimed at helping their customers get some cashback during the ongoing movement control order (MCO). The cashback offers are focused on essentials such as groceries, pharmaceuticals, and food, as well as ongoing services including utilities, telecommunication, and online shopping.

Find out more about how to get your promotional cashback from Boost and TNG eWallet below.

Boost Cashback Rakyat Campaign

Boost
 is offering cashback for three categories of expenses: groceries, pharmacies, and food and beverages. The campaign is open to all Boost users and runs from 28 March – 19 April 2020. Each customer can receive a maximum of one cashback per category under the campaign. The cashback will be credited within 3 working days from the date of transaction.

Cashback for groceries

Get RM10 cashback when you make a minimum payment of RM88 in a single transaction using the Boost app at:

Aeon BIG;

Giant; or

Mydin.

The cashback is capped according to following dates:

Limited to 7,826 users from 28 March – 5 April 2020

Limited to 6,087 users from 6 April – 12 April 2020

Limited to 6,087 users from 13 April – 19 April 2020

Cashback for pharmacies

Get RM7 cashback when you make a minimum payment of RM70 in a single transaction using the Boost app at:

Watsons;

Guardian;

Caring;

BIG Pharmacy; or

Alpro.

The cashback is capped according to following dates:

Limited to 5,870 users from 28 March – 5 April 2020

Limited to 4,565 users from 6 April – 12 April 2020

Limited to 4,565 users from 13 April – 19 April 2020

Cashback for food & beverages

Get RM5 cashback when you make a minimum payment of RM40 in a single transaction using the Boost app at KFC.

The cashback is capped according to following dates:

Limited to 2,348 users from 28 March – 5 April 2020

Limited to 1,826 users from 6 April – 12 April 2020

Limited to 1,826 users from 13 April – 19 April 2020

MYNews Cashback Campaign

Boost is also running a separate promotional campaign that offers cashback on
MYNews purchases
 from 1 March – 30 April 2020. You can get RM3 in cashback when you spend a minimum of RM15 in a single transaction at any MYNews outlet using the Boost app. Each eligible customer may receive cashback up to a maximum of 3 times under this campaign.

The overall cashback given out under this campaign is limited to 66,666 payouts – half of which has been allocated for the month of March, with the other half for the month of April. The cashback will be credited into your Boost account within 3 working days from the date of transaction.

Touch ’n Go eWallet “Less Burden With…” Cashback

Touch ’n Go eWallet
 is offering several cashback promotions to users who have never used their TNG eWallet to pay bills and postpaid bills, top up their mobile prepaid, or shop on Lazada before. Therefore, you can only qualify for the cashback if it’s your first time carrying out the related function using the TNG eWallet.

This promotion will run from 28 March to 5 April 2020 and cashback will be credited within 3 working days from the success transaction date.

Cashback for Lazada

Get RM5 cashback when you spend a minimum of RM50 in one transaction using the TNG eWallet for the first time on Lazada. Limited to the first 1,000 eligible users daily throughout the promotion period.

Cashback for bills

Get RM5 cashback when you spend a minimum of RM50 in one transaction using the TNG eWallet for the first time on any of the following bill expenses:

TV & Radio – Astro

Water – Air Selangor, Air Johor, Air Kuching, Air Melaka, Air Negeri Sembilan, Air Perak, Air Perlis, Air Terengganu, Air Kedah, Air Kelantan

Electricity – Sarawak Energy, Sabah Electricity, Nur Distribution

Payments – Courts Instalment, PTPTN Konvensional & Ujrah

Limited to 1,000 eligible users daily throughout the promotion period.

Cashback for postpaid

Get RM5 cashback when you spend a minimum of RM50 in one transaction using the TNG eWallet for the first time on postpaid bills. Limited to the first 1,000 eligible users daily throughout the promotion period.

Cashback for mobile prepaid top up

Get RM3 cashback when you spend a minimum  of RM10 in one transaction using the TNG eWallet for prepaid top-ups with the following providers:

Hotlink

Digi

U Mobile

Xpax

Yes

Tune Talk

XOX

ALTEL

Merchantrade

Limited to the first 1,000 eligible users daily throughout the promotion period.

***

If you’re going out to get your food and essentials during this time, remember to abide by the rules of the MCO and practice social distancing at all times. Opt for contactless payment methods where possible and make sure to wash your hands when you return home!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Boost

Cashback Promotions

E-Wallet Cashback

MCO

Movement Control Order

Touch 'n Go eWallet

About THE AUTHOR

Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


PM: Govt To Cut Electricity Subsidy, Haj Financial Aid For T20 Group

(Image: Bernama)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that the government will no longer be providing electricity subsidy and haj financial assistance to individuals who fall under the T20 high-income group.

“To curb leakages, the government has initiated targeted electricity tariffs in the first half of this year to maintain the tariff for households, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and agricultural producers. We will not increase the electricity tariff except for those in the T20 group. Only the T20, those with big houses, will not be given electricity subsidy. The National Utility Database (Pangkalan Data Utiliti Kebangsaan, PADU) can coordinate all the figures mentioned,” said Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister.

In January 2023, the government announced the
implementation of a targeted electricity subsidy programme between 1 January to 30 June 2023
, where all domestic users (households) are allowed to continue enjoying a rebate of 2 sen/kilowatt hour (kWh) on their power tariff. Non-domestic users, meanwhile, are required to pay a certain amount of surcharge, depending on their electricity consumption. Farmers, animal breeders, as well as micro businesses and SMEs (low-voltage consumers), for instance, pay less surcharge than medium-voltage and high-voltage non-domestic consumers.

(Image: Malay Mail)

Subsequently, the government said earlier this month that the targeted electricity subsidy programme will be further streamlined so that
households with high electricity consumption – such as those who use three fans and four air conditioners
 – will be exempted from the benefit as well.

Aside from electricity subsidies, Datuk Seri Anwar also highlighted that the haj financial assistance for the B40 income group will be increased, but not for T20. “They should bear the full costs of haj because they are well to do,” he added.

Datuk Seri Anwar ultimately stressed that the exclusion of the T20 group from the subsidy scheme is to ensure that subsidies are provided in a more targeted manner, and that help is going to those who truly need it.

(Sources:
The Star
,
Malay Mail
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

B40

B40 Households

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

Electricity

Electricity Bills

Electricity Discounts

Electricity Rebates

Electricity Subsidy

Electricity Tariff

National Utility Database (Pangkalan Data Utiliti Kebangsaan)

T20

Targeted Subsidies

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


TNG eWallet Partners With Visa, Set To Roll Out TNG Visa Prepaid Card In 2022

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet has joined hands with digital payments service provider Visa to enhance the payment experience and provide new payment solutions for its customers, including a TNG Visa Prepaid Card tied to the TNG eWallet.

The partnership will see TNG eWallet joining Visa’s Fintech Fast Track Programme, which allows it to access Visa’s global network of partners and affiliates. It will also include the development of the TNG Visa Prepaid Card, which is slated to be rolled out to TNG eWallet users in 2022. Among other functions, the TNG Visa Prepaid Card will allow users to make withdrawals at Visa-enabled automated teller machines (ATMs), both domestically and globally.

TNG Group also drew data from the
Visa Consumer Payment Attitude Study
 (August-September 2020) to highlight the significance of the TNG Visa Prepaid Card, noting that  77% of Malaysians use both contactless cards and digital wallets when performing transactions. The TNG Visa Prepaid Card will give them the best of both worlds, on top of an improved payment experience by complementing TNG eWallet’s existing network of QR merchants in Malaysia with Visa’s network of more than 70 million merchant locations globally.

“This strategic collaboration between Touch ‘n Go and Visa will take the work between our companies to the next stage. Both brands are customer focussed, and with Visa, we expect to continue to strongly deliver a variety of value-added services to our eWallet users,” said the group chief executive officer of TNG Group, Effendy Shahul Hamid.

Meanwhile, the country manager of Visa Malaysia, Ng Kong Boon said that the partnership will help more consumers to adopt digital payments through the issuance of a Visa card. “Through this partnership, we also look forward to jointly launching a varied set of financial service offerings with Touch ‘n Go for the unbanked and underserved segments in Malaysia, leveraging the global accessibility of Visa’s network partners,” he said.

5

2

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Effendy Shahul Hamid

Ng Kong Boon

Prepaid Cards

TNG

TNG eWallet

TNG Group

TNG Visa Prepaid Card

Touch 'n Go eWallet

Visa

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Trevo Launches Financial Aid Initiative, Offers RM200 Incentive To New Hosts

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

Peer-to-peer (P2P) car-sharing startup Trevo has collaborated with the Ministry of Transport to roll out the Trevo Financial Aid initiative, which sees the company offering car owners a RM200 incentive when they join Trevo’s car sharing marketplace.

According to the company, this initiative aims to encourage car owners to capitalise on their underutilised vehicles and to share them via Trevo’s P2P car sharing service for extra income. It is also in line with the government’s effort to mitigate the public’s financial challenges through the PENJANA economic recovery plan.

Trevo has allocated a total investment of RM2 million for this initiative; it is looking to disburse the RM200 incentive to the first 10,000 new hosts who sign up with the platform. To qualify for the incentive, you must meet the following requirements:

Malaysian based in the Klang Valley, Penang, or Kota Kinabalu

Possesses a valid driving licence

Car owned is not older than 12 years (as of 31 December 2020)

Car must be made available for booking for at least 14 days each month

Note that the RM200 incentive will be paid to you in two monthly instalments; it is only disbursed to your registered bank account at the end of the month if you meet the final requirement listed above.

If you’re interested, then go ahead and install the Trevo app, and sign up with the referral code (MOTxTREVO). The registration process will require you to upload several documents, including your MyKad, driving licence, vehicle ownership certificate, road tax, and motor insurance cover note.

In addition to supporting the government’s PENJANA efforts, the Trevo Financial Aid initiative also serves as the kick-off of a proof of concept (POC) exercise currently carried out by the startup. The POC study, which runs from August 2020 to August 2021 in several phases, seeks to demonstrate the sustainability of P2P car sharing in Malaysia, thereby reiterating its role in the nation’s mobility ecosystem.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said that Trevo’s effort is in line with the National Transport Policy (NTP) 2019-2030, particularly with respect to inclusivity and accessibility. “In addition, this POC study also aligns with the NTP’s policy thrust to strengthen governance to create a conducive environment for the transportation sector, by strengthening and streamlining the regulatory and development framework to meet market demands,” he said.

(Image: Lowyat.NET)

The general manager of Trevo, Susan Teoh, concurred. “Our POC is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Transport to understand and enhance the industry further with focus on protecting public interest,” she said.

Trevo is
a subsidiary of SOCAR Malaysia
 that was established early this year. You can head on over to company’s website to find out more about
the Trevo Financial Aid initiative
, which will run until 31 December 2020.

(Source:
Lowyat.NET
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong

Ministry of Transport

National Transport Policy 2019-2030

P2P Car Sharing Services

PENJANA

PENJANA Economic Recovery Plan

SOCAR

Susan Teoh

Trevo

Trevo Financial Aid

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Buy These Things in Bulk to Save on Shopping

Not everything bought in bulk is cheaper and worthy of an immediate purchase. For example, items like olive oil, liquid bleach, and eggs have a shorter shelf life and could end up wasting money if it spoils before you have a chance to use it.

Also, when potential savings are only marginal, you might want to consider simply buying the item when you actually need it. In addition, pricing for foodstuff like rice and white sugar are regulated in Malaysia, thus buying in bulk does not equal a lower price unless it’s on discount.

Still, there are many everyday goods that offer bulk-purchase discounts you simply can’t refuse. Here are the usual suspects that offer great value when bought in excess:

1. Toothbrushes

Not only are toothbrush packs cheaper per unit, it is also recommended that you change yours every three months, thus purchasing a larger supply isn’t likely to go to waste. Moreover, due to its durability, you won’t have to worry about toothbrushes losing their quality in their packaging. It makes even more sense to buy these in bulk if you shop for a family household.

Potential savings for bulk buys:
Systema Comfort Medium Soft Toothbrush
 retails for
RM7.20
 per unit while a pack of three costs
RM14.15
. For this item, buying in bulk would
save you RM7.45
.

2. Batteries

Batteries can be an expensive purchase but if you buy in bulk, you might see a significantly lowered price (per unit). Steer clear of buying large amounts of rechargeable batteries though, as they tend to lose their power over time. Opt instead for alkaline ones that can last in store for up to 10 years. Note that batteries can become damaged when exposed to the elements, so be sure to store in a cool, dry place.

Potential savings for bulk buys:
Energizer Max AA 1.5V Alkaline Batteries 2-Pack
 retails for
RM7.90
 whereas the
6-Pack
 sells for
RM19.50
. Getting the 6-pack now instead of buying the 2-pack three more times would
save you about RM4
.

3. Pet Food

Food for your beloved pets cost a heck of a lot overtime, but buying in bulk often gets you the same quality chow for a lot less. Maximum shelf life (depending on expiry date) is two years for canned food and one year for the dry kind. Thus, you’ll need to estimate how much of food your pets can consume before it expires when buying.

Potential savings for bulk buys:
Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Dog Food 10kg
 retails at
RM79.70
 whereas the 1.5kg bag costs
RM16.70
. This means that when bought in bulk, each kg costs
RM8
 compared to
RM11.10
 per kg for the smaller bag. At this rate, buying in bulk would approximately
save you RM31.30
.

More Items to Buy in Bulk

Our list is merely scratching the surface; there are a lot more everyday goods that make economic sense when bought in large volumes. Here are four more that earn honourable mentions:

Toilet Rolls
 – you can never have too much of the stuff! Stock these during sales periods.

Bottled Water
– buying a carton or mini-barrel is cheaper per litre.

Light Bulbs
 – quality, energy-saving bulbs can be a heavy expense but
buying in bulk online
 can help save a lot, possibly even 50%!

Baby Diapers
 – it’s not a good idea to run out of these, so buying more is not only necessary, it’s a potential money saver. This
promo
 gets you fourteen more diaper pieces for an additional RM2. Be careful though, some diapers shouldn’t be used past their expiration dates as their absorbent lining might get exposed and its abrasive surface can hurt the baby. As with any other item on our list, be safe and read the packaging to know what you’re getting into.

Where Can I Buy in Bulk?

Supermarkets like Tesco, Mydin, Giant and AEON BiG generally provide consumer bulk options for groceries and sundries. Periodic
warehouse and stock-clearance sales
 as well as online merchants like
Lazada
 are also viable, more so for non-edible goods.

Enjoy even more savings with a rewarding credit card that offers attractive cash back rebates and greater discounts. If you don’t already have one or are looking to switch, do give our
comparison page
 the chance to find you the best card for your needs!

Are there any other items you buy in bulk that has saved you money? Share them with us in the comments section down below!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

AEON Big

Giant

Lazada

Mydin

Shopping

Tesco

About THE AUTHOR

Desiree Nair

Desiree Nair

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Tips and Tricks for Shopping Online

The world of online shopping is an answered prayer for lazy bums across the globe. You can shop in the buff and no one would even notice (we hope)! Tagged as convenient, easy-breezy, and (generally) fast – more shoppers are keen to beat the heat, traffic jams and crowd woes by switching to online shopping instead. Heck, you could order a pack of baby diapers alongside a fresh slab of succulent meat for dinner and a nice pair of pants in the time span of 15 minutes.

Who wouldn’t say no to that?

But there is a yang for every yin, and online shoppers should know the hazard of exposing their credentials and credit card details online. Is it safe? What can I do if my shipment does not arrive? How do I make a complaint? I bought the wrong shoe size, what now?! Worry not virtual shoppers, we’ve got every pixel of online shopping covered in this guide. Read on!

Part I: Shopping

How to Start

Assuming that most people don’t live under a WiFi enabled rock, shopping in a virtual store is no different than a packed mall – you find the things that you like, add it to cart, then proceed to the payment channel. In the case of eBay, you bid for the items you want and hope that you get it. In the end, all that’s left is to wait for your shipment to arrive.

Sounds easy, right? That is, until the shipment that you’re waiting for does not arrive at your doorstep, or worse, you noticed that someone’s been abusing your credit card and it ain’t you.

Avoid crying over spilled milk by…

To avoid the worst case scenario, purchase only at legitimate online shops. Although they are not 100% perfect, big players like
Lazada
,
Zalora
, and
Amazon
 are pretty safe, scam-wise. It’s not to say you should avoid smaller stores altogether; but do give lesser known shops a second look – check for customer reviews if available, payment methods, and safety features (we’ll explain more in the next part!).

Also, it is important to set the eager-beaver feeling aside and read up on the terms and conditions and FAQs before purchasing a single item. For example, the delivery time and costs, product measurements, refund, and sizes (for apparel).

For avid fans or collectors who use online shops like
Mudah.my
 and
eBay
 to purchase their goods, take extra precaution to avoid fraudulent online sellers:

If the price is too good to be true, it may be the case. Avoid online banking and push for a cash on delivery (COD) to inspect the item (within reason of course! You can’t expect to do that if you live in Kuala Lumpur and the seller is in South Africa). The cardinal rule of “don’t be an idiot and agree to meet up at the back alley of some obscure street” also applies.

Google the phone number or email given; if it’s a scam, it might pop-up somewhere on the search page.

Have you Been Duped?

An honest mistake, or have you been duped by a sneaky online seller? Some of the most common complaints when it comes to online purchases include:

Items not delivered – and the buyer can’t track down the delivery status.

Buyers receiving goods that are either less valuable than those advertised or significantly different from the original description.

Failure to disclose relevant information about a product or the terms of sale.

How to Lodge a Complaint

You have called the seller; wept for days; regretted your purchase decision, and threatened to sue. Yet, the seller still fails to deliver your purchased item to your doorstep / give you a refund / exchange your item until this day. This calls for a complaint! When negotiation flops, it is best to lodge a complaint to the
Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia
 or the
National Consumer Complaints Centre
 and take matters from there.

Part II: Payment

Ah, here comes the most important aspect of online shopping – the payment. There are several ways for a patron to pay when shopping online;

Cash (Interbank Transfer / COD)

Debit or Credit Card

PayPal

Cash

We don’t mean to create a sense of distrust between the buyer and the seller, but safety measures are necessary (we blame you, internet fraudsters!). As a rule of thumb, push for COD especially when you’re purchasing items from online shops located in Malaysia. Online bank transfers are always a risk so check the credentials of a seller thoroughly before banking any money in. Cash is hardest to retrieve once paid.

Online payment with a debit or credit card – how do they work?

When making a payment online, you are usually required to insert your full name, address, and debit or credit card information – don’t be alarmed, these are all pretty normal. But before you do so, look for
HTTPS:// on you URL browser. The
 Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (or HTTPS) plays a big part in keeping your information safe during e-commerce transactions, so make sure that you see these initials before divulging your personal information online.

This is roughly how an online payment works:

Secure Payment Gateways

Payment gateways like
iPay88
 act like a cashier for most of these internet merchants. In the case of iPay88, it is supervised by
Bank Negara Malaysia
, regulated under Malaysia’s Payment Systems Act (2003), and is PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant. The more secure and regulated the payment gateway, the more protected your financial details are during transactions and under the law. But wait, it gets better….

Maybankard Secure Online Shopping (MSOS)
,
CIMB Secure ePay
,
Verified by Visa
, and
MasterCard SecureCode
 are all safety features which give an extra level of protection for buyers. Upon submitting credit card details, buyers are required to further key in a one-time password sent by the bank to the buyer’s phone number.

How will this help? This code is only known to the bank and the buyer; the validity of this one time code is also very brief (about a minute). Without this code, the payment will be cancelled. So before you purchase anything online, ensure that you have registered your phone number with the bank to ensure a smooth payment with your card.

PayPal

Those who lust over eBay will surely have a
PayPal account
. In case you don’t know, Paypal is a convenient means of payment which links your bank account, debit card and credit card and stores all the relevant information. So instead of using your credit or debit card, you can pay through your Paypal account.

It is not 100% fool proof, but Paypal process your payment without releasing any financial details to the merchant. The sellers and recipients can choose to transfer funds from Paypal to their bank account or credit card, or choose to use their Paypal balance to pay online.

PayPal guarantees protection of your purchases as well. They guarantee a 100% protection against unauthorized payments sent from your account. This is done so because Paypal sends an email confirmation for every account transaction. If you receive confirmation of a transaction you don’t recognize, their 24/7 customer support team will help you sort out the situation. If you report an unauthorized transaction within 60 days of the transaction, Paypal will cover the full cost.

Paying with Paypal also gives you access to a dispute resolution forum called Resolution Centre. There, you can file claims against these items:

A physical good that you paid for but never received.

A physical good you purchased on eBay that is significantly different than what was described in the listing.

Other popular alternatives to PayPal include – Google Wallet, Skrill, and Paymate.

Protect yourself Against Online Fraud

Despite these protective measures, innocent buyers like you and I are still prone to online thefts and scams. So let’s be less Cher Clueless and more Sherlock Sharp when it comes to online shopping. Protect yourself against shopping and online fraud with these handy tips:

Check the item’s description carefully and ask the seller questions if you’re not sure of something.

Be extremely careful when buying things from people with little or no selling history.

Be aware of phishing emails that look like they come from the online auction or payment site you’re registered with, asking you to update your account details or re-enter them because your account has been suspended.

Check the URL in the web browser. A tactic often used by fraudsters is to change the address very slightly.

Don’t be gullible – a shady person offering the original iPhone 6 for RM5,500? Let’s not go there. Just wait for the model to reach our shores lah!

Use strong passwords with a good combination of letters. An online thief is like the wolf in sweet grandma’s clothing – it could even be your dear sister who’s broke and in need of new clothes. So the more random the password, the harder it is for hackers to harm you, my dears.

Avoid making purchases from public computers or hotspots as this makes it that much easier for the baddies to manipulate your accounts.

How to Lodge a Complaint

Agh, somebody has been using your credit card! First things first, call the bank immediately and lodge a complaint – if the bank advises you to cancel your card, do it. For those who fail to find a mutual solution with the financial institution, our partner at RinggitPlus will tell you how to lodge a report against a financial institution.

With these tips in mind, we wish you a safe shopping trip!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Amazon

CIMB Secure ePay

E-Commerce

E-Commerce Platforms

eBay

Google Wallet

iPay88

Lazada

MasterCard SecureCode

Maybankard Secure Online Shopping (MSOS)

Mudah.my

National Consumer Complaints Centre

Online Fraud

Paymate

PayPal

Skrill

Tribunal for Consumer Claims Malaysia

Verified by Visa

Zalora

About THE AUTHOR

Balkish Rosly

Balkish Rosly

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Series Arrives In Malaysia, Prices Starting From RM749

Xiaomi Malaysia has officially announced the arrival of the Redmi Note 11 series on Malaysian shores, following its global launch just last month. Featuring four variants under this new lineup – namely the Redmi Note 11, Redmi Note 11S, Redmi Note 11 Pro, and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G – the company has also shared details on the series’ pre-orders and purchases, with retail price starting from RM749.

Each of the four models will be available with two memory capacities, and are priced as such:

Model/Variant
Memory capacity
Price
Redmi Note 11
4GB RAM + 128GB
6GB RAM + 128GB
RM749
RM799
Redmi Note 11S
6GB RAM + 64GB
8GB RAM + 128GB
RM899
RM999
Redmi Note 11 Pro
6GB RAM + 128GB
8GB RAM + 128GB
RM999
RM1,099
Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
6GB RAM + 128GB
8GB RAM + 128GB
RM1,199
RM1,299

The Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S will be available at authorised Xiaomi stores and online channels (Lazada and Shopee) starting from today. Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G will be open for pre-order from today to 18 February 2022.

Redmi Note 11 Pro

As expected, Xiaomi will be rewarding early birds and customers who make pre-orders with discounts and freebies. Here’s a full list of the discounts and gifts that you can expect to get based on your channel of purchase:

Model/Variant
Memory capacity
Authorised Xiaomi Store Deals
Online Deals
Redmi Note 11
4GB RAM + 128GB
N/A
Early bird price RM699

6GB RAM + 128GB
Premium gifts worth RM139 (Limited edition tote bag and premium pillow blanket)
Free Redmi Buds 3
Redmi Note 11S
6GB RAM + 64GB
N/A
Early bird price RM799

8GB RAM + 128GB
Premium gifts worth RM139 (Limited edition tote bag and premium pillow blanket)
Free Redmi Buds 3
Redmi Note 11 Pro
6GB RAM + 128GB
N/A
– Pre-order promo price RM949
– Free Mi True Wireless Earbuds Basic 2

8GB RAM + 128GB
Pre-order premium gifts worth RM328 (Mi Smart Band 6, limited edition tote bag, and premium pillow blanket)
Pre-order free Mi Smart Band 6
Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
6GB RAM + 128GB
N/A
– Pre-order promo price RM1,099
– Free Redmi Buds 3

8GB RAM + 128GB
Pre-order premium gifts worth RM328 (Mi Smart Band 6, limited edition tote bag, and premium pillow blanket)
Pre-order free Mi Smart Band 6

If you’re excited about the new Redmi Note 11 lineup, but are uncertain which phone to go for, here are some highlights of the models:

Redmi Note 11

To start, the more affordable Redmi Note 11 has the Snapdragon 680 as its processor, with a quad-camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro camera, and 2MP depth camera. This is accompanied by a 13MP front camera. Aside from that, it has a 6.43 inch full HD screen, with up to 90Hz refresh rate. Battery-wise, it is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, with 33W fast wired charging.

Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11 Pro

The Redmi Note 11S and Redmi Note 11 Pro share quite a bit of similarities. They both feature the octa-core MediaTek Helio G96 processor, and rear quad-camera setups comprising a 108MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro camera, and a 2MP depth camera for a natural bokeh effects for portrait shots. Both also have a 16MP front camera.

In terms of their screens, however, the Redmi Note 11S offers the same screen as the Redmi Note 11: a 6.43 inch full HD screen (up to 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate). Meanwhile, the Redmi Note 11 Pro boasts the flagship feature of a 6.67 inch full HD AMOLED panel, with 120Hz refresh rate and a highly responsive 360Hz touch sampling rate.

Both phones also have a 5,000mAh battery, with the Redmi Note 11S offering 33W fast charging, and the Redmi Note 11 Pro upgraded with a 67W turbo charging.

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

The Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G is powered by the more powerful  Snapdragon 695 octa-core processor, and is also enabled with 5G connectivity. In terms of its camera, it offers a triple rear camera setup (108MP main camera, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro camera) as well as a 16MP front camera for detailed selfies. Similar to the Redmi Note 11 Pro, it also has the impressive 6.67 inch full-HD AMOLED screen (120Hz refresh rate and a highly responsive 360Hz touch sampling rate), and a 5,000mAh battery with 67W turbo charging.

***

You can find out more about the latest Redmi Note 11 series on
its website
. Alternatively, you can also check out its online channels, namely Xiaomi’s official store on
Shopee
 and
Lazada
.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Redmi Note 11

Redmi Note 11 Pro

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Redmi Note 11S

Xiaomi

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Series

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Completely Free Things You Can Get at Supermarkets Right Now

When stretching your income, it’s always a good idea to know where you can get free stuff. Well, it turns out that your favourite supermarket might be offering a few complimentary services that’ll save money and time.

Here are six zero-cost helpers you should take advantage of the next time you go shopping:

1. Free Gift Wrapping

During festive seasons especially, many supermarkets, department stores and malls will offer this service for free, with wrappers, ribbons and gift tags sometimes included. Typically, customers need to purchase an item from the respective store before enjoying the complimentary service.

It’s a valuable favour to those with a tight schedule or who just aren’t adept at wrapping. Plus, if you have plenty to wrap, you’ll certainly save a few bucks.

2. Butchering Services

When buying meats, fish and poultry, supermarket butchers will help you cut and clean your selections for free. They usually descale fish and debone poultry as well as help you cut fat off meats for leaner cuts.

These services are truly helpful when you don’t have the right prep tools at home to cook a specific dish or simply lack the skills needed. Moreover, experienced butchers may even recommend appropriate cuts for the intended recipe. With a butcher’s help, you’ll save precious time when cooking.

3. Free Cardboard Boxes

Most of the time we never pay attention to the importance of boxes and cartons, but when it comes time to move house – you’ll bless the day you find them. Some supermarkets provide cardboard boxes for free to help customers lug groceries without using more plastic bags.

You can also ask for extra if you need more for your own purposes, they may or may not oblige but it’s worth your time to ask, because these cartons can expensive to purchase.

4. Free Health Checks

Supermarkets that have in-store pharmacies may also provide health checks such as free blood pressure, glucose level and cholesterol tests. You don’t have to buy anything to enjoy these free services.

Granted, these health checks are usually offered in most pharmacies anyway, but there’s an added perk of doing it in the supermarket – your levels may inspire you to put back that jumbo-sized chocolate bar and pick up more fruit and veg instead.

5. Free Delivery for Online Purchases

Now if you opt to buy online from supermarkets, you might get free deliveries with minimum purchases. Stores like Tesco and Cold Storage will deliver your groceries for free depending on distance and purchase amount but what’s best; you can save time having someone else shop for you.

It’s a super helpful free service for busy people. There may also be additional free (and random) stuff for online shoppers such as shower gels, t-shirts and shopping vouchers during promo periods.

6. Free Recycling Services

A few years back, the
Fair Price Supermarket
 in Kuching were giving away free recycled shopping bags as well as discounts to those who used them while shopping.

Other supermarkets
run similar programs
 from time to time, so do look for them if you’re a green shopper. In addition, Tesco outlets in Kepong and Ampang house recycling and collection centres, where you can even get paid for your recycled goods.

Looking for more freebies? Then you might want to consider signing up for a truly rewarding credit card! Visit our
comparison page
 to find a card that showers you with awesome sign-up gifts.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Cold Storage

Consumer Behaviour

Fair Price Supermarket

Free Services

Personal Finance

Tesco

About THE AUTHOR

Desiree Nair

Desiree Nair

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Versa To Remove Overnight Interest, Effective 1 January 2022

Digital cash management platform Versa has notified its users that they will no longer be able to earn from overnight interest. This comes following the removal of the interest as one of the features offered by the Affin Hwang Enhanced Deposit Fund (EDF), slated to take effect starting from 1 January 2022.

To explain, Versa’s cash management service is provided
in partnership with Affin Hwang Asset Management (AHAM)
, where users’ funds are
invested in the Affin Hwang EDF
. One of the perks allowed by the fund is the overnight interest – described as an interest that you earn if it takes 24 hours or more to process your deposits.

“This usually happens when you deposit on a Friday after 2.30pm (our cut-off time), on weekends, or on public holidays. This is an added bonus, and does not affect your returns when invested in the fund,” the platform shared in an email sent out to users.

Versa further clarified that the removal of the overnight interest is attributed to recent changes in tax ruling by the government, which in turn, prompted Affin Hwang to adjust the features provided by its retail-focused money market funds.

“In line with this, AHAM will be streamlining and differentiating the features that it offers for its retail-focused money market funds and its institutional investor-focused money market funds. Thus, Affin Hwang’s Enhanced Deposit Fund (a retail-focused money market fund) will no longer offer its investors Overnight Interest effective on 1 Jan 2022,” Versa elaborated.

Versa also took the opportunity to reassure its users that as retail customers, they will not be affected by any tax implications. It also advised users to time their deposits appropriately for a more seamless investment experience; whenever possible, try to deposit on working days before Versa’s cut-off period at 2.30pm, or if you must deposit after cut-off hours, ensure that the next day is a working day.

If you have enquiries regarding this latest update, you can email Versa at
[email protected]
.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Affin Hwang Asset Management

Affin Hwang Asset Management Berhad

Affin Hwang Enhanced Deposit Fund (EDF)

Cash Management

Cash Management App

Digital Cash Management

Overnight Interest

Versa

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Economists Predict BNM Likely To Withhold From Further OPR Cuts Until End Of 2021

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will likely refrain from further reducing the overnight policy rate (OPR) throughout 2021, said economists from several organisations. This follows the central bank’s decision to
maintain the OPR at 1.75%
 at its November Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting yesterday.

CGS-CIMB economist, Michelle Chia based her prediction on BNM’s statement yesterday, which said that the current monetary settings were “appropriate and accommodative”. According to her, this can be interpreted as a signal for an extended pause.

“Despite our views that BNM retains the policy space to be more accommodative given the significant output gap and weak inflation outlook, we think the central bank is taking the stance that monetary policy is sufficiently calibrated. Therefore, we expect the OPR to remain unchanged at 1.75% until end-2021,” said Chia.

Likewise, MIDF Research also agreed that there is no need to reduce the OPR again as the current rate is accommodative. This is supported by the
latest leading index
, which suggested that economic recovery will continue over the coming months, sustaining well into 2021. To clarify, the leading index is an instrument used to predict the country’s economic performance and direction about four to six months in advance. MIDF Research also noted that BNM has enough room to reduce the OPR again if the economic recovery faces any pitfalls and/or slows down in the future.

Meanwhile, economist from UOB Malaysia, Julia Goh said that further cuts to the OPR will have a lower or diminishing positive impact on the economy. As such, she expects the OPR to be maintained until the end of 2021 unless significant threats were to crop up again. She also foresees additional financial support from the upcoming Budget 2021, which could include the extension of cash aid, wage subsidies, and assistance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

(Image: Focus Malaysia)

“BNM said there are other policy levers that can be used to support economic recovery. These include over RM18 billion of funds allocated for SME financing. We understand that BNM has the capacity to increase this allocation for guaranteed funds and upsizing of funds when the need arises,” said Goh.

OCBC Bank economist, Wellian Wiranto also weighed in on the issue, saying that BNM is likely trying to strike a balance on multiple fronts. “Even as it (BNM) acknowledges the downside risks, it wants to note that the outlook remains brighter than what the headlines might suggest,” he said.

Wiranto also noted that BNM has “left the door open” for further cuts in the OPR if necessary, and will act quickly should the economy be affected in Q4 – whether caused by a drop in exports or an enforced pause on business activities. “Even though the next MPC meeting will not take place until 19-20 January 2021, if push comes to shove, there might even be an inter-meeting decision to cut as well – if necessary,” he said.

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

For context, BNM had reduced Malaysia’s OPR from 3.00% to an all-time low of 1.75% with four cuts this year. The first was carried out in
January
, with a reduction of 25 basis points, followed by a second 25-basis points cut in
March
. In
May
 and
July
, the OPR was slashed by another 50 basis points and 25 basis points, respectively, bringing it to the current 1.75%.

After the cumulative reduction of 125 basis points between January to July, BNM maintained the OPR in
September
 as well as in
its meeting yesterday
.

(Source:
The Edge Markets
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bank Negara Malaysia

BNM

CGS-CIMB Equities Research

Julia Goh

Michelle Chia

MIDF Research

OCBC

OPR

OPR Cut

Overnight Policy Rate

UOB

Wellian Wiranto

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Should You Invest in the New Malaysian Commemorative Banknotes?

In case you have not heard about it yet, recently, a set of commemorative banknotes issued by Bank Negara have been inaugurated by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V as a part of the 60th anniversary in conjunction with the signing of Federation of Malaya Independence Agreement.

The commemorative banknotes launched are RM600 banknotes which consist of various specifications in the form of:

 Photo courtesy of Bernama Foto

Individual RM600 banknote to be sold at RM1,700 a piece

Uncut 3-in-1 RM60 banknotes with a face value of RM180 which will be sold at RM500 a piece

Individual RM60 banknote with a face value of RM60 which will be sold at RM120 a piece

Dimension of the Banknotes
 : 370mm by 220m

Theme of the Banknotes
: “Raja Payung Kedaulatan Negara”

How to Get these Banknotes
: Orders can be placed online from January 5th 2018 onwards. In the event of oversubscription, there will be a balloting process.

Hold On…Why Should I Invest in These Banknotes?

Apart from the fact that you are collecting a rare piece of history, these commemorative notes are usually printed in limited numbers meaning that it will not be widely circulated as opposed to your usual notes that are used as legal tender for your daily transactions.

You can then choose to keep it and perhaps show it off in your display cabinet or on your social media platforms as it’s not easy to land your hands on these so bragging rights are a given in this situation. Or you can let it sit in your closet or safety deposit box for a bit, wait for the price to appreciate and get your return on investment from there.

Read Also :
Old Malaysian Ringgit Notes and Coins Are Worth More Than You Think

After all, there is always a demand for these notes among ardent commemorative note collectors and for these celebrated unique notes, so long as you know when’s the right moment to put it up at reputable auction site. Just note that this will only happen if the demand exceeds the supply so as long as you keep in mind that the market price for these notes is determined by these factors. So, if you are thinking of buying and selling it off for immediate profit, you may want to think twice before placing an order for it.

I Am Not Interested in Banknotes, Are There Any Other Things I Can Look Into?

Even so, if banknotes are not exactly your cup of tea, you could perhaps divert your funds into commemorative coins instead. There is four type of coins that are issued as well during the launch of the commemorative banknotes and these include :

Gold coins with a face value of RM300 (to be sold via public auction at a reserve price of RM4,000 a piece)

Silver coins with a face value of RM150 (to be sold at RM1,000 a piece)

Copper coins with a face value of RM15 (to be sold at RM200 a piece)

Nordic gold brilliant uncirculated coins with a face value of RM1 (to be sold at RM11 a piece)

 Photo courtesy of Bernama Foto

How to Get these Coins
: Orders can be placed online from January 5th 2018 onwards.

Where to See These Coins
: Display unit of the coins will be available for public viewing from December 21 onwards at Bank Negara’s museum and Art Gallery and at bank office’s in Penang, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching and Kuala Terengganu.

These limited edition coins will be the perfect gift for devoted coin aficionados so if you know someone who fits that bill, you may want to snap up these coins once it’s up for sale.

Are There Any Other Cool Commemorative Notes that I Should Look Out For?

If you have an eBay account and you don’t mind splurging on something that is fandom-related, you may want to try your hand at bidding for a
limited-edition Star Wars commemorative note
. At the time of writing, the lowest bid is priced at £150.50 for a Star Wars Premium Commemorative Note Engraving Proof (Rey), £206.00 for a Star Wars Commemorative Note Uncut Proof and £300.00 for a Star Wars Premium Commemorative Note (not inclusive of postage and handling fees of course).

Best of all, all proceeds go to charity so rest assure that you are also investing in someone’s future apart from yours when you participate in this auction. And even if you don’t sell it, well, we have to say that the unique premium commemorative notes look really awesome and cool to have so if you do have some extra moolah to blow, why not?

 Photo courtesy of Telegraph

We hope that you have found our article on commemorative notes handy for your future ventures, be it as an investment or as a unique asset that allows you to enjoy a part of history and culture at the same time. Prefer to invest something that comes with a set of expected returns with minimal risk? Opt for fixed deposit accounts instead and you may be surprised at you’ll receive on a longer term.

Not sure where to start? Our
comparison tool
 is here to help you search and compare for the best fixed-deposit accounts in Malaysia so what are you waiting for? It’s time to start hunting!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bank Negara Malaysia

Banknotes

BNM

About THE AUTHOR

Arnie Ruxana

Arnie Ruxana

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Bantuan Wang Ihsan: How To Apply & Other Key Things To Know

(
Updated on 25 December 2021.
)

The government has agreed to provide a one-off cash assistance of RM1,000 to individuals who were affected by the recent floods, under the Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) initiative. This amount had been
increased not long ago from the original provision of RM500
 to better alleviate the financial burden of victims affected by calamities. On top of the RM1,000 cash assistance, the BWI initiative will also offer
RM5,000 in funeral assistance
 to those who have lost a family member in the floods.

Eligible individuals who wish to obtain the BWI cash aid are required to apply for it, and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has shared an FAQ to offer more details and clarity on the process. Here are some key things that you should know before applying:

Who can apply for the BWI cash aid?

Only Malaysian citizens who are the head of the household can apply for the BWI cash aid. Additionally, NADMA stressed that the aid is only provided for each affected house, regardless of how many families that may have stayed in the house.

To illustrate, two families living in the same house will only get RM1,000 cash assistance. Similarly, several friends who are renting a house together will also be allowed to apply for only one BWI cash aid. Lastly, note that if the tenants of an affected house have already applied for the BWI cash aid, the landlord is not eligible to do so.

Meanwhile, NADMA has yet to clarify if this one-house limitation also applies to the RM5,000 funeral assistance offered.

(Image: AP/Vincent Thian)

How can I apply for the BWI cash aid?

The BWI cash aid
cannot
 be applied online. Instead, you will either have to speak to a community leader, district officer, or the personnel at your temporary evacuation centre (PPS) – depending on your current location:

Evacuated to a PPS
: Approach a staff member at the PPS or the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) for help.
Did not evacuate to a PPS
: Approach your respective district officers (JPKK) or community leaders (such as
ketua kampung
).

What documents do you need for the BWI application process?

NADMA did not share a specific list of documents required, saying instead that it depends on the category that the applicants fall into.

Affected individuals who were evacuated to a PPS, and still have their identity cards (IC) are not required to provide additional documents as their applications will be directly processed by JKM. Meanwhile, those who were evacuated to a PPS but do not have their IC will need to first register with community leaders before they can proceed with their applications.

Individuals who were not evacuated to a PPS – or are staying in ungazetted PPS shelters – are also required to approach and register with community leaders before their applications can be processed.

What happens after I submit my BWI application?

After submission, your application will need to be verified by the chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD). He or she must determine if you fit the definition of a “victim affected by the floods”, based on the guidelines provided under the National Security Council’s (KKM) Directive No. 20.

Following that, your application will be forwarded to the chairman of State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), and then to NADMA for approval. Once it is approved, JPBN will channel the BWI cash aid to the chairman of JPBD, who will then disburse it to you.

How many times can you obtain the BWI cash aid?

You can only apply for the BWI cash aid once during a period of declared calamity. In other words, if you were to be affected by the floods several times during this monsoon season, you will not be able to apply for a second, third, or any other subsequent BWI aids provided later.

(
Update: Following an update on 24 December 2021, the government said that victims can apply for the BWI cash aid several times during a period of declared calamity. Applications are, however, subject to approval from the JPBD and the JPBN.

***

Aside from the BWI cash aids provided by the government, flood victims can also seek assistance from the
banks
 and
insurers
 within the country. Meanwhile, Malaysians looking to contribute to flood relief efforts can also do so conveniently via
selected e-wallets and e-commerce platforms
. With these combined efforts, we hope that the many affected individuals will soon get back on their feet.

You can also check out NADMA’s
full FAQ for the BWI initiative here
.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI)

Flood

Flood Relief Assistance Programmes

Floods

Longform

National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA)

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


ShopeePay Can Now Be Used At Selected Physical Stores Nationwide

Shopee has expanded its in-app e-wallet, ShopeePay, to be available for use offline at more than 350 participating partner stores nationwide. This essentially means that it is expanding its use case of ShopeePay, which previously was only usable on the Shopee platform.

Launched in July last year, ShopeePay was designed to be a faster payment option for Shopee users especially during peak times as well as during bank downtimes. If you have already activated ShopeePay, you can automatically use it offline – no additional steps are required. You’ll know that a merchant accepts the e-wallet if it carries a “Pay with ShopeePay” sign.

To pay, simply open the Shopee app and head to your ShopeePay page. Tap on Pay, enter your PIN, and let the cashier scan your unique QR code to complete the transaction.

Shopee’s introduction of its in-app e-wallet into the offline shopping experience comes just about 2 weeks after the e-commerce platform announced its
partnership with Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet)
. The collaboration will see ShopeePay joining the
DuitNow ecosystem
, which also includes the adoption of the DuitNow QR, Malaysia’s national QR standard. In other words, Shopee users will also soon be able to shop with offline merchants that accept payments via DuitNow QR.

(Image: FintechNews Malaysia)

To celebrate ShopeePay’s new feature, Shopee has teamed up with four merchant partners – Cool Blog, Secret Recipe, Bar Wang Rice, and Winter Warmers – to offer a RM3 daily cashback campaign. Running up until 22 March 2020, you can earn RM3 daily cashbacks at more than 350 participating outlets across Malaysia.

Shopee is not the first e-commerce platform to experiment with bringing the online and offline shopping experience together. While Shopee is the first to officially enable its in-app e-wallet for offline purchases, Lazada had briefly run an
offline e-wallet campaign
 at its 12.12 sale at the end of last year.

3.4

5

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bar Wang Rice

Cool Blog

DuitNow

DuitNow QR

Payments Network Malaysia

PayNet

Secret Recipe

Shopee

ShopeePay

Winter Warmers

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (1)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

1
 Comment

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Janet gacutan

    2 years ago

Plz approve my wallet

-1

Reply


Deputy Minister: BNM Not Aiming To Issue Central Bank Digital Currency Soon

(Image: Bernama)

Deputy Finance Minister II, Yamani Hafez Musa said that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is not looking to issue any central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the near future.

According to the deputy minister, Malaysia’s payment systems – including the real-time retail payments platform (RPP) – are secure and efficient enough to support economic needs and enable digital payments. “The financial system in Malaysia continues to support the functioning of the economy while meeting the needs of individuals and businesses,” he said.

Yamani Hafez did stress, however, that the central bank will continue to actively assess the potential of CBDC and how it may assist the government in achieving public policy objectives in the future. He acknowledged that the rapidly changing payment and cryptocurrency landscape has prompted many central banks around the world to consider issuing CBDC.

(Image: The Sun Daily)

Aside from that, Yamani Hafez also commented on the government’s stance on the use of cryptocurrencies in day-to-day transactions, stating that companies are free to issue digital assets for fundraising, but they must abide by regulations set by the Securities Commission (SC). Specifically, they need to abide by the conditions provided under the Capital Markets and Services (Prescription of Securities) (Digital Currency and Digital Token) Order 2019.

Meanwhile, Yamani Hafez emphasised that cryptocurrencies are not recognised as legal tender currencies in Malaysia, and therefore are not a payment instrument regulated by BNM. “Cryptocurrencies are not suitable to be used as a payment instrument as the currencies do not show the universal characteristics of money,” he further stressed, explaining that cryptocurrencies’ volatility, exposure to cyber threats, and lack of scalability do not make them a good store of value and medium of exchange.

That said, Yamani Hafez also recognised that despite this, Malaysians must also keep up with the latest development in cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology that powers it. He said that the government, through the SC, has hosted events such as the annual FinTech SCxSC Conference so that interested individuals – especially youths – were not left behind in understanding blockchain technology. The Conference has been hosted for eight years since 2014.

“This year, the SCxSC Conference was held from 26 to 28 October 2021. Of the attendees, 60% belonged to the youth group aged 35 and below,” Yamani Hafez shared.

(Source:
Malay Mail
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bank Negara Malaysia

Blockchain Technology

BNM

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

Cryptocurrency

SCxSC Conference

Securities Commission Malaysia

Yamani Hafez Musa

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


How to Increase Your Credit Card Limit

Can You Increase Your Credit Card Limit?

Depending on the amount you earn, you may or may not be able to get the credit increase you want. This is due to Bank Negara guidelines for credit limit that restrict the amount of credit extended to a cardholder. The rule follows that if you earn below RM36000 per the calendar year, your
credit card
 limit shall be two times your monthly salary per issuer, with a maximum of two issuers. Thus, if you earn RM2,500 per month, the maximum limit is RM5,000 per issuer.

But if your salary is above RM36,000, it is up to the bank’s discretion to approve your application to increase your credit card limit. This is always dependent on your income and credit status.

How to Increase Credit Card Limit

If, for any reason you would like to permanently increase credit card limit, you will need to apply for one from your credit card issuer.

The exact procedure might differ between the banks, but it typically involves filling up an application form and submitting your income documents (e.g. salary slip, tax form, EPF statement, EA form, etc.) to your bank. You can do this in person at the bank, via mail, fax or online. Note that this process can take a bit of time as the bank will need to review your application before approving or rejecting.

If you need cash fast however, a temporary increase is a better option. Depending on your credit card issuer, you can do this over the phone or online. This type of increase typically lasts 30 days and is meant to help you cover emergency payments.

Another thing you can do is update your income records to the bank if you have received an increment, or have started a new (and better paying) job. Banks may offer a new, higher credit card limit, though this process will take time – so only do this if you are not pressed for time.

Even If You Can, Should You?

Just because you need more money, it doesn’t mean that you should just increase your limit. You do need to consider if it is indeed the right move for you.

For instance, if you can afford to make repayments, have recently had your income increased, are a good paymaster, and you don’t have a way to access more cash otherwise, it might be a good idea to request for higher credit card limit when needed.

On the other hand, a higher credit limit may also lead to excessive spending if you are not disciplined. If you are prone to overspending or you are currently only able to meet the minimum monthly repayments, you might want to think twice before going ahead with it. This is by far the easiest way to get into debt.

If you decided against a credit increase, find out to make money fast with our piece,
6 Genius Ways to Double Your Salary
 or
How You Can Maximise Your Income With Grab
.

Why Not Get a New Credit Card Instead?

If you have just one card or if your annual income is above RM36000, should you simply ask for an increase in your credit card limit, or apply for a new one? There are several factors to consider.

If your current credit card offers good perks, such as cash rebates or low interest rates, it might be better to stick to just this one and request for an increase in credit card limit. However, if you can find a card that can complement your current one with equally good benefits, it’s always useful to add it to your collection.

And if you are looking around for a new credit card, be sure to do your research beforehand! Use our super nifty
comparison page
 to research and discover the best card for your needs.

4.2

5

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Credit Card Limit

Personal Finance

About THE AUTHOR

Desiree Nair

Desiree Nair

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


SC Introduces Initiatives To Encourage Youth Participation In Capital Market

(Image: New Straits Times)

In a bid to cultivate the vibrancy of Malaysia’s capital market, the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said that several initiatives will be rolled out to encourage youth participation and investment in the market. In addition to kickstarting its new InvestED Leadership Programme 2023 with the first cohort, the SC also announced a university adoption scheme by stockbroking companies to promote greater understanding of the capital market.

With regard to the InvestED Leadership Programme, the chairman of the SC, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin said that the first cohort of this SC-led flagship graduate programme has already been selected, and the chosen individuals will first need to go through a one-month comprehensive and interactive learning module conducted by the Asia School of Business (ASB). Following that, they’re required to complete a six-month training with invested partners from the industry.

Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek also shared that the response to the programme has been overwhelming, with more than 2,000 applications received. There were, however, only spots for 200 individuals.

(Image: Bernama)

“The SC’s partnership with the Asia School of Business (ASB) today further strengthens the programme’s credibility and reinforces our commitment to provide programme participants with the necessary capital market industry knowledge needed to be market ready. We see this initiative as vital for an industry with high talent mobility and demand like the capital market,” Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek further said, adding that InvestED was also the first collaboration between the SC, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE), as well as the capital market industry and universities.

The SC is currently expected to continue the InvestED programme for three years, in hopes that the programme will be able to positively impact the industry in the future.

Aside from InvestED, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek also revealed that the Association of Stockbroking Companies Malaysia is introducing an adoption scheme where stockbroking companies will “adopt” a university to educate its lecturers and students about the industry.

“Under the scheme, each company would adopt a university to plan and work with students and lecturers to promote greater understanding and appreciation of the capital market. For instance, the company can assist lecturers in crafting a course related to the capital market to be taught to students,” said Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek.

(Image: Bernama)

Additionally, participating companies can assist students in establishing investing clubs to build awareness of investment opportunities in the capital market. Ultimately, these initiatives will not only expose students to how the capital market works, but also boost their employability and teach them about financial scams.

Finally, Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek stressed that these initiatives are necessary in order to encourage more young individuals to invest in the capital market. To underline the gravity of the situation, he shared that investors aged 45 and below made up only 7% of the total number of investors in the stock market, whereas those between the age of 20 to 30 are believed to be even lesser. Most remisiers, meanwhile, are currently aged 50 and above.

“The capital market industry needs an injection of new blood, both as employees as well as investors. We need young executives to attract young investors as they are more tech-savvy and they understand each other better,” Datuk Seri Dr Awang commented.

(Source:
The Star
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Asia School of Business (ASB)

Association of Stockbroking Companies Malaysia

Capital Market Products

Datuk Seri Dr Awang Adek Hussin

Securities Commission

Securities Commission InvestED Leadership Programme 2023

Securities Commission Malaysia

Shares

Stocks

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


CIMB And Berjaya Sompo Introduce New Secure Home Insurance Plan

CIMB Bank has collaborated with Berjaya Sompo Insurance to offer Secure Home, an all-risk home insurance plan that covers household goods and personal belongings against loss and damage.

Risks covered under the Secure Home plan include fire, flood, lightning, theft, accidents, and more. Secure Home offers coverage ranging between RM15,000 to RM60,000, depending on which of the three available plans you choose from. Similarly, the annual premium for each of these plans range from RM130 to RM480.

You are not required to make a declaration of every item in your home when you sign up; upon a successful claim you will be covered up to the sum insured (and pre-determined limit per item) with no penalty for under-insurance.

CIMB group consumer banking CEO Samir Gupta shared that the bank is delighted to offer this first-of-its-kind all risks home insurance protection that will provide homeowners with peace of mind and convenience. Meanwhile, Berjaya Sompo Insurance CEO Tan Sek Kee said that Secure Home’s launch is aimed at providing customers with a hassle-free way to purchase or renew their insurance digitally.

Secure Home is distributed by CIMB Bank and underwritten by Berjaya Sompo and is available exclusively through all CIMB Bank branches and digital channels. You can find out more about
Secure Home on the CIMB website
.

(Source:
The Sun Daily
,
The Edge Markets
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Berjaya Sompo

CIMB

CIMB Bank

Property Insurance

Secure Home

About THE AUTHOR

Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


How to Get More Value for Money on Valentine's Day

It’s the Valentine’s Day weekend and most couples are still scrambling for last minute arrangements to make V-Day that much more memorable.

All that back-breaking planning takes considerable effort but the most dreaded consumption will still revolve around your finances – especially when everything sees a sudden increase in price.

We’ll show you exactly how you don’t have to mull over spending on V-Day and yet save loads in hopes of making sweet, long-lasting memories with that special someone.

1) Ask for the Regular Menu at Restaurants

A candle light dinner for two seems like the staple setting for the perfect date as depicted in most movies. It also spells out a pretty expensive bill on V-Day, which you certainly can save a tonne from if you asked the right questions.

This is because businesses pounce on the perfect opportunity to make opportunistic profit by increasing prices of goods during the days leading up to D-Day. Some even make it clear to patrons about them through signs and fliers.

Restaurants are no different, but they tend to do it in a much subtle manner. More often than not, restaurants provide specially designed menus catering to the occasion which can translate to a 30-40% increase in price (maybe even more!).

Before making a reservation, be sure to ask if the regular menu will be available on top of the Valentine’s Day package and instantly slash neat amounts from your dining bill. However, if a restaurant admits that the regular menu will not be available – consider your other options.

2) Compare Prices of Different Flowers and Florists

Flowers have commonly been regarded as a way to show care and love, especially during Valentine’s Day. More specifically, roses are expected as the ultimate show of true love but this means a heavy hit on your pocketbook.

Roses, too are no exception from the special occasion hikes. They can go up in price by 50-70% depending on amount of flowers and arrangement. Bear in mind, these will wilt and die in the next couple of days.

Unfortunately, both brick and mortar or online florist (delivery), see the occasion as a profitable business opportunity and this can certainly set you back loads of dosh for a couple of days’ worth of fresh flower goodness.

To get more, you could either do a comparison of all the online flower deliveries and pick the most cost-effective option; or opt for other flowers besides roses. Gerberas, carnations and even baby’s breath bouquets can be pretty if done well.

You could also cut back on flower selection or numbers and amp up presentation instead. A few select roses amongst many other flowers could still look attractive but not cost half as much as a full rose bouquet.

3) Get Creative with Gift-Giving

A charm bracelet or a diamond pendant might top of the list of expected gifts for Valentine’s Day simply because the highest bidder always wins. No longer a surprise to us anymore, yes, the prices of these too can be jacked up during the very profitable V-Day period.

There are a tonne of alternatives that could potentially be more meaningful and yet don’t cost an arm and leg. They can be as simple as YouTube-ing do-it-yourself (DIY) videos.

How about hand-making one of those bracelets as well as its charms to mark relationship milestones, or a card that explains your relationship journey and how much it means to you in words?

These aren’t going to look as pretty as expensive diamonds but they most certainly carry more sentimental value. However, if you have made up your mind about buying a gift, shop for something your other half has been wanting for a while that shouldn’t be affected by notorious V-day hikes.

The last time we checked, those power tools or spectacle frames didn’t dance to beat of the Valentine’s Day hike drums!

4) If All Else Fails… Celebrate on a Different Day

Valentine’s Day is one of the most commercialised and monetised celebrations in the world. Hence, the hikes in prices for almost everything related to the occasion.

If you think these prices only stay up there for a day, you’re terribly wrong. This period can stretch for as long as a week leading up to V-Day, and like we explained in the points above, it certainly is no measly affair.

That said, celebrating on a different day should definitely be on the cards. While everyone is busy cramping up restaurants on V-Day, why not treat your other half to something a little wound down at home like a romantic movie or a table-for-two dish you whipped up in the kitchen?

If V-Day falls on a Sunday like in 2016 where you have work the next day, plan something for early in the coming weekend instead. Plus you get everything for regular price too – this includes dining and flowers (yes, you can get roses for cheap then).

Celebrating on a different day from Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be much of a problem, because after all, everyday should be Valentine’s Day, no?

How will you be celebrating your day of love? Let us know in the comments.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Consumer Behaviour

Gifts

Valentine's Day

About THE AUTHOR

Austin Victor

Austin Victor

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Should You Invest in Property?

For many people, the purchase of a house isn’t just to start a family or keep 47 cats. It’s also a common investment vehicle. You may have heard the recommendations from friends and loved ones: “property increases in price all the time” and “it’s a stable investment”. Whilst both these benefits can arguably be true in the majority of cases; it isn’t the only thing you should consider before taking the property investment plunge.

As with any investment, there will be many factors at play and the house is no exception. Let us run you through the general pros and cons to investing in a property to help you make a decision if this is the best avenue for you.*

Advantages to Property as an Investment

Property can be used as an investment in two ways: to sell at a low price, collect rental and then sell later for a profit or it can also be used solely for it’s rental yield – providing an additional income for the owner. Whichever you choose, here are some of the reasons why people like investing in property.

Stable and simple with decent returns
. Unlike other investments such as the stock market for example, no investment know how is really required and the risk factor is significantly reduced. Whilst some care is required in choosing the location for the property; in most cases the value will appreciate – it’s just a matter of how much or how quickly. Investing often requires some knowledge of the working of financial investments and market movement; something not really required to purchase property.

Availability of loans
. For most other investments; you will be required to come up with the funds on your own. In the purchase of your house; banks are willing to lend you the purchase amount making it easier to invest in property.

Helps offset inflation
. Whilst
some quarters may warn against using property
 purely as a hedge against inflation; it’s still a pretty reliable asset to have with
many backing it as a good way
 to offset the effects of inflation on your wealth accumulation. Whilst the prices of goods inflate; so will the price of your house.

These are just some of the most common reasons for choosing to buy a house as an investment vehicle. But there are also downsides.

Disadvantages to Property as an Investment

It’s always important to see both sides of a coin; and the analogy is almost perfect in the context of an investment. Here are some of the disadvantages you may find when taking the property option.

Slow to sell for cashing in
. If you are buying a piece of property for later resale; you will have to wait a bit for the cashing in. Unlike unloading stocks or other investments; selling a home for the price you want (even if it is fair market value!) will take time. Not only will you need to find the right buyer; you will also have to wait for the bank to process the new purchaser’s home loan. Processing a home from application to disbursement can sometimes take up to six months.

You can’t split your investment
. Whilst you can sell some share units or partially withdraw some fixed deposit funds; you can’t sell just a bedroom or a kitchen. Investing in a home means having your entire investment amount in the one asset and the only way to retrieve any part of it is to sell the whole.

The house will require maintenance
. In order to keep your house in a state fit for resale or rental; it would mean expending particular amounts to maintain and do light repairs around the house. Sometimes, wear and tear through the years may require more extensive renovation to, for instance, fix piping and wiring. If you are renting the house out to tenants; keeping the house in good repair would be your responsibility and if for resale, the house would need to be ‘spruced up’ to attract a buyer.

That said, if you are able to afford a house; considering to use it for investment is not a bad idea by a longshot. However, as with anything in finance; research is crucial to make an informed decision.

The above article is not meant to constitute investment advice. Please consult your personal finance advisor or investment professional before making any investment decision.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Home Loans

Home Ownership

Investment

Loans

Personal Finance

Property Investment

About THE AUTHOR

Diana Chai

Diana Chai

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


3 Crucial Signs You Need to Restructure Your Debt

Ever tried squeezing a quick visit to the bank in between lunch breaks to ensure that your monthly bills are paid on time? Or experienced the wrath of getting swamped in a pile of statements, attempting to make sense out of the due dates for every bill in hand?

In any case, wouldn’t it be awesome if there’s a faster and easier method to repay debt, minus the hassle of time-consuming methods that are usually employed? If you would like eliminate debt and have more saved up for your financial plans, then read on to learn how you can benefit from a debt consolidation loan.

How Do I Know If I Need a Debt Consolidation Loan?

Not sure if a debt consolidation loan is something that you need? Here are a few indications that may want to heed to determine if a debt consolidation loan is a fit for your financial freedom goals:

You Can Only Afford to Make Minimum Payment

Have a habit of paying only the minimum for your credit card bills? Time for you to break that habit because not only will this bleed you financially in the long run, it will also take you years to pay off even the lowest debts that you may have incurred.

When you make only the minimum payments on a credit card, it means that it will take you decades to pay off even the lowest debt you may have. A consolidation loan will run for five to 10 years. This is true even if you are only paying the minimum amount.

Although it’s possible for you to dive into a debt management plan (such as an involuntary arrangement) as an effort to reduce interest rates for your debt, do note that while consultation may be provided for free, you will still need to pay for their services (which is a percentage of your overall accrued debt).

And once the arrangement has been agreed upon, you will need to stick to it for the term of the arrangement leaving you with minimum flexibility to change or personalize it in accordance to your economic situation.

You Want a Tidier Credit Report

When you apply for a loan or a new credit card, the most crucial criteria that will determine whether you’ll be able to apply for the new credit (apart from your personal details and annual income) will be your credit score.

In general, a good credit score lies in the range of 650 to 750 whereas an excellent credit score is between 751 to 850. How your credit score is calculated depends greatly on the way you utilise credit – meaning to say the amount of debt you own compared to the total amount of debt that’s available to you.

On the other hand, having a poor credit score (anywhere below 650) would imply that you are a potentially risky customer. Having a risky customer profile will discourage potential banks and lenders from wanting to do business with you as the preference will always be offered to those who are responsible paymasters.

That won’t be the case however, if you took on a debt consolidation loan as all of your bills and loans will be accumulated as one, so your creditors will only see one debt at a time instead of multiple items on your credit score.

You Have Too Many Debts That You Can’t Keep Track Of

According to the
Malaysian Financial Planning Council’s (MFPC)
, out of the 2,000 participants surveyed, 47.2% stated that their income is only sufficient for basic needs, while 12.3% of those surveyed highlighted that their income is not sufficient for living expenses.

As it is, should you find yourself being unable to pay in full for any of your debts or even resorted to putting balances of one card on another just to try and offset the debt, that’s how you know that you should opt for a debt consolidation loan to sort things out.

What Is A Debt Consolidation Loan?

What a debt consolidation loan does is that it helps to consolidate your debts into a single loan with one repayment. You may be having doubts over this as the common perception is that these repayments may cost slightly more and increase the duration of your tenure long, making you stay in debt for a longer period.

With a debt consolidation loan, you will end up paying just one monthly fee. This will then free up cash and reduce your overall commitment ratio. And when there’s more cash in hand, that also translates to a higher disposable income for necessities from your end. This, in turn, will help diminish the habit of relying on your credit cards as a quick measure to settle debts.

Interested in a Debt Consolidation Loan? Take Note Of These…

Can’t wait to get into a debt consolidation plan? Here are the things that you would need to look out for:

Many of the low interest rates for debt consolidation loans may be offered for a limited time only, all of which will depend on different financial providers.

The loan may also include fees or costs that you would need to pay such as joining fee, early redemption fee and more.

Although your monthly payment might be lower, it may be because you’re paying over a longer time. As it is, you will definitely be paying a lot more in the long run. Which is not an entirely bad thing if you are looking to improve your credit score as servicing a debt and paying it on time can play a role in getting your score up.

Different banks have different requirements when it comes to debt consolidation plans. Some only accept credit card and personal loans, others may accept house or even car loans. All of these comes with different packages at varied interest rates so do remember to shop around!

One Final Tip

We hope that this article is able to help you decide if a debt consolidation loan is something that you should look into for your future financial management goals.

Remember, it will be tough to handle this on your own. In a nutshell, a debt consolidation loan may be able to financially assist you in managing your debts and make informed choices that will help you gain more financial freedom.

This in turn will give you more space to breathe without needing to worry about missing out on a bill or more. Can’t wait to get your hands on a straightforward, no frills debt consolidation loan to sort out your finances? Learn more about
Standard Chartered’s CashOne Debt Consolidation Plan
 and with it’s lower monthly commitment fees, zero stamp duty and processing fees, you are well on your way to financial freedom!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Credit Score

Debt Consolidation Loan

Financial Planning

Malaysian Financial Planning Council

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered CashOne Debt Consolidation Plan

About THE AUTHOR

ringgitplus

ringgitplus

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Works Minister: Alternative Cashless Options For RFID Toll Payments “A Big Possibility”

(Image: Malay Mail/Shafwan Zaidon)

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has commented that the likelihood of enabling alternative cashless payment methods for radio frequency identification (RFID) toll payments is quite high. If accomplished, Malaysian motorists will no longer be confined to using only the Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet.

 “This e-wallet thing should be seamless…so that one doesn’t have to be dedicated to just one or two concessionaires. That, I think, is a big possibility,” the minister said, adding that this will offer more convenience to highway users.

To add to that, the plan to enable alternative cashless payment methods for toll payments in general is not new; the
previous Works Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof
 had also said that the government was working on expanding motorists’ toll payment options to any digital mode of payment. PLUS, too, have hinted early last year that it would soon include
debit and credit cards
 as additional payment options for motorists travelling along the North-South Highway (PLUS) – although there were no further updates since.

(Image: ExpatGo)

Aside from highlighting the possibility of other cashless options for RFID toll payments, Datuk Seri Alexander also reiterated that the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system – which has been renamed as the multi-lane fast flow system to avoid confusion among motorists that the system is free – will be implemented by 2025. This will see the removal of the Touch ‘n Go and SmartTag lanes, to be replaced instead by RFID lanes.

Briefly, the MLFF system refers to a barrier-free toll collection system, where no toll booths or dedicated lanes are required. Instead, a gantry structure that is furnished with automated number plate recognition (ANPR) technology will be installed at specific locations to collect toll payments.

Meanwhile, RFID – which is vital to the implementation of the MLFF system – was
first introduced in Malaysia in 2018
, and has since gradually been expanded to numerous toll plazas nationwide. In fact, it was just announced last week that another
12 new RFID lanes
 will be added to the North-South Highway (PLUS) by mid-April 2023. However, its implementation to date has been fraught with challenges, including complaints of traffic congestion and lack of seamlessness.

(Source:
Malay Mail
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi

Multi-Lane Fast Flow (MLFF) System

Multi-Lane Free-Flow (MLFF) Highways

PLUS RFID

RFID

RFID Payments

SmartTAG

TNG RFID

Touch 'n Go

Touch 'n Go Card

Touch 'n Go eWallet

Touch 'n Go RFID

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


September 2022 Unemployment Rate Down To 3.6%, New Low Since Start Of Covid-19

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

The latest labour report from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) indicated that Malaysia’s unemployment rate has improved to 3.6% in September 2022, as compared to 3.7% in the previous month. This translates to 605,000 unemployed individuals in September, dipping from 612,000 persons back in August.

Of the total unemployed individuals, the number of actively unemployed persons make up 82.1% of the group, with a dip of 2.1% from 507,300 persons in August to 496,600 persons in September. Actively unemployed individuals are defined as those who are unemployed but are actively looking for jobs. The inactively unemployed, on the other hand, make up the remaining 17.9% of the unemployed group.

Meanwhile, the working population continued its upward trend, growing by 0.2% from 16.02 million people in the previous month to 16.05 million people in September. It is comprised largely of the employees category, which accounted for 75.9% of the employed persons group – up 0.1% from the previous month. Own account workers (17.6%), employers (3.4%), and unpaid family workers (3.1%) make up the rest of the employed persons group.

Aside from announcing the unemployment rate for September, DOSM also shared key statistics of the Malaysian labour force for the third quarter of 2022 (3Q22). It noted that the unemployment rate for 3Q22 has declined to 3.7%, the lowest rate seen since the Covid-19 pandemic began in the second quarter of 2020 (2Q20).

On top of that, DOSM’s report also highlighted the unemployment rate by state, with Putrajaya recording the lowest at 1%, followed by Johor (2.5%), Perlis (2.5%), Malacca (2.6%), Penang (2.6%), and Pahang (2.9%). The remaining states all recorded unemployment rates of 3% and above.

(Source: DOSM [
1
,
2
])

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Department Of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM)

DOSM

Malaysia Unemployment Rate

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate

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.

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Google Malaysia Launches Mantap Bersama Initiative To Help Small Businesses

Google Malaysia has launched an initiative called “Mantap Bersama”, which is aimed at providing assistance to small businesses nationwide amidst the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mantap Bersama intends to help small businesses build their digital presence on Google Search and Google Maps and relies on the support of the Malaysian public.

According to Google, actions by the public such as reviewing and rating on Google can go a long way towards helping these businesses earn more credibility and drive consumer demand to their businesses online. As explained by the tech giant, there are four ways in which everyone can help support small businesses online this Raya season.

Firstly, Malaysians can discover new small businesses in their vicinity by searching for any product and service with the added search keywords “near me”. Secondly, the public can leave helpful Google reviews online to help attract more customers. Thirdly, Google encourages sharing photos of customer experiences to give others a better idea of the business. Lastly, Malaysians who have the means are urged to buy from small businesses to help allow the owners support their employees.

Google has enlisted three YouTube creators who are also small business owners to join the Mantap Bersama initiative – Ili Sulaiman, celebrity chef and founder of Ili Pot; Fadhil Mohamad Isa, also known as the founder of Cardock Academy; and Chef Kalidevan Murugaya, better known as Chef Dave of D’Vegan Academy.

(Source:
The Malaysian Reserve
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Covid-19

Google

Google Maps

Google Reviews

Google Search

Mantap Bersama

Small Businesses

SMEs

About THE AUTHOR

Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments