CIMB Introduces Online Solutions For Easier Account Opening And Financing Application Processes

(Image: The Star)

CIMB Bank and CIMB Islamic Bank have introduced two new digital solutions for their customers to offer better accessibility to CIMB’s banking products, as well as safety and convenience. The solutions comprise an online-to-branch account opening process for individual customers and the Biz Financing Portal for SME customers.

The online-to-branch account opening process allows individual customers to digitally start the process of opening a bank account by pre-filling an e-form on the bank’s website. They can then complete the remaining steps of their application – such as identity checks – by visiting the bank’s branches, where there will be a dedicated e-account opening priority lane available. This new process is now offered at all branches nationwide, and has helped to reduce service time by more than half.

(Image: New Straits Times)

Meanwhile, CIMB’s new Biz Financing Portal – which has been up and running since 13 July 2020 – allows SME customers to submit their financing applications through a fully online process. Instead of having to visit the bank’s branch for this specific purpose, they can now upload the necessary documents and submit their loan applications via the portal.

According to the group chief strategy and design officer of CIMB Group, Gurdip Singh Sidhu, these new initiatives are especially crucial in the new normal of banking and payments. He said that the solutions are aligned with two of the five main pillars in CIMB’s Forward23, a five-year business plan that was launched in 2019. The two pillars involved are customers as well as technology and data; CIMB aims to use the new solutions to digitise and simplify its products and processes so that customers can have a more seamless and convenient banking experience.

“Digitising our banking process also addresses the social distancing considerations to protect the wellbeing of our customers and employees by significantly reducing the amount of physical interaction required,” said Gurdip.

Gurdip further added that customers’ banking behaviour is bound to change going forward, and that CIMB is accelerating its pace of innovation to deliver the best value proposition while keeping all parties safe.

(Source:
The Sun Daily
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Evolution Of Digital Billboards And 4 Reasons Why OOH Advertising Is Here To Stay

Step out of your home and all the billboards, banners, and stickers that surround you are in a nutshell, Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising. OOH advertising remains a fixture that has helped businesses, political parties, and even, during the recent pandemic, public health organisations spread awareness. But with the digital wave sweeping through various industries, wouldn’t that mean that OOH, commonly known as a print-based medium, is set to see its descent as a sunset industry?

VGi is an OOH media company which is responsible for the advertisement space spanning 54 stations of the KTMB railway line and 31 stations of the Sungai Buloh – Kajang MRT railway line. Originated from Thailand and a subsidiary of BTS Group Holding, VGi is a leader in the outdoor media industry in Thailand.

[Read more about VGi Transit and how they’re changing the OOH industry here]

Despite the challenges of Covid-19 and ensuing lockdowns, OOH remains possibly a relevant medium that could be used by businesses to reach out to consumers.
The continued presence of OOH can be attributed to 4 key reasons
: the growing popularity of digital billboards, the changing roles of OOH and Digital OOH (DOOH), the emergence of new analytic tools, and finally, the consistent need people have to go out and socialise.

1. Embracing the Digital Wave With Digital OOH

Rather than working against the emergence of digital interventions in today’s modern times, Digital OOH uses technological advancements to offer businesses and customers alike a new perspective into OOH advertising. Using new means such as digital screens and billboards that not only utilise animations, bright colours, and sounds to attract attention, they also allow media owners to feature more brands in spaces with limited OOH space. This doesn’t put traditional static billboards in the backseat — especially since some larger OOH setups deliver a WOW factor that’s otherwise unattainable — but rather, static and digital billboards are used together to complement each other.

Embracing this new technology, VGi has installed 100 new digital screens across MRT and KTM stations to provide consumers with a memorable brand experience. But, while digital screens and static billboards grab attention, the tools of OOH are evolving to play multiple roles today.

2. OOH and DOOH Are More Than Just A Pretty Face Today

For a long time, the appeal behind OOH was in their larger-than-life static billboards that were colourful and nice to look at to attract attention but didn’t do much else. What’s more, OOH advertising used to rely on a “gut approach” that used intuition and the agency’s experience — but not data —  when it came to looking for the best placements and types of advertising.

Today, the roles of OOH and DOOH have changed and they do more than attracting eyeballs. Rather than using a gut approach, ad placements and solutions can be more effective today by using analytics and research. Furthermore, OOH and DOOH have evolved to include more interactive and creative solutions.

Just take for example one of VGi’s campaigns for Pepsi. The Pepsico Voice Activation Vending Machine was installed at MRT stations to capture the attention of passers-by and interact with consumers in a way earlier OOH tools would not be able to. Other examples of using OOH and DOOH to do more than create brand awareness include using QR codes on digital screens and furniture stickers that direct consumers to shop or learn more about a product immediately as they wait for a train or even as they’re seated during their commute. These new tools also possibly mean that the effectiveness of OOH and DOOH are more trackable now.

3. Analytics – An Exciting Future For OOH

As the “gut approach” gives way to research and analytics, this brings an exciting time for OOH. Already, consumer research has started to pave the way for more effective ad solutions by not only taking into consideration ad space but also providing more creative solutions for a more successful campaign.

The emergence of new analytic tools will help businesses and media owners better target consumers so that on one hand, the businesses are reaching out to the right audience; and on the other hand, consumers are not plied with advertisements that are irrelevant to them.

At VGi, they’ve identified the golden period of OOH advertising — a 5-minute gap while waiting for a train where a commuter could be most receptive to advertisements. Leveraging information such as this will help businesses expand their brand awareness as they reach consumers more effectively with OOH, adding on to reasons why OOH is here to stay. But the most important reason why OOH will be relevant today and in the future lies in the consumers and their continuous need to go out and socialise in the new normal.

4. Out, Out, and About with OOH

Let’s face it, we are sociable creatures and staying connected with our family and friends remains a basic necessity alongside other things like food, water, and so forth. This is innate to every one of us and sometimes that means leaving our homes.

That’s why as long as consumers are travelling for work, holidays, or even just for a change of scenery, there will remain a demand for OOH advertising because businesses can’t afford to miss out on the opportunity to connect with their audiences.

People are still commuting via the MRT and KTM, and with the current economic situation that might cause some businesses to take a step back, other brands could capitalise on their absence and reach out to customers with little interference.

***

With VGi x RinggitPlus Collaboration – Connect Better With Your Consumers Today!

VGi is ready to help your business grow and retain customers with OOH solutions at preferred rates. For the first time, VGi is collaborating with RinggitPlus to give businesses an advertising boost at reduced rates with the VGi Special Package.

Total Media Value
VGi Special Package Rates
Package 1 :
VGiVM
–
39 Buildings (110 units)
–
24 times per hour / 336 times per day
VGiT
–
7 Underground Stations (62 Screens)
–
Min 108 spots per day (alternate loop)
RM42,000
RM30,000
Package 2 :
VGiVM
–
39 Buildings (110 units)
–
24 times per hour / 336 times per day
VGiT
–
7 Underground Stations (62 Screens)
–
Min 108 spots per day (alternate loop)
RM84,000
RM50,000
VGi Special Package Rates for Digital Screen Advertising at MRT Stations

So, if you’re ready to take the next big step for your business and are looking to explore OOH solutions, reach out to VGi here.

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The Difficulties in Obtaining Business Financing

Running a business is both a challenging and exhilarating experience, and one of the more challenging parts is managing the finances of the company to keep it growing smoothly. Whether you are a startup or a few years into the game, there will come a point where you may need more funding or financing to expand to bigger and better things. In simpler terms, funding/financing is a loan from another party to you, and usually, this other party is a licensed moneylender or financial institution (i.e. banks).

If you have been through the process of trying to get the first credit facility for your business, you know how frustrating it can be. If you haven’t been through the process, there are a few requirements that most financial institutions put in place that may be tough to fulfil on your end.

Years in Operation of Business

Believe it or not, if your business has only been running for less than three years, you are out of luck to secure financing with most major banks because they usually require you to be in business for at least 36 months before your application. This means that if you are a young startup or a new sole proprietor, you will need to find other ways to fund your business needs until that requirement is met. This requirement is often the biggest pain point for a lot of smaller SME businesses.

Documents and More Documents

The fact that banks have a few pages worth of a document checklist for SME funding applications is a testament to the mountains of documentation that is needed to qualify for financing. Among these documents include the NRICs of every director, owner, and guarantor, alongside the company profile, financial information (including audited accounts), bank statements, supplier lists, contract letters, and many more pages of information regarding the company.

This on its own can be a turn-off, because gathering these documents may take a couple of months on its own. Not only that, you often have to find hard copies (which means thick files and folders worth of documents) to the bank for submission and verification. This can be especially difficult for smaller companies that are already stretched due to a lack of resources.

The Need for Collateral

As SMEs still require large sums of money for funding, most banks will require collateral for the application to be approved. For small-scale financing such as personal loans, the collateral may be in the form of a guarantor, but for larger-scale financing for business purposes, some financial institutions may require you to put up equipment and real estate as collateral. This might be a roadblock for some SMEs as not every SME has the capacity to provide collateral, which cuts these SMEs off from financing to grow. As unfair as this sounds, it unfortunately is just how things are, as financial institutions would want to manage their risk.

Is There a Less Stressful Alternative?

With the rise of peer-to-peer financing as an alternative to traditional financing via financial institutions, SMEs now have a greater chance of obtaining funds to expand. Funding Societies is one such peer-to-peer financing platform and is registered with the Securities Commission which oversees the P2P industry in Malaysia. It is currently offering SME financing for up to RM100,000 to those who fulfil the

criteria below:

Company must be six months old and above, as well as registered with SSM

No collateral is required

Documentation requested is limited to copies of all Directors’ NRICs as well as 6-month bank statements

Willing to pay minimal fees – 5% origination fee and 5% retention sum (the retention sum shall be refunded to you upon settlement of financing) based on the quantum of financing

Agreeable to transparent pricing of 1.5% per month

In addition to the above, you get a tenure of up to 18 months, and on top of that, you can get your application approved in as little as three working days. Here is a simple table comparing the application process at conventional banking institutions vs Funding Societies:

Conventional Banks

Funding Societies

Companies need to be over 36 months old

Companies

need to be more than 6 months old

Collateral required

No collateral required

Lengthy approval process

Fast approval – 3 working days

Lots of documentation required

Minimal documentation required

Require hard copies submitted to

the branch

100% online application, no commuting required

Conclusion

Getting financing for your SME business can be tough, especially if

your business is a young one without much collateral to be provided. That doesn’t mean you have no hope though; as we have mentioned above, you can always apply for financing with Funding Societies without needing to go through many of the pains of typical SME funding applications.

To learn more, please visit the

Funding Societies website
.

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How to Throw a Party on a Budget

So you want to throw a party. But here’s the tricky part: your wallet is flatter than state-of-the-art smartphones and you don’t want to be dipping into financial reserves for such frivolity.

Many people would advise you to go without – have a nice meal and enjoy the quiet of your own company. Why do that when you can have your friends over for a fun gathering without going broke?

Let us show you how.

Use Facebook Event Invites

Don’t send texts, call phones or go the old-fashioned route of printing invite cards because all these methods cost money, albeit at different rates.

Facebook invites only need an FB account and internet connection (hey, use the one at the office – but you didn’t hear that from us) and you can add as many people in the invite list as you like. What makes it even more handy is that you only need to type the info once and away it goes to all your invitees.

Facebook event invites also allow you to get a good tally of how many people will be attending your do’ without you having to check up individually on each of them.

Skip the Big Mealtimes

Usually, personal finance sites (and we have in the past too) will suggest a potluck but depending on your guests to keep you all full can get messy and people who cannot cook (or are equally as broke) may end up foregoing your party.

Take the pressure off everyone by skipping the big mealtimes when planning your party time. This means saving tonnes of cash. Instead of a lunch gathering or dinner party – how about a tea party or supper get-together?

Buying snacks and finger food shouldn’t cost much and you still get to have everyone over, catch up and have a good time. The burden of paying for pot-luck food is also off your guests who now only have to worry about feeding themselves before they arrive at your party. Treat it as a cocktail party – those can look pretty good when done right.

Make it BYOB

Living in multi-cultural Malaysia may mean that your friends’ list will consist of people from all backgrounds. Some may drink alcohol and some may not.

Alcohol takes up a huge chunk of a party budget and can make some guests who don’t drink uncomfortable. That said, some party-goers may practically expect free alcohol to be provided.

The best way to save your wallet and keep most happy is to implement the Bring Your Own Beer kind of get-together. Those who do drink are welcome to bring their own stash for the night.

Keeping the Cleaning Bill Down

The final thing that will cost you at the end of a party is the big cleaning bill that may come after it. There are a few ways to keep cleaning to a minimal so you can do it yourself in a flash instead of calling the cleaners the next day.

1)
Cordon off particular areas of the house
. The less access your guests have to the rest of the house; the less you will have to clean. Lock bedroom doors and if possible, designate a party area that ensures any wayward guest can’t cause much mess to other parts of the house, such as the pool area of your condo (if you live in a high rise) or the patio of your landed property.

2)
Get creative about the crockery
. Thankfully, you are only serving bites. This should mean less plates and other utensils to wash. Where possible, create a cocktail like setting where communal food areas have just one dish of finger food.

3)
Schedule your party before ‘cleaning day’
. If you are in the habit of periodically calling a cleaner to do the needful; plan your party the day before your help is due to arrive. You may feel antsy about having guests over in a house that isn’t 100% spick and span but it’s a lot easier to do some light vacuuming and mopping before the party than it is to clean after the party. Since you are having a cleaning service come over anyway – it’s no extra cost to you.

Do you have your own tips for having a get-together on a budget? Let us know in the comments.

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Maybank Warns Of Scammers Impersonating Maybank Officials With Fake Business Cards

Maybank had raised an alert on scammers who are impersonating its officials with fake business cards from the bank. The scammers, who seek to sell loan products, will provide potential victims with authentic-looking name cards to gain their trust.

According to Maybank, the scammers may then request for a deposit of funds as a “payment fee” to secure the loan/financing applications. This is, of course, not standard practice and should be a huge red flag, but nevertheless, the seemingly authentic name cards could sway some people into falling for the scam.

In
its Facebook post
, Maybank reminded its customers to always verify the contact details that are printed on the cards, and to cross-check the numbers provided on Maybank’s official website. It also emphasised that Maybank officials will never use personal emails in their business cards (such as those ending with
.gmail.com
 in the example above), or request for fee payments to secure any form of financing.

This isn’t the only scam tactic used to lure potential victims. An ongoing cyber scam attempts to lure unsuspecting Maybank2u users to log in to another website that is visually similar, but captures their login details instead.

Bahaya Ada scammer bank sekarang
#mayabank2u
.cc cc
@MyMaybank

@SKMM_MCMC

@PDRMsia

pic.twitter.com/8ErO3Rouab

— morpheuse (@morpheuse)
September 23, 2020

Maybank customers should immediately contact the bank at 1300-88-66-88 or visit the nearest branch to clarify matters if they are ever in doubt of the authenticity of any matters. Meanwhile, those who suspect that their online banking login details have been compromised should quickly change their passwords and make a report to the bank via the fraud hotline at 03-58914744.

From the ever-present
TAC scams
 to various
scams targeting the elderly
, stay extra alert and stay informed to avoid falling a victim!

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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ManuEZ-Med Offers Complete Medical Coverage For Up To Age 99

There are moments in life, where it’s about the journey, not the destination. Whether it’s building a family or paving your own path in the world – the importance of having medical insurance grows as well. The reason being that medical insurance can provide you with a financial safety net that helps you prepare for the unexpected, keeping you and your family supported in times of need.

Besides that, with the rising costs of healthcare in Malaysia along with the
average medical inflation rate of 15%
 over the last 3 years, an unfortunate medical emergency can cost you a sizable sum of money, which further emphasises on the importance of having medical insurance.

When it comes to choosing medical insurance that is suitable for you – while affordability is one of the many aspects to consider, it is also important to look into the
coverage offered
, especially when it comes to both
in-patient and out-patient benefits
.

In-Patient & Out-Patient Benefits: What’s The Difference?

In-patient benefits include medical treatment and surgical fees when hospitalised, while out-patient benefits cover medical treatment and surgical fees in the out-patient department or emergency room (treatments that don’t require hospitalisation). Out-patient benefits may also include follow-up treatments for
cancer
 and
kidney failure
 as well, both of which are among the
most diagnosed critical illnesses
 in Malaysians.

Medical insurance typically provides in-patient coverage, but depending on the insurers, their out-patient coverage may apply only for specified conditions or illnesses.

Manulife’s
 ManuEZ-Med
 is one such medical insurance which you can purchase online in just 5 minutes. Offering complete medical coverage that includes both in-patient and out-patient benefits, here’s how you can benefit from ManuEZ-Med.

Enjoy High Annual Limit Of Up To RM250,000

With no medical check-up needed, ManuEZ-Med is a regular premium medical plan with coverage of up to 99 years with an affordable premium from as low as RM2 a day.

ManuEZ-Med includes two plans for you to choose from, Platinum and Gold that comes with an annual limit of RM250,000 and RM150,000, as well as lifetime limit of RM2,500,000 and RM1,500,000 respectively. With a high annual limit, you are well covered against the rising medical expenses in the future and you won’t have to worry about dipping into your life’s savings to pay off your medical fees.

Both Platinum and Gold plans include pre-hospitalisation and post-hospitalisation benefits as well as surgical and anaesthetist benefits, ambulance fee, and more.

ManuEZ-Med Offers Out-patient Benefits for Cancer, Kidney Dialysis & Dengue

When one is diagnosed with cancer or kidney failure, they may require both in-patient and extensive out-patient treatments depending on the severity of their illness, which may call for months or years of treatments to fully recover. ManuEZ-Med does not only offer coverage that supports you during your treatment but also throughout your journey towards recovery.

For example, ManuEZ-Med provides medical coverage for a patient suffering from breast cancer. She would need in-patient treatments or surgery to stabilise her condition. Once discharged from the hospital, she would also require out-patient cancer treatments such as radiotherapy which could cost up to RM4,800 a session or chemotherapy, up to RM4,000 a cycle. The total treatment cost could amount to RM395,000 – all of which will be covered under ManuEZ-Med.

Additionally, ManuEZ-Med also provides out-patient coverage for dengue fever, which is not covered by most insurers out there. Dengue fever has also recently been on the rise in Malaysia over the last two years, with a
 60% increase from 2018 as well as 182 deaths in 2019
.

Other out-patient treatment benefits include Day Surgery with 90 days of follow-up treatment, Emergency Accidental Injury Benefit of up to RM1,000 per injury, Emergency Assistance Services, and International Emergency Medical Evacuation.

Get To Your 100% Recovery With Unlimited Hospital Stay

With a Daily Hospital Room & Board of RM250 and RM150 for Platinum and Gold plans respectively, ManuEZ-Med insurance policyholders can also enjoy no limit on the number of days for Daily Hospital Room & Board and Hospital Intensive Care benefits, allowing patients to stay for as long as they require to fully recover to their best condition.

Available for those aged 17-45 years old, Manulife’s ManuEZ-Med offers comprehensive in-patient and out-patient medical coverage at an affordable premium. You can also consider purchasing a ManuEZ-Med plan for your loved ones.  As a policyholder of ManuEZ-Med, you will also be entitled for Manulife’s COVID-19 Special Financial Assistance Programme.

So, whether you’re going for the Platinum or Gold plan, you can easily apply for your preferred ManuEZ-Med plan online without the need for a medical check-up! You can also easily inquire for a

free quotation
 by simply keying in your details on the website. For more information on ManuEZ-Med, head to their

website here
.

Terms and conditions apply.

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Copywriter. Katrina is fueled by a need to turn a confusing wall of text into something comprehensible, and drip coffee.

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Budgeting Tips for the Perfect Holiday Season

It’s the final month of 2014 and December usually means a time of holidays, festivities and fun. Christmas will be celebrated, school holidays spent on vacation and the New Year ushered in by partying or gathering with family. However you choose to spend your December; one thing is for sure; you’re probably going to be spending a lot more money at this time.

If you’ve already planned a holiday budget, good going! But if you haven’t, it is necessary to make a separate budget from your usual month-to-month commitment list as spending is sure to take a steep curve. If you’re in the midst of making your holiday budget, consider these top tips to making one that works like a charm no matter what you have planned to end 2014.

1. Make a Full List of Money Commitments

When making budget for anything, it pays to be inclusive. Making a full list of everything that you need to spend on will alleviate the problem of finding out that you didn’t have enough for everything you planned in the first place. Making the list means recording even the smallest spend – such as sunscreen and sandcastle pails for your toddler or small Christmas gifts for your neighbour’s child. Even if you feel you’ve added too much to the list, you can always cut this down later. You’ll also know what items you have money for and which you don’t.

2. Do Your Research

Once you know what you need to spend on; you can now take some time to research where to get it for the best price. Having an estimate price means having more realistic budget figures that you don’t end up over-shooting in the first place. For instance, flight prices to your preferred holiday destination may be X amount a month ago but December usually means higher prices so using the same estimate won’t really work.

Doing research will also help you find out about deals that may be offered at the last minute. Sites like
Groupon
 may offer deals on everything from hotel stays to Christmas dinners whilst sites like
Big Sale
 and
Deals Malaysia
 will have a slew of offer advertisements to keep you clued in to what’s on sale or promotion.

Your credit card may also be able to offer you unrivalled shopping perks on normal priced items. Check out the little booklet included with your monthly bill, contact your bank or check out
our promotions’ page
, which keeps you updated on the best card promotions.

3. Be Realistic

Part of the reason for doing research is so you know how realistic the sums in your budget are. Don’t expect an almond for the price of a sunflower seed. But you’ll only know the difference in price if you actually took the time to research.

December really does make a lot of things more expensive and many a time, store promotions are in place simply to make you spend more so don’t fall into the trap of going in without knowing what you’re up against.

4. Don’t Wait Till the Eleventh Hour

Doing your research may take some time but do your best not to take too long before buying items or making restaurant and hotel bookings. Last minute plans, especially during the Christmas season can make prices sky-rocket higher than the Lazarus Missions in
Interstellar
. Once you’ve made your decisions, lock down your buys before the buying frenzy grips.

Besides the high last minute prices, you also run the risk of allowing last minute stress to affect your buying decisions. The panic may cause you to buy much more than you initially intended at prices much higher than budgeted.

5. Follow the List

There is little point in making a budget and shopping list if you don’t follow it. Stick to your budget if you really want it to reap it’s rewards. Take your list with you whenever you go out shopping or open the laptop to make bookings. As such, it helps to put it down in a portable device like your smartphone or tablet. If you’re old school, you can always write it down in your 555 notebook. The point is to make it accessible to you no matter where you go.

6. Your List is a Work in Progress

Like with anything in life, budgets can be pretty fluid. Don’t be afraid to continuously improvise and do the necessary to make your budget reflect real life as much as possible. If you’ve bought or booked something more expensive than anticipated; make sure you rework the budget to take into consideration this increase so you’re not rudely awakened by your balance at the end of the month.

Making a budget doesn’t have to put a damper on your holiday cheer. In fact, if you plan right, you’ll find yourself enjoying the time a lot more than if you were constantly worrying about your credit card bill.

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Here Are The Official Prices Of The iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR In Malaysia

After its global announcement last month, Apple has officially unveiled the retail prices of the new iPhone models for the Malaysian market. They’re not yet available to purchase, but maybe it’s a good thing Apple is announcing the prices early – they will not be affordable.

This year, Apple announced three new iPhone models: the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. While the iPhone XS and XS Max are successors to the iPhone X, the iPhone XR is the “affordable” model, with a similar design and hardware, but with a choice of colours that would appeal to a younger crowd.

At the heart of all three models is Apple’s next-generation A12 Bionic processor, an industry-leading chipset that’s been reported to be as fast as processors from desktop computers. iPhones generally have a much longer lifespan than most Android phones not just because of the software support that can go up to three years, but it’s mainly because of the efficiency of its processors.

Following the design of the iPhone X, this year’s models all no longer sport the iconic home button, with Apple going all in on the bezel-free notched display that has been copied many times over by Android smartphone companies this year. It relies purely on a new gesture-based navigation that may take some getting used to, but feels fluid and intuitive.

Other hardware aspects of the new iPhones have been bumped too, with the XS and XS Max models both packing more memory and larger batteries than before. The most obvious change is in storage space, with Apple offering up to 512GB of internal storage.

But, as with everything new and shiny, the new iPhones also carry quite hefty price tags. Here are the official retail prices for the new iPhones in Malaysia:

iPhone XS 64GB: RM4,999

iPhone XS 256GB: RM5,699

iPhone XS 512GB: RM6,649

iPhone XS Max 64GB: RM5,399

iPhone XS Max 256GB: RM6,099

iPhone XS Max 512GB: RM7,049

iPhone XR 64GB: RM3,599

iPhone XR 256GB: RM3,849

iPhone XR 512GB: RM4,299

As mentioned earlier, the new iPhones are not yet available for purchase at the moment. Apple Malaysia’s website does reveal that they will be available for pre-order from 19 October at 3:01pm.

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Pang Tun Yau

Pang Tun Yau

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

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Lazada Introduces QR Payment Option For COD Orders

(Image: Channel News Asia)

E-commerce platform Lazada has rolled out a new QR payment option for customers who make cash on delivery (COD) orders, with the funds being deducted directly from their Lazada Wallet balance.

With this, customers who opt for the COD payment method will be able to pay for their purchases at the time of delivery by producing a QR payment code on their Lazada app, which can then be scanned by the delivery rider. The amount will then be deducted from their Lazada Wallet.

This new payment alternative is an addition to two other payment methods that you can also opt for when you make COD orders: cash and
DuitNow QR payment on delivery
. To clarify, the DuitNow QR payment method differs from this new QR payment option in that it requires you to scan a DuitNow QR code that will be
presented to you
 upon receiving your deliveries, with the funds being drawn from your preferred DuitNow account (instead of your Lazada Wallet).

If you’d like to check out Lazada’s new QR payment code option, it can be accessed from your Lazada Wallet page in the app; tap on the QR Payment tile to begin utilising it. First-time users will be required to verify their identities by entering an SMS code, after which they will have continuous access to their payment code.

Lazada also stressed that you must ensure that there is sufficient fund in your Lazada Wallet for successful payments. Alternatively, you can enable the auto-top up function to avoid any payment failures. Discount vouchers that are valid for your COD purchase will also be applied directly after your QR payment code has been scanned by the delivery rider.

Finally, do be aware that this new payment method is currently available only for deliveries that are made by Lazada Express (LEX). Other logistics partners that Lazada also employs include PosLaju, Ninja Van, and GDEX.

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Store-bought Food Items That Are Cheaper To Make At Home

Yes, we
know
 making our own food is cheaper and healthier. But supermarkets exist for a reason. We don’t mind paying money for food we don’t have the time or skill to make ourselves. The cost of learning to prepare something and the work it takes to put it together is well worth parting with our money for.

However, suppose there are some food items we buy on a weekly basis that are actually really easy and quick to make? And the ingredients for which cost only a fraction of the price? In that case, it really would be a waste to not make our own. Allow us to be the pesky auntie and tell you about the following food items you can make at home for cheap.

Hummus

Store Price: RM9 – RM15

Homemade Cost: RM3

This versatile spread can be used in sandwiches, as a dip for chips, or eaten with cut up vegetables for a healthy snack. The only
ingredients you need
 are chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic. Even though the tahini might seem expensive when you buy it the first time, one small can makes about 12 or so plates of hummus. That’s plenty of bang for your buck.

Banana Ice-Cream

Store Price: RM15 – RM20

Homemade Cost: RM5

Homemade ice-cream is such a pain to make. You have to churn it, freeze it, and whisk things up. And that’s if you even have an ice-cream maker. Thankfully,
this recipe
 for banana ice-cream only requires you to blitz up frozen bananas, and.. that’s it. That’s really all there is to it. Bananas’ high pectin content means it develops a velvety soft-serve texture when prepared this way without any additional anythings. Surprisingly easy, and healthy too.

Peanut Butter

Store Price: RM12 – RM15

Homemade Cost: RM5

Whether you like it chunky or smooth, this breakfast spread (and sometimes baking ingredient) is as tasty as it is handy to have in the kitchen. Too bad it often has unhealthy hydrogenated oils and can be too sweet or too oily. No need to worry about that if you
make your own
, though. You can control how smooth or shunky you want it and it costs a lot less. It’s also not at all difficult to make. If you can fry an egg and push a button on a food processor, you’re good to go.

Chicken or Beef Stock

Store Price: RM3 – RM5

Homemade Cost: Free if you using leftovers or bones from meat you cooked with

Why would you want to make stock? Stock can be used as a base for soups, stews, marinades, and you can make chicken rice with it. Homemade ones are also not as high in salt and
can be way more flavourful
. Just collect uneaten or unused bones from your other cooking adventures and freeze them. Boil the whole lot at the end of the week and you have stock ready for the week ahead.

Thai Chilli Sauce

Store Price: RM5 – RM7

Homemade Cost: RM2

This kitchen staple can turn boring french fries exciting again, wake up bland leftovers, and make dull sandwiches more interesting. Also, it’s so easy and cheap to make, it’s almost a rip-off to sell them in supermarkets. The
recipes
 out there may call for specific types of chillies, ginger or even fish sauce, but as long as you have the basics (chillies, garlic, and vinegar) your end product should already be better than the bottled stuff. And just like the other recipes, the only skills you need to make this sauce is ‘ingredient purchasing’ and ‘blender having’.

Mustard

Store Price: RM7 – RM14

Homemade Price: RM3

Mustard isn’t much used in the local cuisine, but don’t be scared, it’s super simple to make. The ingredients cost next to nothing, too. This
recipe
 calls for two kinds of mustard seeds but one works fine. Mustard can be used much like our friend the thai chilli sauce above, but with the added bonus of leaning towards the savoury side. This spicy and aromatic condiment can be spread it in sandwiches, accompany your fried goodies as dip, or used as one of the main players in this
4-ingredient chicken dish
.

So there you have it. Six different food items that can be made for much cheaper than you can buy them in stores. Making them takes almost no time out of your day, too. Have you found other easy-to-make foodstuffs that’s also cheaper when homemade? Do share them with us. Let us know in the comments section below!

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Ahmad Mudhakkir

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Malaysia’s First Insurance Core System To Be Hosted On Public Cloud

With technology advancing at its rapid pace, digital transformation has become a priority for many organisations, regardless of industry. Digital transformation is the process of using digital technologies to revolutionise existing, as well as non-digital business processes and services to create new ones in order to meet the market’s evolving needs.

Many businesses seek digital transformation for a number of reasons. Among them, having access to more in-depth data may equate to understanding customer insights better and, thus, having the ability to create a strategy that connects with them better. On top of that, there is also room for cost reduction as a result of time savings in operational processes.

Strategic partnerships may also be a strategy to employ when undergoing a digital transformation, as it allows different businesses to leverage and learn from each other in order to better meet any challenges the future may hold.

Tune Protect, Huawei Malaysia & TM Partner Up To Shift Existing GIS

In March, Tune Protect, Huawei Malaysia, and TM announced an exciting new collaboration to re-platform Tune Protect’s existing General Insurance System (GIS) on Cloud via Huawei Malaysia and TM’s Cloud infrastructure, Cloud Alpha Edge. This significant shift signifies that Tune Protect is the first insurer in Malaysia to host its core insurance system on Cloud.

As part of the Cloud First strategy, the core system includes a collection of SAP HANA and SAP apps that will be comprehensively housed in TM Cloud Alpha Edge with full landing dependability and confidence.

According to Muhammad Ghadaffi Bin Mohd Tairobi, TM ONE’s Vertical Director of Banking & Finance Sales, “Being a customer-centric organisation, TM has an interest in accelerating the customer’s digital transformation journey; not limited to just cloud adoption, but also extending to providing Digital Services, driving customer product innovations, speed-to-market, and offering the best experience to the clients through an innovative solution.”

Tune Protect, on the other hand, always had Cloud as the centrepiece of the digital transformation. Prasanta Roy, Group Chief Technology Officer of Tune Protect

shares that having the SAP insurance core platform on Cloud helps to fast-track innovation in their products and services, achieve speed-to-market, and provide differentiation in service to their customers. “Being the first insurer is a mere coincidence, but we are definitely on the right track to set up the right foundation for technology transformation,” he adds.

Cloud Alpha Edge: The Only Malaysian-owned Hyperscaler Public Cloud

Besides being a product of two large scale companies, Cloud Alpha Edge has an array of unique distinctions to its name. To date, it is the only Malaysian-owned Hyperscaler Public Cloud that actively advocates data sovereignty.

TM is also the only local player with its own core data centre and cloud infrastructure, as well as complete data residency, location, and sovereignty. This infrastructure is strengthened by a partnership with Huawei Malaysia through Cloud, AI, and advanced cybersecurity processes and technologies, putting it on pace to become the only Malaysian-owned end-to-end Cloud AI infrastructure service provider.

Personal Data Kept Secure And Locally

With the rise of Insurtechs across the globe it is quite evident that insurers will partner with various players in this space to bring in differentiation. Taking a closer look on data privacy, data residency and PDPA has to be taken into account. Tune Protect’s risk, governance/compliance and technology team worked together on all these aspects carefully while considering various public and private cloud options available within and outside of Malaysia. TM Cloud alpha Edge came closest to meeting this need as the cloud data centres are based in Malaysia and customers are assured that their data remain preserved with the highest data sovereignty and confidentiality, as shared by Prasanta.

This also implies that data on the Cloud is stored in Malaysia rather than overseas, addressing the issue of data sovereignty. “They (Huawei Malaysia and TM) are the right partner for Tune Protect based on all the considerations such as availability zones, SAP partnership with TM, and support availability around SAP from Cloud service provider,” explained Prasanta.

Created For Users To Enjoy An Overall Better Experience

The working together between Tune Protect, Huawei Cloud, and TM seek to improve a number of things. For one, Tune Protect looks to support improvements in the area of speed-to-market, leveraging the agility and scalability of cloud services whilst also accommodating to the spike and decline of the market. In addition to that, enhanced customer experiences are also something they look forward to through improved IT productivity and a seamless user experience.

“As technology progresses and customers demand for more personalisation, it is the right time for us to build the new SAP core system on Cloud to collaborate with other ecosystem partners to deliver a personalised experience for our customers in terms of product and claims,” continues Prasanta.

Upskilling Employees For Future Demands

Not only will this partnership benefit existing and future users of Tune Protect, but the re-platforming also benefits company employees. With the presence of Cloud services like “racking and stacking” which can be completed by the Huawei or TM team, this would free up the time of their internal technology team.

It’s only realistic for this transition to face its own set of unique challenges, such as converting the legacy on-premises software to Cloud-native. In preparation for any transitional friction the team may face, Tune Protect has lined up a mitigation plan that includes various Cloud certifications, online training, and on-the-job training for the respective team members to ensure a smooth and seamless process.

Prasanta also shared that the Infrastructure and Security teams will be upskilled, so they are able to manage hybrid data centres, consisting of both on-premise and Cloud.

A Brighter Prospect For Malaysians & The BFSI Industry

Migrating the critical systems to Cloud where on-premise hardware is nearing expiry would be next for Tune Protect, he adds. Consumers can look forward to new services such as health tech and other innovative solutions from Cloud that would enhance customer-centricity and experience as they aspire to grow more digital partnerships in the near future, in alignment with the overall Group’s business trajectory.

Huawei Malaysia believes that this collaboration is a strategic move that encourages data sovereignty in Malaysia, especially as no other public cloud service providers currently offer this, as mentioned by Lim Chee Siong, Vice President of the Cloud Business Unit at Huawei Malaysia. It marks a major breakthrough in FSI digitisation in Malaysia and Huawei Cloud also hopes they are able to help accelerate digital transformation in banks and insurance companies across the country.

***

Watch the exclusive interview
 with Roy Prasanta, the Group Chief Technology Officer of Tune Protect, and Billy Moo, the Senior Solution Architect of Huawei Cloud Malaysia, where we discuss what it means to be the first insurance core system hosted on Malaysia’s public cloud.

What Does The First Cloud-Based Insurance In Malaysia Look Like?
Strategic partnerships can prove to be extremely valuable when undergoing digital transformation. In this exclusive interview, we discuss the exciting collaboration between Tune Protect, Huawei Cloud Malaysia, and TM with Roy Prasanta, the Group Chief Technology Officer of Tune Protect, and Billy Moo, the Senior Solution Architect of Huawei Cloud Malaysia.

Join us as we talk about what it means to be the first insurance core system hosted on Malaysia's public cloud.
Posted by
RinggitPlus
 on Tuesday, June 14, 2022

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Hong Leong Launches Cashless Campaign For Traders, Starts With Penang Public Markets

(Image: The Sun Daily)

In a bid to encourage more traders to adopt cashless and contactless payment methods for the convenience of their customers, Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has launched the Cashless Lagi Senang campaign.

The campaign will begin with the recruitment of traders from 20 public markets in Penang over the next three months. This is carried out in conjunction with the Cashless Pasar Awam initiative by the Penang state government, which seeks to implement
cashless payments at all local public markets
 and increase the use of digital payments in Penang.

For a start, HLB will adopt five public markets, namely the Kampung Baru, Kepala Batas, Air Itam, Pulau Tikus, and Bagan Ajam markets. The traders will receive a mobile all-in-one point-of-sales (POS) terminal that lets them accept all forms of cashless and contactless payments. These include debit and credit cards, as well as e-wallets such as Boost, GrabPay, TNG eWallet, Alipay, WeChat Pay, and Samsung Pay.

(Image: Bernama)

“With this all-in-one POS terminal, traders not only benefit from eliminating the need to have multiple physical QR codes to accept payments but also eliminates having to hold large amounts of cash and the hassle of making cash deposits at the bank with the automatic settlement and daily transaction reporting features,” said the bank in a statement.

Furthermore, HLB is also waiving the monthly POS terminal rental fee, set-up fee, security deposit, and the merchant discount rate for the traders to adopt the bank’s digital payment solutions. The offer is valid until 31 December 2020. Traders using HLB’s digital payment solutions will also become the bank’s customers, with access to a full range of financial products and services, digital solutions, loans and financing, as well as mentorship facilities beyond the topics of banking.

(Image: The Sun Daily)

“Adjusting to the new normal can be challenging, especially when one lacks the resources and know-how. As a bank and financial service provider with a digital-at-the-core strategy, we are committed to support the traders to smoothly adapt to this with simple, seamless and safe digital solutions that are easy for them to adapt and use,” said the group managing director and chief executive officer of HLB, Domenic Fuda.

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Economist: Government Needs To Provide More Aid To The Public

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

Economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid has called for government efforts to enhance economic recovery and to provide more aid to the regular working people, as well as those from the B40 and M40 income groups amidst the current challenging situation. This is in addition to offering higher wage subsidies, despite the country’s rising debt level that is close to breaching the 60% statutory limit.

Muhammad Khalid, who hails from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said that there is still financial room for Malaysia to channel more aid to the people, and that the country should consider raising funds locally due to lower interest rates. “Take the economic crisis of 1986, for example, the national debt level was over 100% and in less than 10 years, the country managed to strengthen its fiscal standing and recorded a surplus,” he said.

The economist further highlighted that the eight economic stimulus and aid programmes that have been announced thus far came up to only 6% of the national economy. The total budget of all the packages – with the latest being the
PEMULIH stimulus package
 – was worth RM530 billion.

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Ismail Che Rus)

“Of this RM530 billion, the government has only forked out RM83 billion, while RM120 billion is from the EPF, moratorium (RM210 billion), and the rest… if you compare with regional neighbours, Thailand spends more than Malaysia although the lockdown in this country is among the longest in this region,” said Muhammad Khalid.

As such, Muhammad Khalid opined that Malaysia could afford to give four times the wage subsidy that has been provided thus far, which can benefit 5.5 million workers. This is on top of monthly aids to those from the B40 and M40 groups.

Muhammad Khalid also highlighted that the country’s economy has yet to recover from the 5.6% contraction, and may be further dampened following a forecast of only 4% growth in 2021. In defining economic growth, he clarified that economic growth must take into account variables beyond just the gross domestic product (GDP) growth as GDP growth does not reflect the real economic situation. Case in point, the country’s poverty rate increased from 16% to 17% between 2016 to 2019 despite a recorded GDP growth.

(Image: Bloomberg)

According to Muhammad Khalid, one key variable that should be considered is the wage factor. He pointed out that recent data has shown that the
average wage level has gone down by 9% in 2020
 – the first decrease since this statistic was documented back in 2010. Specifically, after two consecutive years of the average wage being recorded at over RM3,000, it declined from RM3,224 in 2019 to RM2,933 in 2020. The numbers also showed that 9.8 million workers out of a workforce of 13 million people in the country received wages.

Finally, Muhammad Khalid highlighted that the number of Malaysians who lost their jobs had spiked by 41% in 2021 – which points to Malaysia’s risky economic standing. As such, more aid is required to hasten economic recovery, he said.

(Source:
The Edge Market
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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How To Apply For EPF i-Citra Withdrawal Facility

On 28 June 2021, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members would once more be allowed to make withdrawals from their EPF funds as the ongoing movement control order continues. The new
i-Citra programme
was revealed as part of the PEMULIH stimulus package and will allow EPF members to withdraw up to RM5,000 worth of funds from their account.

Here is more information on the new EPF i-Citra withdrawal facility based on the
FAQ
that has been released by EPF.

What is i-Citra?

i-Citra is the name of the facility that allows members of the EPF to withdraw up to RM5,000 worth of funds from their EPF account. Neither the prime minister nor the EPF’s FAQ page made reference to which account the funds would be withdrawn from. However, when asked, an EPF customer service representative stated that the i-Citra amount would be withdrawn from Account 2 first; if the funds in Account 2 are not sufficient, the balance will be withdrawn from Account 1.

Who can apply for i-Citra?

EPF members who are aged 55 years and below (including non-citizens and permanent residents) who have at least RM150 in balance in their EPF account upon application are eligible for i-Citra.

Are there any conditions for i-Citra?

There are no further conditions or requirements to prove financial difficulties imposed under the i-Citra programme. As long as you fulfil the eligibility criteria above, you can apply for a withdrawal via i-Citra.

How much can you withdraw through i-Citra?

You may withdraw up to a maximum of RM5,000 under the i-Citra programme – as long as you leave a balance of at least RM100 in your Account 1. The amount you can withdraw is based on your total funds on the date that your application is processed, minus any pending i-Sinar payments.

How will the i-Citra payments be made?

Payments will be made monthly for up to five months. The payment amount is set at RM1,000 a month or depending on your account balance. The minimum payment amount is RM50.

When do i-Citra applications open?

Applications start on 15 July 2021 and will remain open until 30 September 2021.

How can I apply for i-Citra?

i-Citra applications will be done wholly online through the
icitra.kwsp.gov.my
 portal. You will be able to access this portal when applications open on 15 July.

Will I be able to apply for i-Citra if I have made i-Lestari and i-Sinar withdrawals?

(Image: The Star/Raja Faisal Hishan)

Yes, subject to the i-Citra eligibility criteria mentioned above.

When will the i-Citra withdrawals be paid out?

Payments for applications made in July are expected to be paid out starting in August 2021.

Can funds in my Akaun Emas be withdrawn via i-Citra?

No. Funds in Akaun Emas consist of contributions made by those who continue working after the age of 55, to be withdrawn at age 60. Only those aged 55 and below can use i-Citra.

How can I get further information or make enquiries?

You can visit the EPF website and make use of the chat system ELYA, get in touch via the EPF’s official social media channels, or call the i-Citra hotline at 03-8922 4848.

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4 Useful Websites For Higher Education Research And University Applications

Tertiary education is a significant investment for both parents and prospective students. Education fees can go up to the seven-figure sum in Ringgit, while students may spend up to seven years studying for a degree. As such, like with any investment, careful research is a must.

While there is plenty of information regarding courses and institutions available online, this material is scattered all over the Internet. This spread of information makes it hard for both parents and prospective students to draw direct comparisons between institutions.

Fortunately, there are several websites dedicated to assisting readers in searching for the right course and institution of higher learning. Here are five of the best.

EasyUni

First launched in 2011, EasyUni has been connecting parents and prospective students with over 3,000 universities and colleges from over 20 countries. The higher education portal enables parents and future students to collect information and apply for courses from both local and international universities, without the need to visit each university’s respective website.

Aside from its easy application process, EasyUni also offers students partial scholarships of up to 30% for applying to selected courses through their online portal. It should be noted that the scholarship only covers tuition fees and that all payments will be made directly to the students’ chosen universities.

EduAdvisor

EduAdvisor is a tertiary education course comparison site that aims to help customers make an informed decision. EduAdvisor allows you to easily judge between the various available institutions through its course-specific university comparison table. It is a useful tool as you can compare the estimated fees, entry requirements, intakes, and course duration of the institutions side-by-side.

Besides that, EduAdvisor provides free online personal counseling services and career quizzes to help students gauge their strengths and weaknesses. It is convenient as parents and students do not have to go to an education fair for these services, and instead access them instantly at home.

Afterschool

We continue down our list of websites with Afterschool.my. Like EduAdvisor, Afterschool allows users to compare and apply for courses offered by local universities. That said, Afterschool provides more options to the user than EduAdvisor by including local public universities in their list of collaborating institutions.

Another unique feature of Afterschool is that users can apply for scholarships offered by companies and government agencies directly via their scholarship section. The scholarship section features a list of scholarships available and their respective submission deadlines. This feature allows the users to compare and apply to scholarships without the need to visit various individual websites.

Study Malaysia

We conclude our list of helpful websites for university hunting with Study Malaysia. Study Malaysia was launched in 1998 by the Ministry of Education as a comprehensive guide to all learning institutions in Malaysia. These institutions include polytechnic, international, and technical and vocational schools.

The government’s higher education site also provides users with tips on university applications, career guides and education news updates. Like Afterschool, Study Malaysia has a dedicated page on scholarships and education loans available for further studies in Malaysia and abroad.

Preparation Is Key

With over 200 institutions of higher learning in Malaysia alone, searching and applying for college or university can be a challenge. Still, it is important to do the necessary research as tertiary education is a noteworthy investment for personal development. As such, you should really make use of these websites to find the courses and universities that suit your needs and strengths. With that, we wish the future students out there all the best in their next phase of education.

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Get RM500 + RM30 in your Boost App When You Apply For A Citi Credit Card Today!

What can you do with RM530 in Boost App? As one of Malaysia’s most widely accepted e-wallets, you can use Boost for anything from paying for mineral water from a convenience store, topping up your phone’s prepaid credit, and even pay for your utility bills directly from the Boost app! Having money in your Boost e-wallet is as good as having cold, hard cash.

Want to get up to RM530 in your Boost App for free – together with a rewarding credit card – at one go? Read on to find out how.

Take advantage of this promotion and enjoy two benefits: RM500 + RM30 in your Boost app and a dependable credit card in your wallet. The Citi Cash Back Card is a reliable cashback card for every day of the week. It’s the only cashback card that gives outright cashback on Grab rides, and the other categories of petrol, groceries, and dining ensure you get cashback returns for your everyday expenses. Up to 10% cashback is a rewarding rate and the Gold variant in particular has a minimum monthly spend requirement that isn’t too difficult to reach.

Meanwhile, those who prefer rewards and promotions over cashback can opt for the Citi Clear Card instead. Buy one free one deals at both GSC and TGV as well as at Coffee Bean will save you a significant amount off your entertainment and coffee expenditure respectively. Moreover, this entry-level credit card doesn’t have a minimum spend requirement for its rewards, so you can even get it just as a handy standby card for your coffee runs or movie dates.

Find out more about the
Boost and Citibank promotion here
.

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LG's 1st Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier With Filter Subscription, From RM60/Month

Nowadays, if we were to step into a relative’s home kitchen, there’s a high chance that we’d find a water purifier comfortably sitting on a countertop. In recent years, water purifiers have become a common household appliance as it provides instant access to purified water, usually in hot, cold, or room temperatures.

If you’re in the market for a water purifier, meet LG’s first self-service tankless water purifier with filter subscription, the LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier.

Read on to learn more about the LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier and what it offers.

Enjoy Daily Convenience & Access To Clean, Purified Water

Designed with the new 4-Stage All Puri Filter System, the LG PuriCare™ water purifier is able to remove nine heavy metals including mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminium, copper, cadmium, manganese, iron, and zinc. So not only will you be provided clean, purified water that’s free from pollutants, you will also enjoy all-day access to cold, hot, and ambient water in an instant at all hours of the day.

You can also perform high-temperature automatic sterilisation whenever you please. With just a tap of a button, users are able to clean the internal stainless-steel pipes and outlet, therefore removing 99.99% of germs. The tankless design ensures that the risk of microorganism growth is eliminated. Plus, the stainless steel pipes are resistant to external factors that may cause contamination.

Do you know that you can also connect your LG PuriCare™ tankless water purifier to the LG ThinQ™ app via Wi-Fi? Once connected, you’ll be able to perform a variety of actions such as monitor your water consumption, read the sterilisation history, set a sterilisation time, change the default dispense setting, and control the volume levels of the voice guidance. The Voice Guidance provides step-by-step instruction for high-temperature sterilisation, filter replacement and functions setting.

Take Advantage of The LG PuriCare™’s Low Rental Cost in Malaysia

One of the benefits of purchasing the LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier is its flexible payment structure. Users are provided with a choice of purchasing it outright at RM3,200 with 2 years filter subscription or rental from as low as RM60/month with 7 years filter subscription.

There are pros to both buying outright and rental. In the long run, an outright purchase will save you some money. On the other hand, the low rental cost of RM60/month may only cause a minor dent on your monthly cash flow.

Time-Efficiency: Filter Subscription, Quick and Easy Replacement

With the filter subscription, users no longer need to worry about finding the ideal time to schedule for maintenance, which can get exceptionally challenging during busy periods. Not only that, having technicians enter one’s home causes stranger discomfort, especially for the elderly and children. Plus, unexpected rescheduling, delays, or cancellations can create tension and cause a disruption in one’s day.

LG PuriCare™’s filter subscription ensures users receive their filter replacements via doorstep delivery every six months. This takes away the need for making appointments with the service personnel. The knot design makes it easy to replace the filters yourself. All you need to do is twist and pull to replace the filter and you’re good to go.

***

As listed above, there are many benefits of owning the LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier. The filter subscription model makes it easy for just about anyone to replace the filters on their own in just a matter of minutes. The doorstep delivery of the filter allows users to replace them at their own convenience without having to wait on a technician, which may present a number of problems like difficulty in setting appointments.

It’s critical that you provide your family clean, purified water that’s free of contaminants. Drinking contaminated water may lead to a risk of being exposed to waterborne diseases, which may be costly to treat in the long run. The 4-Stage All Puri Filter System ensures that the purified water is free of 9 types of heavy metals and bacteria.  The innovative LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier also comes with the UV sterilisation feature, which automatically sterilises the inside of the water outlet once every hour or whenever one chooses.

Those interested in the LG PuriCare™ water purifier can choose from a selection of three colours: navy blue, silver, and white. Regardless of which colour best suits your kitchen’s aesthetic, the super slim design only measures a width of 17cm, which doesn’t take up much space on kitchen counters.

If you’re interested in the LG PuriCare™ Self-Service Tankless Water Purifier,
click here to learn more
.

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    Richard Lim

    11 months ago

only sale in westmalaysia

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(Updated) Stand A Chance To Get RM800 Shopee e-Voucher or Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming 3

The Unbox This Week credit card campaign is back with new exciting gifts from participating banks!

For those who are new to this campaign, Unbox This Week is a weekly event where we present to you fantastic weekly flash deals from our featured bank partners. All you need to do is apply for selected credit cards from these banks of the week through RinggitPlus and you’ll take home some great prizes.

For this week (30 May – 7 June 2022), our featured bank partners are

Citibank, HSBC Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Alliance Bank, and AmBank
. So, if you’ve considered applying for a credit card with any of these banks, you know what to do to get more out of your application!

(Updated)
Citibank –
RM800 Shopee e-Voucher

This weekend’s Citibank flash deal is now offering guaranteed RM800 Shopee e-Voucher when you apply, get approved, and spend with a Citibank Credit Card.

Get RM800 extra to pay your bills on Shopee, shop, and grab discount vouchers – it’s like you’re spending to save!

Remember to activate and spend a minimum of eight retail transactions on your new card within 60 days upon gaining approval. Once the bank has confirmed your eligibility with us, you’ll receive instructions from us via email on how you can claim your gift.

Take note, though, that current cardmembers and individuals who have cancelled their Citibank credit cards within a year prior to this campaign do not qualify for this promotion. Otherwise, those who wish to apply for their new Citi credit cards can
head on over here to do so
.

HSBC – Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3

Feeling lucky like an Irish elf? Why not try your luck in winning a brand new
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
when you apply for a credit card with HSBC? Made for gaming adventurers, the
IdeaPad Gaming 3
is equipped with AMD Ryzen™ 5000 H-Series Mobile Processors and the latest NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ GPUs to let you game and work at your maximum potential as an all-purpose computer.

Those who are not selected will still cruise off with a guaranteed
Lenovo Tab M10
, the perfect household sharing device that comes with a Kids Mode and face-recognition login.

Don’t forget to activate and spend a minimum of RM1,000 on your new card within 60 days upon gaining approval to be eligible for this gift. That said, do note that current cardholders and applicants who were denied within six months prior to this campaign, as well as those who have cancelled their HSBC credit cards within six months prior to this campaign are not eligible for our campaign. Otherwise, you can apply for your HSBC credit card
here
.

Standard Chartered Bank – PerySmith 4.2L 3D Air Fryer or URBANlite Trapez 24” 8-Wheel Spinner Hard Case Luggage

Standard Chartered is giving ALL approved applicants the option to choose a guaranteed gift of their liking! Pick the
PerySmith 4.2L 3D Air Fryer
 to complete your kitchen with an easy-to-use staple.

Otherwise, get the
URBANlite Trapez 24” 8-Wheel Spinner Hard Case Luggage
that looks stylish and allows for easy travelling on your next trip.

Everyone’s a winner when you apply for selected Standard Chartered credit cards. Just remember, you will need to activate your card within 30 days upon approval to be eligible for this gift. Lastly, be aware that existing cardholders and individuals who have held a Standard Chartered credit card in the past six months are not eligible for this campaign. If you qualify, then you can apply for your new Standard Chartered credit card
here
.

Alliance Bank – RM200 Shopee Voucher or URBANlite Edge PP 20” Expandable 8-Wheel Spinner Hard Case Luggage

Shopping voucher or luggage? Choose a guaranteed gift when you apply for a new Alliance Bank Credit Card! If you’re waiting for shop o’clock, opt for the
RM200 Shopee Voucher
to shave some ringgits off your wishlist items.

Or you can always pick the
URBANlite Edge PP 20” Expandable 8-Wheel Spinner Hard Case Luggage
to keep your travel belongings safe.

Upon approval, you just have to activate to meet the requirements of the campaign and be eligible to get the prize. Existing cardholders of any Alliance Bank credit card and individuals who have held or cancelled an Alliance Bank credit card in the past six months are not eligible for this campaign. Apply for an Alliance Bank Credit Card
here
.

AmBank – Morgan Air Fryer

Cooking has never been easier with appliances like an air fryer. It’s easier to use and there’s less clean up to do as well. Take home a guaranteed
Morgan Air Fryer
 when you apply for an AmBank Credit Card.

Apply, get approved, and activate your Ambank credit card within 30 days upon approval to be eligible for this prize. Existing cardholders and individuals who have held or cancelled an Ambank credit card in the past year are not eligible for this campaign.
Apply for an Ambank Credit Card here
.

***

Finally, be sure to start your application with our WhatsApp chatbot so that your eligibility is guaranteed, and we can always be at hand to help you when you need us.

While this week’s flash deal ends on 4 July (11am), do follow us on our
Facebook page
 to receive the latest Unbox This Week offers as we refresh the deals every week.

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Apple AirPods, Xiaomi Robovac, Samsung Soundbar & More Guaranteed Gifts This Week

Got another shopping spree planned for September? Let’s kick it off with these selected credit cards and their gifts!

To recap, the Unbox This Week Campaign is a weekly campaign where we present the best deals from our featured bank partners. All you have to do is apply for selected credit cards from these banks through RinggitPlus and you’ll get to go home a winner!

This week (6 – 13 September), our featured bank partners are
Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, CIMB, and Maybank

– if you have considered applying for any of these banks, check out the deals below.

Citibank – Guaranteed Samsung 24” Monitor Or Xiaomi Robovac Vacuum

Once again, you get to choose your guaranteed gift with Citibank credit cards. Choose between a Samsung 24” LED Monitor or a Xiaomi Robovac Vacuum.

Pick the Samsung 24” LED Monitor for a more productive workspace, but if you’re looking to clean your home conveniently, the Xiaomi Robovac Vacuum will be your new best friend.

To be eligible to take home a gift, remember to activate and spend a minimum of 8 retail transactions on your new card within 60 days upon approval. Once the bank has confirmed your eligibility, you’ll receive instructions from us via email on how you can claim your gift.

Please take note that current cardmembers and individuals who have cancelled their Citibank credit cards within a year prior to this campaign do not qualify for this promotion. Otherwise, those who wish to apply for their new Citibank credit cards can
head on over here to do so.

HSBC – Guaranteed Samsung Soundbar With Subwoofer

Feel the beat with the Samsung Soundbar with Subwoofer when you apply for an HSBC credit card. The Samsung Soundbar is designed for you to experience richer sounds and powerful bass, all with one remote.

Apply for selected HSBC credit cards through RinggitPlus and upon approval, activate your new card and spend a minimum of RM1,000 within 60 days to take home your prize.

Just remember that current cardholders and applicants who were denied within 6 months prior to this campaign, as well as those who have cancelled their HSBC credit cards within 6 months prior to this campaign are not eligible for our campaign. Otherwise, you can apply for your
HSBC credit card here
.

Standard Chartered Bank – Win The Ever-Awesome Apple AirPods

Whether you’re taking a walk, having an intense workout session or voicing your opinions in a very important meeting, the Apple AirPods will always deliver crisp and clear sounds. Be one of the lucky 30 randomly selected successful applicants to win the Apple AirPods when you apply, get approved, and activate your new Standard Chartered credit card.

Applicants are still required to activate their card within 30 days upon approval to be eligible for this prize. The Apple AirPods will only be given to 30 randomly selected successful applicants. Other successful applicants will be given a Realme Band.

Lastly, be aware that existing cardholders and individuals who have held a Standard Chartered credit card in the past 6 months are not eligible for this campaign in the past six months. If you qualify, then you can
apply for your new Standard Chartered credit card here.

CIMB – Realme Watch S Smart Watch

Relieve physical stress, aches, and tensions with a guaranteed Gintell G-Vibo Handheld Massager. Just apply, activate, and swipe any transaction amount with a new CIMB credit card to take home this guaranteed prize and have a relaxing massage right at home.

Please take note that existing cardholders of any CIMB credit card and individuals who have held or cancelled a CIMB e credit card in the 6 months are not eligible for this campaign. Otherwise, you can apply for a
CIMB e credit card here.

Maybank – Realme Buds Air
 2

Light as air, but powerful in sound. Get the Realme Buds Air 2 when you apply, activate and swipe any transaction amount with your new Maybank credit card. Worth RM199, the Realme Buds Air 2 has 5dB noise cancellation features that can filter out most low-frequency sounds.

You’re required to activate and perform the first swipe of any amount to be eligible for this gift. This gift is guaranteed for all successful applicants. Existing cardholders of any Maybank Credit Card and those who had cancelled any of his/her Maybank Credit Card within six months before the date of application are not eligible to participate in this campaign.
Apply for a Maybank Credit Card here.

***

Finally, be sure to start your application with our WhatsApp chatbot so that your eligibility is guaranteed, and we can always be at hand to help you when you need us.

While this week’s flash deal ends on 13 September (1pm), do follow us on our
Facebook page
 to receive the latest Unbox This Week offers as we refresh the deals every week.

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Katrina Balan Quiroz

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Copywriter. Katrina is fueled by a need to turn a confusing wall of text into something comprehensible, and drip coffee.

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KPDN: TNG's Follow-Up Initiatives Insufficient, Clearer Action Plan Needed

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has released a statement asking for a clearer action plan from Touch ‘n Go (TNG), following the company’s submission of its first follow-up proposal. This came after an earlier directive from KPDN for TNG to address various issues related to its services.

For context, a special KPDN task force had been established to look into multiple complaints brought up by the public with regard to TNG’s services. These include the scarcity of the
enhanced TNG card (with near-field communication capability)
 in the market, difficulties in obtaining refunds of TNG card balances, and users not realising that their cards have expired. There were also concerns that the public may confuse the purpose of
TNG’s recently launched Visa prepaid card
 as it cannot be used for toll and public transportation payments, whereas the TNG brand has come to be closely associated with these transactions.

Following that, TNG was asked to present a follow-up action plan on how they intend to resolve these matters, based on
six key steps that were outlined by the task force
.

Fast forward to today, the special task force said that TNG has responded to its request, but felt that the company’s initiative is insufficient. KPDN also shared TNG’s presented proposal, as shown below:

Steps outlined by KPDN
TNG’s proposed follow-up action plan
Rebrand TNG Visa prepaid card and notify the public of the capabilities of the new card, thereby reducing confusion
TNG to display a “This is not TNG card” notice on the TNG Visa prepaid card application page
Increase the number of TNG sales and service centres
TNG to increase TNG card production rate from 2.68 million in 2022 to 3.5 million in 2023
Provide early notification to users of expiring TNG cards
TNG users to receive reminders and notifications (via email and TNG eWallet) one month before their cards are set to expire
Speed up the refund and balance transfer process for TNG cards
TNG to review the process and implement improvements as soon as possible
Strive to remove all TNG card listings made by unauthorised third parties (in partnership with e-commerce platforms)
– TNG to submit official request to e-commerce platforms to remove all TNG card sale listings by unauthorised sellers
– TNG to submit official notice to all distributors and retail partners so that they sell the TNG cards at the approved price (limited to one card per customer)

“The next engagement session [between KPDN and TNG] will focus on drawing up a clear action plan, especially in terms of setting a timeline and listing specific details for the activities,” KPDN further said in its statement.

Finally, KPDN stressed that it will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and ensure that the issues highlighted by the public will be resolved as soon as possible for the benefit of the people.

(Source:
KPDN
)

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

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Win A Trip To Old Trafford With Maybankard And Manchester United

Maybank Offers Trip Of a Lifetime Credit and Debit Card Competition

Calling all Manchester United fans – here’s a credit card and debit card deal you can’t afford to miss: spend money on your Maybankard between now and the end of February and you could
win a trip to Old Trafford!

Of course, you’ll be flying to the UK to watch a match, not just visit the hallowed ground of your favourite team. The nine grand prize winners will see Manchester United play Manchester City, Chelsea or Swansea (The RinggitPlus.com Team thinks the local derby would be the experience of a lifetime).

Runner-up prizes include signed jerseys, pennants

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DOC2US Partners With Foodpanda, Lalamove For 2-Hour Medicine Delivery

Electronic prescription telemedicine provider DOC2US has teamed up with Foodpanda and Lalamove to offer medicine delivery services to Klang Valley residents in under two hours – just in time for the period of total lockdown in Malaysia and afterwards as well.

DOC2US CEO Dr Raymond Choy said in a statement that the three firms saw the need to provide easily accessible, single-touchpoint professional healthcare to the general public with the Covid-19 pandemic still raging on. There are currently more than 6,300 patients using DOC2US’ ePharmacy service.

DOC2US’ ePharmacy service connects users to a doctor from DOC2US for a virtual consultation, and an e-prescription will be given if needed. The prescription will be filled by Malaysian’s largest prescription pharmacy chain, Alpro Pharmacy. Then, the medication will be delivered within hours through DOC2US’ designated delivery partners in the Klang Valley, Pandago and Lalamove.

“With 20,000 active on-demand delivery partners, Lalamove is proud to be a part of the mission to connect Malaysians with doctors anytime, anywhere,” said Lalamove Malaysia managing director Jane Teh. Meanwhile, Foodpanda Malaysia managing director Sayantan Das said they wished to ensure customers are still able to have access to their medication via a safe and reliable channel.

According to Dr Choy, DOC2US can also help more than half of the over 2.4 million Malaysians over the age of 65 who require long-term medication for ailments like cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes as they try to avoid visiting high-risk places such as hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies. Some of these elderly patients had also previously relied on their children to purchase medicine on their behalf.

“Straying from medication for such conditions can put them at an even higher risk of morbidity from their existing condition on top of the Covid-19 risk,” said Dr Choy. “Hence, they can now use the ePharmacy service with text chat, voice note and even call function on Facebook Messenger to help them ensure their prescriptions are filled and safely delivered while they stay safe at home.

“By adapting our backend system with Facebook Messenger, we could provide professional online consultation for minor acute illness such as common cold, cough, upper respiratory tract infections, ear infections, asthma, and skin rashes, issue e-prescriptions, and deliver the needed medication door to door, especially when users are unwell.”

Find out more about
 DOC2U’s ePharmacy
 here.

(Source:
The Edge Markets
)

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Luno Becomes First Crypto Investment Partner Of The Malaysian Football League

Local digital asset exchange Luno has teamed up with the Malaysian Football League (MFL) as the official crypto investment partner and co-sponsor of the Liga Super Malaysia and Piala Malaysia for the 2022 season.

Seemingly taking a cue from the leading global cryptocurrency exchanges, Luno is leveraging on the popularity of football among Malaysians to raise awareness on cryptocurrency. The one-year partnership, said to be around the RM1 million mark, covers multiple branding rights including pitchside branding, club crest and player image rights, and on-ground activation at stadiums.

In addition, Luno will also be holding activities with the local footballing community to learn more about financial literacy, digital assets, and cryptocurrency.

(Image: The Star)

“Luno’s exciting partnership with MFL is a big moment for us. It is our first partnership with a local sports organisation and makes us the first digital asset exchange to support the biggest and most prestigious football competition in Malaysia. The Malaysian League has a fan base of over 13 million, so the partnership gives us a great opportunity to engage with new audiences and raise our brand profile among everyday Malaysians who might be considering exploring the world of cryptocurrency. Our mission is to put the power of crypto in everyone’s hands in an accessible, convenient and safe way and this partnership is a step towards achieving this in Malaysia. We believe this partnership will bring huge benefits for both parties — nurturing support for local football while creating an opportunity to explore and invest in cryptocurrency,” said Aaron Tang, Country Manager of Luno Malaysia.

Stuart Ramalingam, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Football League shared, “Today marks a historic day for Malaysian football as we welcome new-age partners that will bring a new exciting image to our League and the reach Liga Malaysia will offer to commercial brands. I would like to welcome the newest MFL partner – Luno, Malaysia’s first regulated and leading digital assets exchange, offering Malaysians a safe and secured platform to start investing in cryptocurrencies. As the world opens its door in its acceptance of cryptocurrency, this collaboration opens up a whole new horizon for the MFL family of partners with such an extraordinary partnership. Thank you Luno for believing in Malaysian Football and trusting us to help you uplift your brand and the awareness of Luno’s products and services.”

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Razak Ghazali)

The partnership is also part of Luno’s localisation efforts to better engage with Malaysians and enhance its financial literacy initiatives to a wider audience. The company is also looking to work with more local partners as it aims to solidify its position as the leading regulated digital asset exchange in Malaysia.

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

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Boost's TNB Bill Payment Feature Temporarily Went Live Today

For a good few hours today, Boost’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electricity bill payment feature went live, putting it several days ahead of the scheduled date mentioned in its
teaser post
. It was, of course, eventually taken down, but not before giving users a preview of how it’ll work – and giving users a free RM3 partner wallet for TNB bill payments.

TNB was temporarily listed as a biller under BoostBills this morning under the “Electricity” tab. From there, you’ll be prompted to key in your TNB account number, and can then proceed to pay your electricity bills as you would your other obligations. In fact, we have even received comments from a few RinggitPlus readers who said that they managed to pay their TNB bills on Boost and were able to utilise the RM3 partner wallet bonus, before Boost took down TNB in its billers list.

Aside from Boost, it was also hinted that TNB will be enabling
electricity bill payments via Touch ‘n Go eWallet
 as well. The feature is expected to come live on 13 November 2021.

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

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Win A Dodomat Car Mat With The Carlist.my "Balik Raya Mesti Gaya" Contest

Carlist.my is giving away customised car mats worth up to RM800 each to winners of its Balik Raya mesti Gaya contest, which starts from 6 May until 30 June 2019.

To be eligible to win the prize, Malaysians just need to purchase a car from either the Used or New car listing options on Carlist.my. To participate in the contest, participants will have to submit their entry through a digital form attached with a car sales receipt within the contest period. Only confirmed vehicle purchases will be selected for the lucky draw session.

Winners will be chosen from a lucky draw session done after the contest period ends. Carlist.my will announce the winners through their social media page. There will be 5 winners per month for a total of 10 winners. Each winner will be given a customised car mat based on the vehicle purchased within the submitted receipt.

Touted as “not-your-average” car mat, Dodomat products are customised to each car model, and are made from a dual-layer honeycomb structured polymer. It is odorless, waterproof, and has anti-bacterial properties. The heavy-duty padding also ensures its durability and helps with insulating road noises. Made from bio-friendly materials, the mat is also 100% recyclable.

For more information on this contest and more, log onto
www.carlist.my.

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