Kriteria Untuk Memilih Rumah Idaman Keluarga

Pembelian rumah bukan perkara kecil, bahkan boleh dianggap antara keputusan paling besar yang kita akan lakukan dalam hidup kita. Selain daripada pelaburan kewangan, ia juga memainkan peranan sebagai kestabilan, keterjaminan, tempat berteduh dan berlindung di mana kenangan bersama keluarga tercipta. Dengan itu, segala faktor perlu diambil kira dan dipertimbangkan sebelum membuat sebarang keputusan untuk membeli rumah.

Apabila kita sudah berniat untuk membeli rumah sendiri, sudah tentu kita perlu memastikan pelbagai kriteria dan ciri-ciri yang diidamkan, supaya rumah yang dipilih sesuai dengan keperluan, aspirasi dan rancangan jangka panjang kita. Dari segi lokasi, fasiliti, kemudahan akses dan kemampuan harga, membuat pilihan yang betul bukan sahaja menjamin keselesaan dan ketenteraman hidup, bahkan juga kerharmonian dan kesejahteraan untuk masa hadapan keluarga yang lebih baik.

Dibawah merupakan tiga kriteria utama yang kita perlu pertimbangkan apabila membeli kediaman yang sesuai untuk keluarga kita:

1. Lokasi Strategik: Berhampiran sekolah, pusat membeli-belah dan keperluan harian

Lokasi memainkan peranan penting dalam menentukan kemudahan dan keselesaan kehidupan harian keluarga kita. Apabila memilih rumah, kita perlu mengambil kira jarak rumah dengan kemudahan asas seperti sekolah, pusat perubatan, pusat membeli-belah dan sebagainya. Rumah yang dekat dengan pusat pendidikan dan pusat perubatan yang berkualiti dapat memastikan kesejahteraan keluarga kita, manakala pusat membeli-belah yang berhampiran menjadikan aktiviti membeli barang keperluan dan aktiviti riadah menjadi lebih mudah buat seisi keluarga.

2. Kemudahan: Hiburan, Rekreasi dan Pusat Ilmu

Selain menjadi tempat berteduh; rumah juga menjadi tempat dimana kita boleh berehat, mengeratkan hubungan dan mencipta kenangan indah bersama yang tersayang. Jadi, apabila anda mencari rumah yang paling sesuai, pilihlah lokasi yang menyediakan kemudahan yang dapat menghidupkan suasana ceria dalam kehidupan harian keluarga anda.

Kemudahan-kemudahan seperti ruang barbeku, gelanggang bola keranjang, pusat kecergasan serta taman permainan memberi peluang untuk aktiviti rekreasi dan memupuk semangat kemasyarakatan di antara penduduk. Bagi pengisian aktiviti kerohanian para penghuni KITA Bestari – Masjid dan sekolah agama juga bakal dibina pada masa hadapan bertujuan untuk jalinan nurani dan tautan ukhwah yang lebih erat antara penduduk setempat.

3. Rangkaian Lebuhraya Utama: Akses Mudah ke Lebuhraya dan Destinasi Tertentu

Lokasi yang mempunyai akses mudah ke pelbagai tempat merupakan kriteria yang penting juga di dalam dunia moden pada hari ini. Rumah yang terletak di lokasi strategik dengan akses mudah ke lebuh raya utama memastikan perjalanan lebih lancar apabila anda ke tempat kerja, sekolah dan destinasi lain. Kawasan kediaman yang strategik juga boleh melancarkan perjalanan anda ke tempat hiburan, menziarahi rumah saudara-mara atau rakan-rakan, dan juga perkhidmatan lain yang diperlukan.

Selamat Datang ke KITA Bestari: Di Mana Rumah Idaman Keluarga Menanti!

Direka khas dengan mengutamakan ciri-ciri kehidupan berkeluarga, KITA Bestari terserlah sebagai kawasan kediaman yang berpagar dan berpengawal daripada pilihan kediaman yang sedia ada. Terletak di tanah rizab Melayu KITA @ Cybersouth, KITA Bestari menawarkan gabungan di antara kehidupan moden dan alam semula jadi.

Aura Tenang di KITA @ Cybersouth

Komuniti berpagar dan berpengawal KITA @ Cybersouth terletak di belah selatan Metropolitan Lembah Klang yang kini sedang pesat membangun.

Pembangunan ini, yang merangkumi 633 ekar tanah rizab Melayu, yang terdiri daripada rumah teres,
townhouse
(rumah bandar), pangsapuri dan lot komersial. KITA @ Cybersouth juga menawarkan kebolehdiaman, kemudahan akses dan harga mampu milik untuk dinikmati penghuninya.

Kemudahan Direka untuk Hiburan Kehidupan Harian

Kemudahan yang tersedia di KITA Bestari menawarkan kemudahan yang memenuhi pelbagai cita rasa, dimana penduduk boleh mengadakan sesi barbeku, melakukan aktiviti senaman di pusat kecergasan, ataupun bermain sepak takraw serta bola keranjang di kawasan yang disediakan.

Kanak-kanak juga boleh meluangkan masa di taman permainan di mana mereka boleh bermain bersama kanak-kanak lain. Selain itu, ibu bapa boleh membawa anak-anak mereka berbasikal di laluan khas basikal atau bersiar-bersiar pada sebelah petang di sepanjang laluan pejalan kaki.

Pelbagai Saiz Rumah Pilihan Anda!

Semestinya, setiap keluarga mempunyai keperluan tertentu. Oleh itu, KITA Bestari menawarkan rumah teres satu dan dua tingkat kepada pembelinya.

Rumah teres satu tingkat bersaiz 20’ x 70’ mempunyai keluasan sebesar 1,094 kaki persegi yang menawarkan 4 bilik tidur dan 2 bilik air. Rumah ini memang sesuai bagi mereka yang sudah berkeluarga mahupun pasangan yang baru berkahwin. Ia juga mempunyai ruang yang cukup untuk dijadikan bilik hobi, stor ataupun untuk anda yang ingin mengadakan majlis.

Bagi rumah teres dua tingkat pula, ia terletak di lot bersaiz 20’ x 60’ dan mempunyai keluasan 1,447 kaki persegi dan merangkumi 4 bilik tidur dan 3 bilik air.

Bagi mereka yang berkeluarga, rumah teres dua tingkat semestinya menjadi pilihan yang paling sesuai, kerana anak-anak boleh mempunyai bilik tidur tersendiri. Selain itu, ibu bapa juga boleh mengubahsuai bilik tidur tersebut untuk dijadikan bilik bacaan atau ruang pejabat. Bilik tidur yang tersedia di tingkat bawah pula boleh memudahkan urusan mereka yang mempunyai warga emas, dimana mereka boleh bergerak tanpa menggunakan tangga.

Dengan pelbagai pilihan dan saiz rumah yang ditawarkan, kediaman di KITA Bestari pastinya sesuai untuk keluarga yang kecil mahupun besar.

Pusat Pendidikan Yang Berhampiran

Kehidupan lebih tenang apabila rumah berhampiran dengan sekolah. Apabila jarak perjalanan hanya memerlukan beberapa minit sahaja untuk ke sekolah, masa selebihnya dapat digunakan untuk diluangkan bersama keluarga kita. Di KITA Bestari, penduduk berada dekat dengan pelbagai institut pendidikan untuk pelajar dari setiap peringkat umur.

Bagi kanak-kanak yang berada di sekolah rendah atau sekolah menengah, mereka boleh menuntut ilmu di SK Dengkil dan SMK Dengkil, dimana ia berada dalam lingkungan di bawah 10 km sahaja. Bagi mereka yang berada di pengajian tinggi pula, KITA Sejati juga dikelilingi pelbagai pusat pendidikan yang terkenal seperti UiTM Dengkil, Multimedia University, dan juga Universiti Heriot-Watt Malaysia.

Akses Mudah Ke Pelbagai Destinasi

Dengan kemudahan akses ke lebuh raya utama seperti Putrajaya-Cyberjaya Expressway, MEX, ELITE, SKVE, dan banyak lagi, KITA Bestari boleh memudahkan urusan perjalanan dan juga dapat menjimatkan masa untuk tiba ke destinasi tertentu.

Rumah Mampu Milik di Metropolitan Lembah Klang

Satu aspek yang terbaik bagi KITA Bestari ialah harga mampu milik. Dengan hanya RM509,000, ia merupakan salah satu hartanah yang sememangnya mampu milik, terutamanya apabila dibandingkan dengan kawasan kediaman bersaiz sama yang ada di kawasan tengah Metropolitan Lembah Klang. Dari pelbagai saiz yang ditawarkan, KITA Bestari boleh menjadi pilihan yang terbaik, bukan sahaja untuk mereka yang ingin berkeluarga, tetapi sesuai untuk mereka yang sedang merancang untuk membeli rumah buat pertama kali.

***

Membeli rumah keluarga pertama adalah langkah penting dalam kehidupan kita. Apabila kriteria-kriteria tertentu sudah diambil kira, tibalah masanya untuk kita bersama keluarga memulakan kehidupan dalam suasana yang penuh kebahagiaan dan kesejahteraan. Dengan harga yang ditawarkan mampu milik, pelbagai kemudahan disediakan, dan berdekatan dengan rangkaian lebuhraya utama, KITA Bestari semestinya boleh menjadi rumah idaman yang ideal untuk keluarga tersayang.

Jika anda sudah bersedia untuk mencipta memori indah yang penuh dengan kasih sayang bersama keluarga tersayang,
klik di sini
 untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut mengenai KITA Bestari.

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What To Look Out For In The Best Petrol Credit Cards

The Government is removing the fixed price for RON95 petrol in favour of a weekly price update from 2019. With millions of Malaysians driving daily, perhaps it’s time to seriously consider a cashback credit card for petrol and save some money in the process.

But with dozens of
credit cards that offer benefits for fuel purchases
, it can be hard to find the one with the best benefits for you. So before you take the plunge, here are some important factors to consider before getting a petrol credit card for yourself.

Know your driving pattern

First things first, you should have a rough idea of how much you drive and how much petrol do you pump every month. These are important, as they will impact the credit card that’s suited for you. An urban millennial driving a hybrid who spends RM100 a month on fuel will benefit from a petrol credit card that’s different from, say, a sales manager who goes outstation every week for work and spends RM600 a month on fuel.

Once you’ve identified how much you generally spend on petrol in a month, let’s move on to the other things to look out for.

Cashback vs Rewards Points

Generally, credit card perks come in the form of cashback or rewards points. Cashback credit cards return a portion of the amount you paid – provided you fulfil the requirements. These can be simple ones such as using them only on specific times of the week, or when you have charged a specific amount on the card for that month. Banks offer different cashback percentages, which goes anywhere from 0.2% to 15%, and cashback is usually capped at a certain amount each month.

On the other hand, rewards points do look appealing at first glance. You earn points that you canuse to redeem gadgets, vouchers, and even air miles. To further make the points look enticing, banks sometimes reward cardholders with “extra” points that come as a multiplier to the base amount earned – but only when you use the card at specific places. These can be anywhere from 5x to even 8x, so you earn a lot more points per Ringgit spent.

But which is the more rewarding option?

To determine which of these two is more saves you more money, we must first find out what’s the conversion rate of the rewards points are like. For example, a bank may require 24,910 points (including 6% SST) to redeem a RM50 department store voucher. To determine the “effective cashback” rate, we calculate how much we need to spend to earn enough points to redeem the RM50 voucher in our example. Here’s how this scenario will look like:

Points multiplier

1x

5x

8x

RM spend to earn 24,910 points for RM50 voucher

RM24,910

RM4,982

RM3,113.75

Effective cashback (RM50 / RM spend x 100)

0.20%

1.00%

1.61%

Clearly, even when you get a huge multiplier for points, they still don’t come close to cashback credit cards. Therefore, the following points will help you look for a truly rewarding cashback credit card for petrol.

Cashback rate

Obviously, the cashback rate for petrol purchases is the easiest factor to look out for. Most petrol cashback credit cards offer an average of 5-7% in cashback, though you can also see rates that go as low as 0.2% and as high as 15%. Generally, this is because the rates are “tiered”, meaning you earn higher cashback rates when you spend more with the card. Therefore, don’t be fooled by the high cashback rate.

Cashback cap per month

Cashback rates and its cap per month go hand in hand. Different banks will set different caps – and sometimes, the banks may not be explicitly clear about it. For example, a bank may advertise that its credit card offers up to 15% cashback as a pulling factor, but may only reveal the low RM10 monthly cap in the product disclosure sheet or fine print in the brochure.

Find a card that strikes a good balance between cashback rate and monthly cap. For example, the
CIMB Petronas Platinum-i credit card
 offers 7% cashback for all spend at Petronas stations (petrol and mart), with a monthly cap of RM50.

Cashback eligibility or requirements

Contrary to popular belief, banks don’t simply like to give out free money! Credit cards are the same, so in order to be eligible for the benefits, there are certain conditions that you must fulfil.

For example, some credit cards only offer cashback when you use it on specific days (weekends, or Fridays and Saturdays), while others only award cashback if you spend above a certain amount. Fail to meet these requirements, and you’ll either be eligible for a lower cashback rate – or worse, not get any benefits at all.

To a lesser extent, there are also petrol credit cards that offer cashback only if you use it at a particular petrol brand. In this case, it shouldn’t affect users too much, since you’d only apply for this card if you were already using that brand of petrol.

Look out for additional perks

Finally, it is always a bonus if a credit card offers additional benefits besides the main perks. For example, some credit cards may offer free access to airport lounges when you travel, or even complimentary travel insurance if you pay for your flight tickets with the card. Not to forget, there are also cards that offer cashback for other categories too, so you still save some money even if you use the card for non-petrol pumping purposes.

Is there a best petrol cashback credit card?

There is no definitive “best” petrol cashback credit card, as different people spend different amounts on fuel, and may have preferences for a certain petrol brand. That said, there is always a great card for each and every one of us.

If you fuel up at Petronas, then you have some interesting choices. CIMB has two options: the
CIMB Petronas Platinum Credit Card
 and its Syariah-compliant variant, the
CIMB Petronas Platinum-i Credit Card
. Both credit cards offer 7% cashback every day when you use the card at Petronas (both fuel and mart), as long as you maintain a statement balance of RM3,000 and above. For statement balances below that, you’ll earn 3% in cashback. For both cards, the cashback is capped at RM50 a month.

Meanwhile, for purchases made in other categories besides petrol, you get 0.2% cashback. Not only that, if you pay for flight tickets with these cards, you’ll also get complimentary travel insurance (or Takaful for the
CIMB Petronas Platinum-i Credit Card
) to offer financial compensation if anything were to happen to you while you are travelling.

Finally, cardholders also enjoy special discounts and benefits for automotive-related services such as car polish and tinting retailers. Check out the official product page to find out more about the
CIMB Petronas Platinum Credit Card
 and the
CIMB Islamic Petronas Platinum-i Credit Card
.

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Let Bank Islam Thank You with a FujiFilm Instax Camera

Bank Islam seeks to thank its loyal Debit Cardmembers through their ‘Thanks a Million’ Campaign. From now until 21
st
 April 2013, swipe RM200 on your Bank Islam Debit Card and stand to win a FujiFilm Instax Camera.

There are 20 cameras up for grabs and you are allowed multiple entries. You will automatically qualify for one entry with every RM200 spent. However, prizes are limited to one (1) per cardmember.

There are five winners selected each week.

For more terms and conditions,
click here
.

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Diana Chai

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Does Your Race Affect Your Chances of Employment?

We have all come across job advertisements that states a preference when it comes to race, gender, and sometimes, religion. According to the
Malaysian Bar
, the constitutional protection of rights and equality states that gender, race, religion, place of birth and such, are not allowed to be a factor of employment.

But, while it may not be as common as before, some employers do tend to hire people based on race and/or religion. Why, you ask? Read on to find out!

1. The Nature of Business

Despite the being frowned upon, there are valid reasons as to why a company may choose to hire their employees based on race or religion, and they have nothing to do with racism. The most obvious being the nature of business that may contradict with one’s religious practices.

Take for example the food industry; restaurants that serve non-halal cuisines cannot, ethically speaking, hire a Muslim employee to work with them. Similarly, those who do not partake meat (vegetarians or vegans) don’t usually opt to work in restaurants that serve meat. In situations like these, it’s necessary for the employers to filter their employees before hiring.

In most cases, employers would state their nature of business clearly to the applicants during the hiring process. This prevents any misunderstanding and inconvenience on the part of both the applicant (in case they quit after finding the nature of the employee’s business on the first day) and the employee (from having to find an emergency employee if the new one suddenly quits)

2. The Cost Factor

No, we’re not referring to the salary rates. Quite the contrary, it has to do with the company’s costs when running their business. Some businesses have to deal with customers directly, especially those that are in the cosmetic and health industry – think spas, salons, and even gyms.

These businesses usually cater to both men and women, and the nature of their business is such that the employers will need to attend to the customers in close proximity. Now, some religions forbid the touching of the opposite sex before marriage, which can complicate things for the employer because as a business, they need to serve the customers well in order to make profit. But, as an employer, it’s also illegal (and unethical) for them to force their employees into doing something that’s against their religion.

Of course, the employer can hire both female and male employees to neutralise this situation, but that would cost the company – especially if it’s a small business – a lot of money as they’ll need to hire 2 people to do what one person could do. Big companies and organisations certainly have no problems with hiring multiple employees, but there’s only so many that small businesses can afford to hire.

3. The Company Culture

Some companies find it inconvenient to hire employees from other races or religions as it may disrupt the company’s culture and cohesiveness as a team. A company that services a specific clientele (especially race specific or foreign clientele) would want its employees to be able to assimilate to the company’s existing work culture.

To give you an idea on how it might look in real life scenarios, an export and import company that only deals with goods from China would most probably hire a Chinese employee who is able to speak the language and understand the client’s cultural needs and values.

The same goes to companies that sell halal and Muslim goods – they would pick a Malay or a Muslim employee over the other races who are non-Muslim. The reason is simple, a Malay or a Muslim would understand and sell to the target market better. The point is, companies need employees who are able to ‘fit in’ to their existing work culture and be a team-player. Sometimes, race and religion play a role in helping employers decide whether or not you’re a good fit for their company.

4. Unfortunate Stereotypes and Assumptions

Despite the Malaysian constitution and efforts in preventing racial discrimination, some people still fall into the stereotype trap as they believe that certain skills and values are only present in specific races.

Professional skills such as fluency in the English language, mathematics calculations, as well as work punctuality are deemed higher and more present among the Chinese compared to the Malays and Indians, despite this not being a proven fact.

There was even a study done to determine whether or not racial prejudice exist against the Malay graduates and job seekers, which you can find on the
Vulcan Post
.

It’s really unfortunate, but racial prejudice does exist – although it’s getting weaker and less noticeable with the current age of information and cultural diversity. What you can do to completely eliminate the racial prejudice is by proving them wrong! Show them you’re a good candidate, be more open and confident during interviews, and most importantly, carry yourself with respect.

Read also
:
7 Things You Should Never Do When Asking For a Raise

So, What’s the Verdict?

Does your race really affect your chances at securing a job? Whether you like it or not, the answer is yes. But don’t be alarmed, most companies have valid reasons as to why they have to hire employees based on race and even religion, as mentioned on our first three points. After all, they need to make sure that their employees are able to work together as a team in harmony.

Of course, not every company will look at your race or religion before hiring. What you can – and should do – when applying for a job is to research the company carefully before sending in your application. Make sure it’s a company that offers a work environment that you can adapt to, and wow the interviewers by being proactive, confident, and open-minded.

If you want to increase your chances at being hired across industries, take up another skill such as learning Mandarin or a foreign language. Increase your value as a potential employee – remember, the more skills you have, the more desirable you are to the employers.

After securing your job, don’t forget to secure your finances by building a healthy credit history too. The easiest way to do that is by applying for a
credit card
! If you’re not sure which to choose, we’ve got your back. Simply visit our
credit card comparison page
 and compare the best credit cards in the market!

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You Can Still Redeem RM25 Grab Vouchers – Here’s How

Earlier this month, all Grab ride and GrabFood vouchers above the value of RM15 were removed from the GrabRewards catalogue. While the RM20 vouchers sadly still remain a thing of the past, there is a way for you to redeem a RM25 Grab ride voucher today.

Instead of going to the GrabRewards catalogue to look for the voucher, try booking a ride on your app. At the booking page, go into the “Promo” section which will show you any ride rewards that you have available. From here, you can choose to “Get More Rewards” – where you will find the RM25 voucher together with the other ordinary ride vouchers available.

Interestingly, you will also see
two
versions of the RM5 and RM15 ride vouchers on this page – one discounted, one not. The non-discounted version requires the same amount of points for redemption as in the main catalogue, but the discounted version lets you redeem the voucher for the old marked-down price before the changes on 1 October took place.

For those of you who weren’t aware, the removal of the higher-value vouchers wasn’t the only change made at the
beginning of the month
 – Grab also adjusted the redemption rates of all its remaining vouchers so that they would have a uniform redemption value. The official redemption rates of Grab vouchers on the GrabRewards catalogue is as follows: 600 points for RM5 off, 1,200 points for RM10 off, and 1,800 points for RM15 off.

Over at the GrabFood section, you can get the RM10 voucher for 1,150 points and the RM15 voucher for 1,690 points – again, the same lowered rates offered by Grab before 1 October. You can access these vouchers by adding a promo to your order at the checkout page for GrabFood – from there, you can choose “Get More Rewards” to get to the food reward vouchers.

If you’re using an iPhone, there’s a chance you may not be able to view the RM25 Grab ride voucher – although you should be able to access the discounted GrabFood vouchers just fine. We searched for the voucher on four different Grab accounts of colleagues using iPhones, with no success. We had better luck on Android phones, as we found the voucher on three Grab accounts of colleagues using Android devices. There’s also a possibility that this an oversight on Grab’s part and these vouchers aren’t actually meant to be there – in which case you might want to redeem them before they’re gone.

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5 Times You Absolutely Need to Ask About Terms and Conditions

Social media exploded the past few days with images and the story of a
Vietnamese tourist in Singapore begging for a refund
 after finding out that the iPhone he purchased came with a hefty additional cost for an added warranty which he had unwittingly agreed to.

The story of course made waves for it’s entertainment value but the underlying message is far more serious. Everyday, customers are ‘duped’ into purchasing expensive and unnecessary extras or agreeing to recurring fees they probably never really wanted (we use the term ‘duped’ loosely as traders/salespersons often do ask the customer to confirm they want the added benefit but without really explaining the costs or commitment. Couple this with customers who don’t ask the right questions and you have a surefire recipe for disaster).

The Vietnamese tourist’s story
got a happy ending thanks to kind Singaporeans and a start-up founder
 who initiated a fund to collect donations for the man. But not everyone will see such a favourable conclusion.

Whilst we wish we could trust all sellers and salespersons to be ethically honest with us; until proper enforcement is carried out or business mindsets changed; the best we can do is educate ourselves to ask the right questions and be more careful when agreeing to purchase or signing up for anything.

To get you ready for the consumerist jungle out there; we give you 5 instances where you always need to ask for more info before saying yes!

The Five Instances You Need to Ask for More Info on T&Cs

1. When Signing Up For a Banking Product

Whether you are applying for a personal loan, home loan or credit card; bank T&Cs are not for the faint of heart and admittedly, most of us agree without reading the fine print. But this is an agreement very likely involving large sums of money and interest payments with hefty repercussions in the event of default. It makes sense to, even if you aren’t able to understand the terms by reading them yourself, ask the right questions and refrain from agreeing until you are sure that you know just what you’re signing up for.

It may seem excessive, but some customers do request for additional time to peruse the documents or pass it to a lawyer (or even anyone they feel more capable of understanding the contract than them) to explain the terms to them.

Some key questions to ask (you can always more!) when applying for a banking product:

How much interest am I paying? (Not just in percentage, but ask for real numbers. Your contract should even have the total sum of interest paid over the duration of the contract.)

How long am I committed? (More applicable to loans than credit cards of course!)

What are the penalty fees (if any) if I am late with payment or default?

Are there any additional charges?

Will I be charged extra for any added benefit service you are offering me?

2. When Signing up for a Mobile Plan

Just like the instance of the iPhone 6 above; mobile plans even in Malaysia are sometimes a little tricky. They tell you, you can get a phone for this low price but then hit you with ‘advance fees’ when you actually decide to make the purchase.

The ‘advance fee’ is usually used to offset your mobile phone bill for a fixed number of months but this added amount will more often than not; make your initial phone payout much higher than buying the phone at full price!

Mobile phone bundle plans also tie you in contract for a fixed number of years so it is best to ask more information before agreeing to tie yourself to them with monthly recurring charges!

Questions to ask when signing up for a mobile phone bundle plan:

Is there an advance fee or any other fee besides the advertised phone price? (That is, how much do you really need to fork out at get-go?)

What is my monthly commitment (in total with all fees and charges)?

How long am I tied?

Are there any additional fees?

Will I be charged extra for any added benefit service you are offering me?

3. When Signing up for any Package with a Recurring Charge

Many times, sellers try to hook you in as a customer for a set amount of time by offering you a discount if you pay a lump sum for a few services or subscription. This gives them a big chunk of profit in a go and ensures you don’t have time or the option of changing your mind. Sometimes, instead of charging the full amount; they insist on placing a standing instruction to charge your credit card every month. Service centres such as gyms, massage parlours, slimming centres and even car washes typically use this method of sale.

Whilst there is nothing really wrong with this mode of doing business (and it sometimes can benefit the customer); it’s best to be clear on what the terms are if you are committing to such chunky payment or for a fixed period of time.

Questions to ask when signing up:

What is my total monthly commitment/ full payout if I sign up for this package?

How much am I saving? (Again, ask amounts, not percentage!)

Are there added benefits or charges?

What are the penalties if I want to terminate the subscription?

What are the terms of the package (redemption, transferability, refunds, etc)?

4. When Called by Telemarketers

Increasingly, banks, insurance companies and even just regular salespeople are going back to the method of selling via phone. By catching a potential customer off guard, they are able to ply him/her with the benefits and selling points of the product. They then start hard selling.

Many people when called on a busy day, want nothing more than to hang up and get on with their business but their inner urge to not let go of a bargain then makes them easy targets. Many will simply say yes without further thought. Credit shield or credit card insurance is one such plan that is vigorously and many time unscrupulously sold by telemarketers by persistent calling and badgering (the writer herself has received many such calls!). All they need is a ‘yes’ from you even if it is a yes that you understand the terms!

Rule of thumb is to
not agree to anything over the phone
. Ask the salesperson if they have an office you could visit or a contract you could see before saying yes (this is if you really are interested!). But if you feel you absolutely want to close this deal over the phone, ask the salesperson these questions:

What exactly are you selling and what are the terms (ask for clarification if anything is unclear)?

How much will I be paying
in total
?

Are there any other fees or charges?

Is this a one-off payment or am I tied to a contract?

How can I terminate (if a contract) or what steps can I take if I change my mind about this purchase?

Do you have a website I can visit?

Do you have a contact number and a business address I can contact if I want to think about this purchase first before agreeing?

Cartoon from
Meet the Introverts
.

5. When Making a Bulk Purchase or Buying an Expensive Item

You will notice that big money usually means big losses and easier ways for sellers to hoodwink. So whether you are buying a car, a kitchen renovation or putting down any large sum that you could potentially lose; you need to pay added attention. Even if a seller isn’t out to cheat you; the investment is large so why not be sure that you’ll get exactly what you want and not find yourself crying in your new kitchen that’s so ugly; even you don’t want to eat in it?

Putting down big money is a big step so ask these questions:

What am I getting for this price (and not getting)?

Are there extras that I need which I have to pay an additional amount for?

What if I am unhappy with my purchase; what are the redress steps available to me?

If you have not delivered according to agreement; am I entitled to a refund?

Are there any added warranties or guarantees that come free with this purchase?

It can be a cruel world of tricksters but don’t be disheartened. Genuine deals are available but we need to cleverly avoid the scams to get to them. The above guide is not meant to be the only reference point. Always ask questions that will help
you
 understand the purchase better even if it means taking more time or annoying the salesperson! It is after all your hard earned money.

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Diana Chai

Diana Chai

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Digi Revises Postpaid Plans To Remove Weekday/Weekend Quota Split

Digi is revising its postpaid plans for 2020, doing away with the weekday/weekend quota split. Instead, Digi is updating them to the All-Day All-Usage Internet plans, which let customers use their internet any time they want for a month.

In addition, while the telco will retain the monthly subscription prices for its postpaid plans, it has altered some features as well as included some bonus rewards for selected plans. Essentially, three postpaid plans are affected by the upcoming revision, with Digi Postpaid 80 being the most changed:

Postpaid Plan

Existing Features

Updated Features

(19 Dec 2019 Onwards)

Bonus Rewards

JomStart (Digi Postpaid 58)

RM58 per month

5GB weekday data

5GB weekend data

Unlimited calls to all networks

10GB base data

Unlimited calls to all networks

Loyalty Bonus

Additional 5GB every 6 months (capped at 4 times, up to 2 years tenure)

Digi Postpaid 80

RM80 per month

10GB weekday data

10GB weekend data

Unlimited calls to all networks

300 SMSes to all networks

30GB YouTube internet quota allocation

30GB base data

Unlimited calls to all networks 300 SMSes to all networks

Welcome Bonus

Additional 10GB data every month upon sign-up (valid only for first 6 months)

Loyalty Bonus

Additional 10GB data every 6 months (capped at 4 times, up to 2 years tenure)

Digi Postpaid 120

RM120 per month

40GB base data

Unlimited calls to all networks

1,000 SMSes to all networks

Free Borderless Roaming plan

50GB base data

Unlimited calls to all networks

1,000 SMSes to all networks

Free Borderless Roaming plan

N/A

Note also that the Loyalty Bonus offered to Digi Postpaid 58 and Digi Postpaid 80 is applicable for life, as long as the subscriber stays on the same plan or upgrades to a higher plan.

Digi Postpaid 160 and Digi Postpaid 190, on the other hand, see no change. The two plans were not previously bound by the weekday/weekend quota split, and they also continue to offer 70GB and 100GB of data respectively, with unlimited calls and 100 SMSes to all networks. Additionally, subscribers to these two plans will get to enjoy the Borderless Roaming plan for free.

(
GBoost benefits offered by Digi Postpaid Plans when bundled with Digi PhoneFreedom 365 contract.
)

Meanwhile, subscribers of postpaid plans that come bundled with the Digi PhoneFreedom 365 contract will continue to retain their original GBoost benefit, where they get two times the amount of data that come with their plans. For instance, if you’re getting 50GB base data for the Digi Postpaid 120, GBoost will give you another 50GB at no extra charge.

The only exception would be for Digi Postpaid 80, where subscribers need to pay a monthly fee of RM10 for GBoost to get an extra 10GB internet quota (for normal contracts) or an extra 30GB internet quota (for Digi Postpaid 80 bundled with Digi PhoneFreedom 365 contract).

Digi has commented that existing postpaid subscribers who are already on selected plans will be able to enjoy the upgraded internet quota and bonuses automatically in the next bill cycle. It also said that long tenure internet plans customers will see their internet quota upgraded in stages before the end of January 2020.

(
Image: Marketing Magazine
)

Digi’s Chief Marketing Officer, Loh Keh Jiat, said that this enhancement to the postpaid offerings is part of Digi’s continuous effort to provide customers with easy access to internet, making it easy for them to stay connected to what matters most.

“With the All-Day All-Usage Internet, now our customers no longer need to deal with the different internet quota that was pre-fixed for the different services or mobile apps. At the same time with the bonus data, we are addressing the increased appetite for data usage and digital services trend that we are seeing happening amongst customers,” added Loh.

(Source:
SoyaCincau
,
MalaysianWireless
)

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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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Maybank Investment Bank Launches 'Trade with Maybank' Telegram Channel

(Image: The Edge Markets)

Maybank Investment Bank has launched an official Telegram channel dubbed “Trade with Maybank” to provide timely, bite-sized stock market information to investors.

The investment bank said that through this platform, its experts will provide first-hand trading ideas, technical and fundamental analyses, as well as research and educational materials. These materials are expected to benefit investors and traders by helping them to make informed decisions.

In addition to that, subscribers of the channel will receive invitations to webinars and events organised by the bank. They will also have the opportunity to access fresh market news and announcements, such as new initial public offerings and structured warrant listings.

(Image of Azzahir Azhar: The Star)

The head of investment management for Maybank Investment Bank, Azzahir Azhar said that the bank hopes to use the Telegram channel to provide high-quality ideas that its clients and the investing community can act on. “As a responsible capital market participant, we are also committed to proactively educating investors to help them on their investing journey,” he added.

Finally, the investment bank welcomes investors to join the
Telegram channel
 to get daily updates and news highlights on trading provided by the bank. As of the time of writing, the channel has gained 4,901 subscribers, with more than 3,700 having joined within the first week of its launch.

(Sources:
The Edge Markets
,
Maybank Investment Bank
)

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Maybank And Manchester United To Continue Partnership For Another 5 Years

(Image: The Edge Markets)

Maybank has announced a 5-year extension of its regional co-brand partnership with Manchester United FC. The renewed contract will continue from the 2019-2020 season and covers Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.

According to Datuk John Chong, group CEO, community financial services of Maybank, this partnership is another key step in Maybank’s strategy to continue building on its strong franchise in the region by offering distinct value propositions for different market segments.

The club has almost 22 million followers across Malaysia, Singapore, and the Phillipines who can take advantage of the special privileges offered by the Manchester United credit and debit cards. “The Maybank Manchester United credit card continues to be well-received in Malaysia, recording a healthy growth of 12% in card base and 15% in card billings in the last year,” said Chong.

Meanwhile, Manchester United Director of Partnerships Sean Jefferson said that the partnership with Maybank is one of the longest and most successful financial services partnerships the football club has had to date.

The
Maybank Manchester United Visa Card
 and
Manchester United Visa Infinite
 offer TreatsPoints on groceries, retail, and more – with a special 5x TreatsPoints rate on all retail when Manchester United wins a Premier League game. Both cards also offer 10% off and 10x TreatsPoints on United Direct Online Megastore and Outlet spend, as well as other perks like discounts on tours at Old Trafford.

(Source:
The Star
)

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4 Tips On Being Responsible With Your Personal Loan

A personal loan can go a long way towards helping you achieve your life goals and ambitions. These days, it is becoming easier and quicker to apply for a personal loan online. However, just like any other financial tool, you need to practise maximum financial responsibility when taking out and servicing a personal loan.

Here are four tips that you can make use of in order to manage your personal loan in a responsible manner.

1) Get A Loan For The Right Reasons

Unlike home loans or loans for your car, personal loans do not have to be used for a specific, bank-approved reason. Therefore, it is up to you to determine whether you have a good reason for your personal loan or not. If it is for
non-essential reasons
 – like going on holiday or buying luxury items – that do not have some sort of financial value or return in the long run, you would be acting irresponsibly by taking out the loan.

Common reasons
 for applying for personal loans include having to pay for sudden emergencies or home repairs. Some people also take out personal loans to cover the down payment for a house or fund their wedding – or to start their own business without having to apply for a business loan. Not to forget personal loans like the
Standard Chartered CashOne Debt Consolidation Plan
 which are used solely for the purpose of debt consolidation, where you roll all your existing loans and credit card debt into one new financial obligation.

2) Do Your Research

After evaluating your reason for getting a personal loan, now it is time to do the research on the personal loans in the market. And no, this is not just about which loan offers you the lowest interest rate as there are various other factors to consider. Overall, you should take into account the loan tenure, personal loan interest rates, additional fees and charges, and application requirements of each loan that you are considering; find out more about
how to choose a personal loan
 here.

If you are in need of quick cash, you can also look into personal loans that offer an instant approval – such as the
RHB Easy-Pinjaman Express
 or
Citibank Personal Loan
. And if you’re looking for a debt consolidation loan, such as the
Alliance Bank CashFirst Personal Loan
, you should check that your new consolidation loan has better rates than what you were paying on your various loans and debts previously.

3) Create A Budget

Creating a personal spending budget is a good financial habit to have on a normal basis, but it becomes extremely important when you have loans to pay off. Sit down and figure out how much money you have coming in and where it goes each month. Think about how much money you will need to borrow and how much you can comfortably pay back. Then, you will have a better idea of what size of loan you need and how to pay it back responsibly.

Make sure to be practical when crafting a budget and remember to leave room for emergencies. The best budget is not one that is stringent, but one that you know you can adhere to – if your budget is too unrealistic, you may end up abandoning it before long.

4) Make Your Payments On Time

If you miss a personal loan repayment, the banks will implement a late payment charge – which is usually about 1%p.a. of your current outstanding amount, calculated on a daily basis. As you can imagine, the penalty charges can quickly start building up, so the key to staying on top of your personal loan is to make your monthly repayments on time. You can do this by setting up automatic payments with your bank, or by setting a reminder on your phone so that you will not forget.

Making your personal loan repayments on time can also offer you another advantage – it can help improve your credit score. This can help you with your
financial standing overall
 and also with any future loan applications. In fact, if you have a great credit score and a long-term relationship with your bank, you could even negotiate for better terms and lower interest rates!

***

At the end of the day, financial responsibility is an important skill to have and implement in your adult life. Therefore, when you are making a financial decision such as taking out a personal loan, make sure to exercise your best judgement and behave sensibly both now and in the long run.

Start your search and make your comparisons with all the personal loans in one place here at
RinggitPlus
.

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UOB Launches Malaysia's First AI-Based Digital Banking Service, Mighty Insights

UOB Malaysia has launched the country’s first AI-based digital banking service, Mighty Insights, in a bid to help its customers manage their finances more simply and effortlessly. Incorporated within the bank’s UOB Mighty mobile banking app, the service is one of the several new features to be added to the banking app for better security, convenience, and user experience.

According to UOB, Mighty Insights is designed to help you receive personalised insights by analysing your banking and spending patterns, as well as to point you to financial solutions that are relevant to your needs. It relies on advanced data analytics, machine learning, and pattern recognition algorithms to provide personalised guidance for customers coming from different lifestyles and stages of life. Mighty Insights also shares the same digital capabilities used to power
UOB’s TMRW
, ASEAN’s first mobile-only digital bank that is currently available in
Thailand and Indonesia
.

(Image: Mashable)

One benefit offered by Mighty Insights is the ability to get a consolidated view of your average monthly expenses made on your cards for different spending categories over the past five months. With this, it will be easier for you to view and track your cash inflow and outflow, instead of having to trawl through multiple card statements and manually doing your own analysis.

Customers who make regular payments for subscription-based services will also receive alerts via Mighty Insights when the upcoming payments are due. Moreover, you will be notified if there are upcoming changes to these payments, such as an increase in subscription fees or if your trial subscriptions are ending.

On top of that, the new feature will also inform you whenever you make payments to a new merchant or if your current balance is unable to cover your usual expenses. You may also see prompts that identify opportunities for you to grow your savings, especially when you hit a specific threshold of money in your bank account.

Additionally, Mighty Insights is able to identify and adapt to your preferences over time when you provide feedback to the insights shown to you by rating them. This helps the service to offer content that best meet your banking and lifestyle priorities.

Prior to this launch, UOB said that it has tested
Mighty Insights
 in a two-month pilot programme with 200 customers in Malaysia. The programme saw success as customers rated the service as one of the top five features in its UOB Mighty mobile banking app. Malaysia is the second market to see the launch of Mighty Insights, with
Singapore being the first
 in 2019.

Aside from Mighty Insights, UOB has also enhanced its mobile banking app with several other new features, including the incorporation of the DuitNow QR code payment function. The bank also launched a Mighty Coupons feature in the app, where you can find various dining, shopping, and travel deals, as well as cash rebates from selected merchants every Friday.

Lastly, UOB also redesigned the app’s user interface to ensure that payment-related functions are now even more easily accessible. For instance, the DuitNow QR payment function and the UOB Mighty Secure (a digital security token for the authentication of transactions above RM10,000 via the app) can be accessed from the home screen of the app.

You can test out these new features for yourself by downloading the UOB Mighty mobile banking from
Google Play
, the
App Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
.

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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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    ANAND

    2 years ago

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Is Hong Leong’s Wise Credit Card the Best Cashback Credit Card for You?

As we shared earlier, Hong Leong shook the cashback rebate credit card segment last week with its
Wise Credit Card
. The 10% cashback rebate looks great but are you wondering how it compares to Malaysia’s best cashback credit cards?

The RinggitPlus team have done the hard work to compare the Wise Credit Card so that you can find the best cashback credit card for your needs.

Here is a quick recap of the Hong Leong Wise Credit Card:

10% cashback rebates on any two of the following categories: pharmacies, groceries, petrol, dining, departmental, book stores, utilities, entertainment and travel.

Mobile is a bonus 3
rd
 category.

RM100 max monthly cash rebate.

You must make 10 x RM50 transactions per month to qualify for the 10% rebate.

So How Does Hong Leong’s Wise Credit Card Compare?

10% cashback rebates and a RM100 monthly cap make this one of the most generous cashback credit cards. But is this the best cashback rebate credit card for you? It all depends how much you spend on your credit card:

I spend more than RM10,000 per month

You are better off with a 1% uncapped credit card or a 5x reward points credit card. The Hong Leong Essential Card has 1% uncapped cash rebate on all retail spending excluding petrol which makes it easy to earn your cash rebates wherever you spend. Maybank’s 2 Platinum and Gold credit cards have 5x TreatsPoints,
which are equivalent to 2.5% cash rebates
, on almost all spending and there’s no maximum cap.

I spend RM3,000 – RM10,000 per month

The other credit cards to consider in this segment are the Citibank Cashback Platinum and UOB’s ONE credit cards. Both offer cash rebates across more than three categories. However, the rebates are mostly 2% – 5% and some categories have individual caps of RM30-RM60. Have a look at this table to compare the details:

Credit card

Rebate

Monthly Cash Rebate limit

Categories

Rate

Hong Leong Wise

Petrol, pharmaceutical, groceries, mobile, entertainment, dining, departmental, book stores, utilities, travel

(Rebates on mobile plus two other categories only)

10%

RM100

Citibank Cashback Platinum

Petrol

Pharmaceutical

Groceries

Mobile

Others

5%

2%

2%

2%

0.3%

RM30

–

RM60

–

–

UOB ONE

Petrol

Pharmaceutical

Groceries

Mobile

Cinema

Others

5%

2%

2%

2%

5%

0.3%

RM30

–

RM30

RM6

–

–

If your monthly credit card spending is very predictable then the Hong Leong Wise Credit Card is best for you as you can choose the categories you spend the most on. On the other hand, the Citibank Cashback Platinum and UOB ONE credit cards will suit you if your monthly spending can be erratic.

I spend less than RM3,000 per month

For those of us in this category there may be some months when we miss the 10 x RM50 transaction requirement. That’s why the OCBC Titanium card is another card to consider:

Credit card

Categories

Rebate rate

Monthly Cash Rebate limit

OCBC Titanium

Petrol, groceries, dining & utilities

5%

RM50

The OCBC Titanium makes up for the lower rebate % and monthly cap by offering four categories vs. three and there are no minimum spending requirements.

If you use your credit card for the same things every month, like groceries and petrol, then the Hong Leong Wise Credit Card is still a strong choice. But if you don’t want to worry about making those 10x RM50 monthly transactions and spending in just 3 categories then the OCBC Titanium is a great all-round cashback credit card.

The RinggitPlus.com Team’s Advice

Is the Hong Leong Wise Credit Card the best cashback credit card? As you can see from our research it all depends how you use your credit card.

If you’re a big spender then the Hong Leong Essential Card and Maybank’s 2 Platinum and Gold credit cards all offer better value. But if your monthly credit card bills are around RM5,000 and you normally spend on the same things every month then Hong Leong’s Wise Credit Card is one of the best cashback credit cards.

The RinggitPlus team are glad to see another great cashback credit card to help Malaysians get more for their money.

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Do You Have a Shopping Problem?

Shopping, is undoubtedly the favourite activity of many Malaysian’s There’s no denying how great it feels to be able to spend your hard-earned money on the things you want. It can be such an awesome stress-reliever, too!

However, is there such a thing as too much shopping? Turns out, it was a big enough problem for a term to be coined: Omniomania, which refers to a shopping addiction, could be what you have if you start noticing these tell-tale signs.

You Overspend Every Month

You get your salary and you start to allocate your expenses accordingly. However, before you know it, you are at the mall spending more than you should and dangerously dipping into your other budgeted expenses.

Hey, sometimes these things happen! But if you find yourself in the same situation repeatedly month after month, then you might have fallen victim to the dreaded shopping addiction.

Overspending can also cause financial struggle especially when you buy using credit cards and are not able to pay it back in full every month.

You’ve Become a Compulsive Buyer

You’re prone to buying everything in sight, even the things you may never use ! That 15th pair of shoes, sixth handbag, or a fourth smartphone… you get the idea.

Ask yourself this, do you find yourself buying items you have no use for just for the sake of buying? Do you have a drawer full of knick-knacks that you’ve forgotten you even owned?

Whilst we all do purchase nice items we don’t necessarily need on occasion – it’s a different ballgame altogether if you are buying items you know you never really will have use for: such as a state of the art set of pots and pans when you can’t even cook
maggi
 right (and have no real intention of learning!) but the darn thing looks so good on your kitchen counter.

Lying Or Hiding Your Shopping Habits

Do you feel the need to lie to your family and friends about what you buy and how much you spend when you were out shopping?This may be another sign that your spending has gotten out of hand.

If you have to lie to cover up your shopping habits, it’s a possible sign you’re spending more money than even you know you should and the impulse to lie about it crops up.

You Feel Guilty After Shopping But Do It Anyway

Let’s face it, shopping can make you feel good. However, if you find these feelings of euphoria are usually short lived and followed by feelings of guilt, anger or sadness, that could be an initial sign that you have a shopping problem.

You could have a big problem to deal with, if despite these feelings, you rationalise your purchases and go out to shop again!

Shopping Wrecks Your Relationships

It’s bad enough to have to lie to your family and friends about your shopping habits but by keeping them in the dark and maybe even to the point of borrowing money from them to secretly feed your shopping needs, can put strain in your relationships.

If your shopping is in any way harming your cherished relationships; whether through the lies; the use of money that was meant for the collective household; or just to the point your loved ones need to bail you out of financial messes – it’s seriously time to make a change.

A Shopping Spree vs a Shopping Problem

Everyone has shopping sprees once in a while and it doesn’t mean you necessarily have a problem. To differentiate between a spree and a problem, consider the following differences:

A shopping spree leads to excessive purchases as well but with the necessary funds to do so while a shopping problem is usually done without any sufficient funds for it.

A shopping spree is an occasional thing while a shopping problem is a routine action.

A shopping spree usually takes place around a special holiday or designated times a year when you know you will be getting the things you need while a shopping problem means you buy pretty much any time and all the time.

What other qualities do you think constitutes a shopping problem? Do you know anyone with one? Let us know in the comments section!

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Ilyah Jamalludin

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MAA: Car Price Hike Inevitable Due To Continuous Delays In Production

(Image: AFP)

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) has once again reiterated that car prices will inevitably increase, given the continuous delays in production.

The president of MAA, Datuk Aishah Ahmad explained that the industry players are facing delays in the manufacturing of vehicles because of shortages of microchips and other components. On top of that, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict has also disrupted the supply chain. “Chips and components come from where the cars are being made, so if there is a delay in manufacturing, there will be a delay with delivery,” she added.

Datuk Aishah also noted that the shortage of microchips is caused by an insufficient number of workers on the manufacturing side. “Industry players are also facing logistics delays. This affects costs, which is why in the long run, it is inevitable that car prices will go up,” she remarked.

(Image: Paul Tan’s Automotive News)

Given the shortages of microchips and components, as well as shipment delays, MAA further said that it saw a 3.6% decrease in the sales of new vehicles in April 2022. This translates to a drop from 73,222 units in March to 56,213 units in April.

Several other car manufacturers also echoed a similar message as MAA, with regard to the impact of the ongoing delays on its production.
Honda
, for instance, stated that its car production is delayed due to “the global shortage of semiconductors and Covid-19 pandemic”. As such, customers who have already placed a booking may experience delays in receiving their cars, depending on the models or variants.

Meanwhile, Proton deputy chief executive officer, Roslan Abdullah shared that the production of Proton vehicles is gradually getting back on track, despite there still being a shortage of vehicle components. Hence, he said that a shorter waiting time is expected as the supply of the components is steadily rising.

(Source:
The Star
)

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PM: 10,317 Individuals Declared Bankrupt, 1,246 Businesses Shuttered During MCO

(Image: The Star)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob revealed that a total of 10,317 individuals have been declared bankrupt throughout the movement control order (MCO) period between March 2020 to July 2021. During the same period, 1,246 businesses have also closed down.

With regard to the bankrupt individuals, available data indicated that Selangor recorded the highest number of bankruptcy cases, involving 2,555 individuals. This is followed by Federal Territories at 1,288 persons, Johor Baru at 792 persons, and Perak at 628 persons.

Datuk Seri Ismail also noted that the government currently does not provide any assistance for business owners who have had to shutter their businesses. “Instead, the government provides assistance and incentives to support the continuity of their businesses,” he said.

(Image: Hari Anggara)

The prime minister further said that among some of the programmes and initiatives that had been rolled out to support business continuity and protect the people included the
Wage Subsidy Programme
 and the
Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) cash assistance
. These were offered under various economic stimulus packages, such as the
PEMULIH stimulus package
 and
PEMERKASA stimulus package
.

(Source:
The Star
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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A Quick Guide to the PR1MA Housing Scheme

If you’ve always dreamed of owning a home but have been unable to afford one thus far; the
PR1MA scheme
 may be exactly what the contractor ordered.
New phases have just opened for booking
 that includes property in Johor, Malacca, Seremban, Kuala Lumpur and Kedah to name a few. If you’re interested to get your paws onto one of these rather well-priced pieces of real estate; read on for a quick guide on how PR1MA works.

Who or What Are They?

The PR1MA body was formed under the PR1MA Act 2012 to plan and build affordable housing units for the middle-income Malaysian. The Affordable Housing Guys is who they are and hopefully they keep to that purpose. The houses they build will be in selected prime urban locations and will cost between RM100,000 – RM400,000 with RM250,000 being the most common price point we’ve seen to date.

A CGI rendition of a PR1MA Home taken from their
website
.

Great, Can I Sign Up?

The scheme was created to help middle-income households buy property. As such, it’s not open to everyone. In order to score yourself a bid to buy one of these lots; you’ll have to first be eligible to bid. Eligibility is decided based on income and a few other factors as per below:

1) You must be Malaysian (sorry, our foreign friends);

2) You must be above 21;

3) An individual (if single) or combined (if married) household income of between RM2,500 – RM10,000;

4) One or both of you collectively own no more than 1 other property (sorry, scalpers).

If you fit in with the criteria above, you can safely call yourself middle-income by PR1Ma standards and apply!

How it Works

Once you know you are able to apply; you will need to register an account with PR1MA on their website. You will need to provide them with your EPF number, LHDN number, employment details of your spouse and other property owned if you have any of those things. The latest month’s payslip and a copy of your IC will need to be scanned and appended. Once you’ve successfully applied on site; you will then be notified if any new property launches happen (like the one going on now!) and if you see any you like you can cast your ballot!

Casting your ballot doesn’t mean you will automatically get to purchase the house you’ve chosen. Once PR1MA has verified your eligibility; a balloting process will be conducted and if you are successful; you will then be free to select the bank of your choice to provide you the loan you need to buy the property.

PR1MA Home Loans

Although you are free to choose any bank you like; PR1MA does have a panel of appointed bankers offering special promotional home loans to help you pay for your new home. There is also a Rent-to-Own scheme for customers unable to secure a home loan
courtesy of the revamp efforts in Budget 2015
. You will be allowed to ‘rent’ the unit for up to 10 years with an option to purchase after, but this scheme is only for those who qualify.

Some Other Things To Know

Before you rush off into the sunset with your application, here are some other tidbits of info you should know:

1) There is no registration fee as such to buy PR1MA property, so if someone is asking, they’re likely lying! Don’t bother with an ‘agent’ or third party where PR1MA is concerned.

2) Yes, you can buy PR1MA property as a SECOND Home!

3) If you are a couple applying to buy the PR1MA property collectively; only one of you need register and cast a ballot.

4) PR1MA properties can be either Leasehold or Freehold depending on the land upon which it is built. To be sure, do read the details of the property carefully!

Ready to own? We’re willing to wager these houses are going to go pretty quickly.

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Tips For Getting the Most During Cyber Weekend/Black Friday Sales

By tomorrow, many stores both online and physical will be blaring year end sales. Whatever they choose to call it; (Black Friday, Cyber Monday/Weekend, Year End, Holiday Sale) the gist remains the same: they are all after your shopping ringgit!

That should be good right: Who doesn’t love a good sale/deal? But is that really what it is?

Many stores would be offering good discounts but tricky ones still exist who will not be so generous with the deals. Spot the deal from the dud and #GetMore for your money with these shopping tips just for the sales-y weekend!

Don’t Shop in a Hurry

The worst thing you can do during a sale marathon is try and squeeze it into a half hour segment. Trying to quickly make purchasing decisions will pressure you into forking out for items you may not have really wanted or getting caught in not-so-stellar deals.

Apportion a good amount of time depending on your shopping list. The more items you need to get, the longer you need to spend looking and deciding. This doesn’t mean you have to pack the full shopping effort into one day – spread it out over the weekend and give yourself time to mull over the options before making a purchase.

Stay Comfortable and Hydrated

When planning a full shopping day dodging crowds and queues; it pays to dress comfortably and keep drinks/food on hand if you need it. Being hungry or uncomfortable will again spur you to make quick and not always wise decisions just so you can get off your feet or get some food.

Of course, this isn’t a problem if you are online shopping but that will require a different kind of preparation – which we’ll get to next!

Make Budgets

When going out to physical stores – though you can get carried away with the spending; it is easier to create controls. Take a limited sum of money and just one capped credit card would be effective enough.

Shopping online however, is a little more dangerous. When we have electronic access to our cash and credit cards – it can be all the more tempting to just click buy. The fact that we never see the cash changing hands could be an added detriment.

Make a conscious effort to set a budget when online shopping and keep track of it with every ringgit you spend. It will take a little more will power but it’s not impossible – especially if you can see the amounts adding up on your spend list.

Scrutinise Deals and Do Quick Online Research

If you are shopping online – it’s easier to do a quick check of similar websites or recommended retail prices of international brands to get an idea of whether or not your deal is a good one. However, even if you are at a store – you can take a moment to check the internet from your phone.

It would be even better if you were familiar with the regular prices and promotions in a store before you attack the sales period but even if not – it’s easy to spot a dud bargain. Does the price seem inflated for the value you are receiving despite a hefty slash?

Don’t be carried away by percentages. A 60% deal may look good until you realise that the ‘before’ price has been heavily inflated. Consider the value you are receiving from the price or the item versus the actual percentage discount being advertised.

Practise Conscious Buying

There is nothing more difficult than practising conscious buying when you’re faced with hordes of shoppers who look ready to shove you down the escalator if you eye their wanted goods. But breathe!

Don’t get caught up in the frenzy of the sale and buy things you never intended to in the first place. Similarly, don’t get caught up by
sales rhetoric
. Keep your wits about you and buy what you really want/need.

Check out our
guide on conscious buying
 from just a few days ago to help you get through.

Take the Right Payment Tools with You

As mentioned above, the right mix of cash and credit will help you keep to your budget but you can save even more by bringing the
right
 payment tool. Credit card companies often offer additional discounts at sales if you pay with their credit card.

One way to enjoy the perks of
all
 your
credit cards
 is to call the bank and have limits set on how much you can swipe per day. This prevents you from overspending but it means you have all your credit cards on hand should a promo arise at a store for any one of them.

If you are shopping online; look out for additional credit card deals such as Mastercard only promotions or additional discounts with cards from Bank A. We guarantee there will be a few of these around so keep your eyes peeled.

Remember – It’s Only Shopping

At the end of the day, remember that it’s only shopping. Missed a good deal? Item sold out? Parking at your favourite mall too crowded? It’s not the end of the world.

Even the stampede inducing Black Friday sales happen
every
 year – there will surely be more great buys to be had. Who knows – you may find something better, cheaper
after
 the Christmas rush.

Happy Shopping!

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Big Prizes Await! Win The iPad Pro, Apple Watch 8, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, And More

Good news, Apple fans! There are TWO ways to win an Apple Watch, amongst other amazing prizes such as the new iPad Pro this week. Apply for a credit card with our weekly flash deals from Unbox This Week and you might be able to score one of the many amazing gifts we have in store for you.

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.

From 20 to 27 February 2023, our featured bank partners are

none other than
Citibank, HSBC Bank, Public Bank, Alliance Bank, RHB, and Standard Chartered Bank
. 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!

Citibank – Apple iPad Pro 11-inch M2

Fancy getting your hands on an iPad Pro? Here’s your chance!

Win the iPad Pro by applying for a Citibank credit card this week. Powered by the M2 chip, the new iPad Pro features incredible performance and the most advanced technologies, including ProRes video capture, superfast wireless connectivity, and powerful iPadOS 16 features.

If you don’t win the iPad Pro, you’ll still get a pair of 2nd gen Apple Airpods.

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 Bank – Apple Watch Series 8

Stand a chance to bring home an Apple Watch Series 8 when you apply for a HSBC credit card this week.

With all-day 18-hour battery life, Apple Watch Series 8 has health and safety features like the ECG app and fall detection monitoring, as well as temperature-sensing capabilities, and an ovulation estimate feature. The stylish Apple Watch 8 also includes a large, Always-On Retina display with a strong crack-resistant front crystal watch face.

You’ll still be able to take home RM600 in Touch ‘n Go eWallet Credit if you don’t win the Apple Watch Series 8!

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
.

Public Bank – Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smartwatch

Taking your health more seriously this year? Stand a chance to win the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smartwatch when you apply for a Public Bank credit card.

With an ultra-slim and light design, the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smartwatch will help you look trendy on the go. It also comes equipped with an always-on AMOLED display, and health tracking features such as blood oxygen saturation measurement, heart rate monitoring, and 68+ sport modes.

If you don’t win the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smartwatch, you’ll still be guaranteed a Case Vaulkner 20″ Gorgeous Luggage Bag – perfect for your travels!

All you need to do is complete your application via the RinggitPlus website, get approved by Public Bank, and make an accumulative spend of RM250 within sixty (60) days of approval to be guaranteed this gift. Apply for your Public Bank credit card
here
.

Alliance Bank – Xiaomi Mijia Water Dispenser C1 OR Xiaomi 70mai 1s Dash Cam

Bring home a guaranteed Xiaomi Mijia Water Dispenser C1 or Xiaomi 70 Mai 1s Dashcam when you apply for a new Alliance Bank Credit Card!

Apply for an Alliance Credit Card with Balance Transfer and you’ll be guaranteed to receive the Xiaomi Mijia Water Dispenser C1. The perfect addition to your household – the Xiaomi Mijia Water Dispenser C1 features 3 different modes for water temperature, a quick one-button start feature, and 2.5L of tank capacity, meeting your daily hydration needs.

On the other hand, take home the guaranteed Xiaomi 70 Mai 1s Dashcam when you apply for an Alliance Credit Card without Balance Transfer. The dashcam comes in handy when you need to record crystal-clear footage in case you witness any unfortunate incidents on the road, thanks to its 1080p resolution.

Upon approval, you just have to activate and spend 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

RHB – Apple Watch SE

You could win the Apple Watch SE when you apply, activate, and spend with an RHB Credit Card this week!

The new Apple Watch SE delivers the core Apple Watch experience, including Activity tracking, high and low heart rate notifications, and Emergency SOS. It also includes the new Crash Detection feature and a completely redesigned back case, making this an eye-catching trendy piece for your wrist.

Great news! You’ll still be guaranteed RM200 via DuitNow if you don’t win the Apple Watch SE.

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

Standard Chartered Bank – Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

Apply and activate your Standard Chartered Credit Card and you could win a brand new Samsung Galaxy Watch 4!

The all-new Galaxy Watch4 was designed to be the perfect companion on your journey towards a healthier you. Featuring the innovative Samsung BioActive Sensor and a lightning fast chip, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is able to capture body composition and even track blood pressure, making this one of the most capable fitness trackers in the market!

The best part? You’ll still get a guaranteed URBANLite Ledge 24″ luggage if you’re not selected.

All you need to do is complete your application via the RinggitPlus website and provide your Identity Card (MyKad) images (front and back) during the application process. Once you’re approved for the card, activate your card to be guaranteed a gift. Apply for your Standard Chartered 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 27 February (11 am), 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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Eloise Lau

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EPF Unveils Flexible Voluntary Contribution

(Image:
Rojak Daily
)

Members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) can now contribute any amount of money to their EPF accounts as the retirement fund scrapped the RM50 minimum contribution requirement, with effect on 1 July.

In a press statement, EPF announced that its members can now voluntarily contribute any amount of money to their accounts via the 1Malaysia Retirement Scheme (SP1M), self-contribution, or the Top-Up Savings Contribution scheme. However, the maximum accumulated amount that any member can contribute to his or her account remains at RM60,000 per annum.

According to EPF deputy chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Naim Daruwish, the retirement savings fund removed the RM50 minimum contribution to ensure its members can contribute to their retirement fund within their financial means.

Additionally, EPF members can now make contributions of any amount to their children’s EPF Account 1 via the Top-Up Contribution Scheme.

(Source:
The Edge
 and
KWSP
)

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BIS Study: Three Quarters Of Bitcoin Investors Have Suffered Losses

(Image: Bloomberg/ Gianluca Colla)

A recent study by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has shown that approximately 73% to 81% of retail cryptocurrency investors have suffered losses on their initial investments, following the price declines seen by the sector over the past year.

“Overall, back of the envelope calculations suggest that around three-quarters of users have lost money on their Bitcoin investments,” noted economists at BIS in a working paper, adding that the study analysed data on crypto investors in 95 countries between 2015 to 2022. The paper also charted the rise and fall of Bitcoin’s price, which increased from US$250 in August 2015 to nearly US$69,000 in November 2021, before gradually falling back to around US$16,500 at present day.

The study also highlighted the investment behaviour between larger and smaller investors during the period studied, noting that larger holders (those who own wallets in excess of 100,000 Bitcoin) typically sold their Bitcoin as prices rose. Meanwhile, small and medium holders – defined as those with less than 1 and between 1 to 1,000 Bitcoin, respectively – tended to buy more.

BIS researchers further noted that the number of people using crypto investment apps also rose during this same period, from 119,000 to 32.5 million individuals. “Our analysis has shown that, around the world, Bitcoin price increases have been tied to greater entry by retail investors,” they shared in the study.

Additionally, about 40% of the new users were found to be made up of men under the age of 35, typically classified as “the most ‘risk-seeking’ segment of the population”. It was also found that these individuals showed a tendency to trade more actively in the months after the price of Bitcoin rose exponentially.

Finally, the BIS study highlighted the need for better consumer protection for crypto investors, especially if there is an expected growth in crypto adoption in the economy soon. “As recent developments have shown, if interest rates rise and global risk appetite suddenly wanes, the overall market could dry up. If, following price declines, retail investors make losses and exit the market, there is the potential for self-reinforcing dynamics,” BIS researchers said.

The crypto market has seen nearly
US$2 trillion of its value erased thus far this year
, with investors spooked by the collapse of well-known tokens and market players, one after the other within a short span of time. These include the fall of the
Terra blockchain
, crypto hedge fund
Three Arrows Capital
, crypto lender
Celsius Network Ltd
, and most recently,
crypto exchange FTX
 – just to name a few.

Meanwhile, BIS – which was established in 1930 – is widely considered to be the central bank of central banks globally. It aims to assist central banks around the world in their pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international co-operation.

(Source: BIS [
1
,
2
])

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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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Instahome: An End-To-End Service For Malaysian Landlords

Among the age-old questions a regular person will ask at one point in their life is “to buy or to rent?” Although
RMFLS 2021
 indicates that many Malaysians are interested in purchasing a home, there are many reasons why some prefer renting instead of buying, such as flexibility, affordability, and low commitment. Due to the sheer size of the rental market, many Malaysians seek to fulfil the demands by purchasing homes and turning them into investments.

However, being a landlord is no easy task. Managing your property, maintaining its quality, making it attractive to potential tenants, and ensuring rent gets paid on time are only a few of the responsibilities that sit on the shoulders of a landlord. This becomes even more difficult when they have a full-time job or more than one property to manage.

When these problems arise, it’s normal to wonder if acquiring external help would be worthwhile. Hiring an agent might be hit-or-miss because good agents with impressive track records might not prioritise your listing due to the volume of properties on their plate while less experienced agents may not have the expertise in selling the property.

Insurance Protection Of Up To RM18,000 + 2.5 Months Deposit

According to a landlord survey conducted by Instahome, although the majority of landlords collect a traditional 2.5 months deposit, they still worry about runaway tenants, property damages and theft that exceed the deposit collected.

To further safeguard Joe’s interests as a landlord, Instahome has partnered with Tune Protect to provide
free landlord insurance
.
Landlords can collect the usual 2.5 months deposit and get insurance protection of up to RM18,000 with Instahome x Tune Protect’s insurance. Under the free package, landlords are insured for:

● Tenant Runaway

Loss of Rent up to RM1,500

Legal letter of demand up to RM500

● Malicious Damage upon tenant runaway

Up to RM15,000

● Theft and burglary by tenant

Up to RM1,000

With this, Joe no longer has to carry his past worries of dealing with poor-quality tenants. And if he does, he’s insured by Instahome x Tune Protect’s coverage. Whether it’s missing furniture, late payments, or tenants that simply go MIA, Instahome ensures that all landlords get the protection they need.

Instahome Partners You For The Entire Rental Process

It’s sad when a tenant runs away or doesn’t pay rent after moving in, and the property agent or platform is uncontactable after collecting their upfront fee. Instahome commits to being with you the entire way by charging you a smaller monthly fee instead. Additionally, this monthly fee is tax-deductible from your rental income!

***

Taking on the role of a landlord comes with a unique set of challenges that not everyone can endure. High vacancy costs, unsatisfactory service by agents, damaged property, and difficulty in receiving payments on time are some of the hardships that landlords are subjected to brave.

However, working with Instahome provides the bright prospect of having those worries mitigated through the help of thorough background checks and insurance protection, just to name a few. If you or a landlord you know could potentially benefit from Instahome, why not give it a try?

Find out more about Instahome by
visiting their website
.

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Lisa Ameera Azman

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New BNM Guidelines: Will It Reduce the Debt Burden?

The past few weeks have seen the issue of household debt being frequently discussed in every major daily. The statistics released by the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) regarding the reasons people found themselves in debt (based on their enrolment for the Debt Management Programme) triggered more discussion about why the situation was escalating at the rate it has.

According to AKPK’s findings, the highest percentage (23%) belonged to those who were unable to practice prudent financial management. Meaning; many undertook loans they were unable to repay. The statistics implied that personal financing was easily obtainable and thus resulted in imprudent financial management.

In response to the overall problem of increasing household debt; Bank Negara Malaysia released a new set of guidelines on Friday (12 July) in hopes of alleviating the problem. The new guidelines: which will come into immediate effect: will limit housing loan tenures to 35 years; personal loan tenures to 10 years and the barring of pre-approved financial products.

Limiting loan tenures will no doubt reduce the total amount of interest paid by a borrower and pre-approved loans will no longer be given to applicants who otherwise will not qualify based on income. But shorter tenures also mean higher repayment amounts every month which will further add to the already escalating living costs in the country. For many, a reduction to 35 years may not seem like much but the impact may be felt more by young, first-time house buyers with limited incomes to whom every ringgit more to their monthly commitment counts.

No doubt, more stringent loan approval processes will bring down the number of loans approved and of course; the level of debt, but will such a move be merely superficial tinkering as opposed to being truly beneficial to the rakyat? As it is, burgeoning costs of living and escalating prices of houses and cars mean more people are forced to take out larger loans as salaries aren’t increasing in tandem. Tightening loan requirements may mean many will be unable to afford homes and cars or worse, may resort to illegal moneylenders.

In the press statement as reported by Bernama, Bank Negara Governor, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said, “Our recent supervisory review of financial institutions’ compliance with the guidelines are falling short of expectations, in a number of respects, resulting in lending decisions that are inconsistent with the obligation to ensure that financial products offered are affordable.”

One cannot help but wonder if perhaps it would be more helpful to ensure that costs of living and having a home are affordable.

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Malaysian Government Considers 0.02% Service Charge For Online Shoppers

(Image: The Star)

The government is considering proposing a service charge of 0.02% for online purchases, including those on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee and Lazada.

According to Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the charge could be as low as 20 sen for purchases of RM1,000 and below. However, the minimum transaction amount that will be eligible for the online purchase service charge is not yet decided.

“The matter is still at the ministry’s planning stage before being officially presented. This approach is one way to find a source of revenue that does not burden the people,” said the deputy minister. “At the same time, the service charge will be used to improve communications security in order to avoid scammers and cybersecurity breaches.”

(Image: Free Malaysia Today)

Zahidi added the 0.02% service charge is not considered a goods and service tax (GST). He further stated that many online purchases are not taxable, causing losses and leakages in government revenue. “Charging a tax is complicated and needs to be approved by Parliament, which is why we need to introduce this service tax,” he explained at a press conference held during a community even held in Bachok, Kelantan.

The deputy minister went on to say that cyber attacks have become more frequent across the world due to data leaks. “Therefore, our country’s cybersecurity system must be upgraded and updated to avoid this from happening,” he said. “As such, we need to all help bear the cost of improving communications as it involves a large amount of spending.”

(Source:
Harian Metro
)

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Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

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