Why Did I Not Get the Best Interest Rate for My Personal Loan?

Did you recently apply for a personal loan, became extremely happy when it was approved, then noticed that the rate wasn’t what you were hoping? You might have asked yourself (and your loan officer), “Hey! What’s the deal?”

To get to the bottom of the matter, first, let’s unwrap what ‘best rates’ really are. We might think it equals the interest costs closest to the advertised rate but that’s only half right.

The Most Likely Reasons

The promoted rates represent the best possible outcome for a specific loan amount to be paid back within a specified timeline. This means that your rates will be different in line with how much you borrow and how quickly or slowly you intend to pay it back.

After that, the bank will also need to asses just how risky it is to lend you the funds you need. In almost all instances, banks will pay attention to factors like credit history, income status, security of loan and employment to reach a conclusion.

With that in mind, let’s take a gander at some of the possible reasons why you did not get the rates you wanted.

1. You’re not a rock star when it comes to credit history

When you promise to pay and then you don’t, it leaves a metaphorical red mark on your financial report card otherwise known as your credit report; a comprehensive record of your transactions with banks and other authorised creditors.

If these payment transgressions are bad – you will not get your loan approved but if they’re not great but just ‘ok’; you’ll get a loan with a higher interest rate.

Sometimes, the higher rates you receive will reflect your status as a risky borrower.

2. You don’t have an FD or investments in the bank

When you have ‘good history’ with your bank in a way that can demonstrate a commendable habit of saving and a knack for careful financial planning, you could be rewarded in the form of lower interest rates.

This is especially valuable for personal loans that allow you to borrow against the FD or investment you have placed with the bank. Often called
secured personal loans
; loans like these come with a lower interest rate because they are essentially provided with a form of collateral.

3. You’re not on the bank’s list of preferred employees

Certain employment types come with special benefits, we’re talking about government employees – those in civil service and employees of government-linked companies. Civil servants can benefit from
special lower interest rate schemes
 designed especially for them.

It is meant to account for the stability of a civil servant’s employment and is usually accompanied by specific payment modes, such as automatic salary deduction to minimise late payment (or non-payment) issues.

Beyond those specifically meant for civil servants, some banks do discriminate further depending on the type of industry you are in and how secure or well known your company appears to be. Don’t be surprised if they ask you extensive questions about what you do and where you work.

In this situation, it’s hard to guess what kind of rate you will receive in each bank but your bank officer will be able to give you a rough idea based on past applicant experience.

4. You applied for a quick-approval loan

Good things come to those who are patient and those who can’t wait, get higher rates. Well, it’s not always the case but many
quick-approval loans
 usually charge the borrower for the benefits of enjoying a value-added service, in this case, receiving funds faster. As such, banks levy higher interests to compensate for providing quick-cash.

So if you can wait, it might be a good idea to opt out of quick-approval loans and look for regular personal loans. Note that, nowadays, with the competitive nature of personal loans, the wait period isn’t necessarily too long either.

5. You didn’t shop around

With most everything, we make comparisons before we purchase. Naturally your personal loan deserves the same care and attention. Check out our
comparator for some of the lowest rates in the market
.

If you are still unsure, you can talk to the various bank officers personally about how risky they may consider your case based on your income and profession. You’ll certainly be better informed.

What Can You Do if You’re Unhappy With the Rates Received?

You do not have to accept the loan if you aren’t satisfied. Instead you can choose to:

1) If you didn’t before (or even if you did); check out our
personal loan calculator for the best rates available with every bank
. Maybe you’ve missed a bank promotional rate or there is a bank with a better loan offering. The handy calculator also helps show you your monthly repayments based on the amount you borrow, tenure of financing and income. We’ve already done the legwork for you so why do it again?

2) Apply elsewhere and at the same time also consider changing the specifics of your loan with respect to the tenure and amount borrowed to restructure the overall rate.

3) Consider introducing a guarantor or supply collateral if you have any to improve the rates you currently have with the bank in question.

4) Check with your loan officer for the details of your loan rates and how you can improve them.

Whatever you decide, you’ll be wise to plan your budget carefully. Remember to consider a healthy repayment range that is achievable for your income level as well as your other financial commitments. Best of Luck!

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How To Make The Most Out Of Your Debit Cards

The way we pay for things has evolved greatly over the years. Instead of paying only with cash, today you can choose to pay with cash, credit card, e-wallet, or a debit card.

Depending on individual preferences, some of us still prefer to use physical cash despite the rise of new and better payment technologies. With cashless payment methods, you no longer have the hassle of storing change in your wallet or even be at risk of snatch thieves.

As an alternative to cash, the humble debit card is often overlooked as a payment instrument. Often overlooked as “just an ATM card” to withdraw cash from your savings or current account, it is actually more convenient than using cash – and it comes with a few extra benefits that you may not realise at first. Here are some of them.

Quick, Cashless & Contactless Payments

Having some cash with you at all times is necessary, but carrying too much cash isn’t just a safety risk, it’s also inconvenient and sometimes uncomfortable. Furthermore, with the on-going pandemic, cashless and contactless transactions are encouraged as a measure to stay safe.

A debit card not only negates the need to carry too much cash, all debit cards issued in Malaysia have contactless payment features built in. You’ll know your debit card has it when you see the familiar “wave” logo on the card. Simply tap your card on the payment terminal to authorise a payment, eliminating the need to hand over your card to the cashier.

Protected & Secure Banking

Debit cards also come with many security features. The contactless feature comes with a typical purchase limit of RM250. Any purchase exceeding this amount will require you to enter your card’s PIN number for an extra layer of security. You can change the purchase limit by yourself at the bank or via your online banking portal.

Separately, if you’ve ever had the experience of losing your wallet, then you would know the upsetting truth that your money is long gone. But if your debit card is lost or stolen, the bank can immediately block the card once you’ve informed them, making it impossible to use for payment. You can also opt for transaction alerts to be sent to your registered phone number every time a purchase is made on your debit card, so that you’ll be able to instantly know when an unidentified or unauthorised transaction is made.

Avoid Impulsive Spending & Stay Within Your Budget

Just like how cash is usually stored in your wallet, a debit card is directly linked to your savings or current account. This means that whenever you make a purchase, the amount is directly deducted from your account. Moreover, a debit card does not allow payments that exceed your account balance. Unlike cash, where most of us tend to spend it all whenever we see it, a debit card could help control this habit.

Thus, you’ll be able to track your spending habits, avoid impulsive purchases and most importantly stay within your budget every month. Plus, it’s always a good idea to visualise how much you have in your account to keep up with your savings.

You Can Also Enjoy Convenient Payment With Extra Perks & Privileges

Finally, here’s a little-known fact: many banks run campaigns with rewards or discounts when you shop or dine at selected locations with your credit card and/or debit card.

You can also enjoy cashback, instant rebates, or other rewards that you won’t enjoy if you paid with cash. These bank campaigns occur regularly throughout the year, so it’s best to keep updated with the latest promotions by checking out your bank’s websites and newsletters.

Also, whenever you spend with your debit card, you’re not incurring any debt. That means no interest charges to worry about!

So, if you’re thinking of a way to go cashless, stop impulsive spending, and keeping track of your expenditure, a debit card could be the best payment medium for you. It’s quick, secure, and convenient. And you get to enjoy rewards when you spend! Find out more at
Pay With Debit’s website
 on how you can benefit from a debit card.

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Katrina Balan Quiroz

Katrina Balan Quiroz

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

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Sime Darby Property To Review Prices Of Unsold Units

Sime Darby Property Berhad is undertaking a “tactical price review” of all its unsold property units, particularly for development units that have already been completed.

The property market in Malaysia has been facing low absorption rates due to current economic uncertainties and tight lending conditions. Property developers have initiated competitive marketing promotion and price discounting strategies to counter these key challenges. Thus, a price review of Sime Darby’s unsold properties would make sense given its high level of inventory units still available on the market.

On top of that, the property group’s net profit for the last quarter ending September 2018 stood at RM28.8 million – a 93% drop compared to the RM421 million made in the corresponding quarter a year ago. It attributed its drop in profits mainly to the share of loss from the Battersea project in London.

(Image: Focus Malaysia)

“Budget 2019 has provided a number of initiatives to support home ownership. The Group envisage that these positive developments would provide a boost to the property market,” said Sime Darby when it told Bursa Malaysia of its tactical price review on 27 November.

Sime Darby Property is a publicly-traded government-linked company. It expects its results for the financial period ending 31 December 2018 to be satisfactory.

(Source:
The Star
,
The Edge Markets
)

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Citibank Credit Cards Gives You The Power To Do More

Thinking of getting that new sleek
Inspiron
 laptop for work? Or perhaps it’s time to upgrade your desktop to something with flashier specs, maybe an
Alienware Aurora R4
?  With Citibank’s 0% installment plan you don’t have to fuss about whether you can afford it. As an added incentive they are also offering to double your Citibank reward points when rack up more than RM1200 from your Dell online shopping cart.

This promotion is valid till 30 April 2013 and only applies to Citibank Platinum, Gold, Choice, Clear, Citibusiness (personal underwriting) and AirAsia-Citibank principal credit cards.

As buying a new computer can be a steep investment please take some time to read the terms & conditions from both
Citibank
 and
Dell
 carefully before making your purchase(s).

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Bursa Malaysia Records Strongest One-Day Gain Since 2020 Following PM Appointment

Malaysia’s stock market recorded its strongest one-day gain in more than two years yesterday, riding on the country’s optimism following Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appointment as the new Prime Minister.

Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) rallied to a near three-month high of 1,501.88 at closing yesterday, seeing a 4.04% increase (58.38 points higher) from the day before. Malaysia has not seen a jump this large since March 2020, when the benchmark leapt by 6.85%.

To note, the index had surged by more than 28 points – equivalent to 2% higher – to 1,471 during yesterday’s morning trading session itself, even before news of Datuk Seri Anwar’s appointment broke. It continued to rally in the afternoon trading session, and subsequently skyrocketed with the confirmation of the news.

Winners yesterday included telcos Axiata Group Bhd and Maxis Bhd. Axiata saw a 12.8% increase (36 sen) to RM3.18, while Maxis soared 12.3% (45 sen) to RM4.11. Similarly, gaming and brewery stocks also recovered from its
tumble earlier this week
, caused by investors’ anxiety on the prospects of sin sectors should Malaysia see a conservative government come to power following the uncertain results of the recent general election (GE15).

(Image: The Star)

During closing yesterday, Heineken Malaysia Bhd surged 6.7% (RM1.56) to RM24.88, while Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd gained 4.3% (94 sen) to RM22.94. As for gaming stocks, Magnum Bhd was up 9.3% (12 sen) at RM1.41, whereas Sports Toto gained 5.6% (9 sen) to RM1.70. Genting Malaysia Bhd also climbed 7.9% (20 sen) to RM2.72, and its parent company, Genting Bhd, increased 6.4% (27 sen) to RM4.48.

Aside from the stock market, Malaysia’s currency also saw a strong rebound against the US dollar yesterday, shooting up 1.74% to 4.4955 from Wednesday’s close of 4.5750. Moreover, it gained 1.57% against the British pound, 1.09% against the Singapore dollar, and 0.67% against the euro.

Malaysia had faced almost a week of political uncertainty after GE15 – which was held last weekend, on 19 November – failed to produce a clear winner that could form Malaysia’s new government. Unsurprisingly, this led to a political impasse, which ultimately required intervention from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. The King eventually named
Datuk Seri Anwar as Malaysia’s 10
th
 Prime Minister
, who was sworn in at 5pm yesterday.

(Sources:
The Edge Markets
,
New Straits Times
)

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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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Why Are Mobile Plans Always So Annoying?

We all use our smartphone for everything, which means we all subscribe to our own telco plans. With all the ways our smartphones make our lives easier, how come the telco plans we use are often so annoying? If you’re feeling quite comfortable with your plan right now and aren’t quite sure what we mean, allow us to remind you the weird ways in which telco plans are configured and why we think it should change.

Your Unused Minutes, Texts Messages, and Data Are Burned Off

You’re familiar with having, say, 100 minutes of talking time but only for a limited period, yes? Or maybe 50 text messages but they expire next month. Or perhaps Telco M gives you 30GB, however, you can only use a maximum of 15GB on weekends. This is normal. But isn’t it annoying?

For one thing, you’ve paid for these services. Why can’t you just use them even if it takes you a while to do so? Text messages, phone calls, and data aren’t like fruit or vegetables, they don’t rot if you leave them out too long. So why do they even have expiry dates in the first place?

With a plan like ONEXOX Black, you don’t have to worry about expiry dates. All the data, text messages, and talktime you don’t use in one month will still be available for you in the next month. That’s right, #BurnProof. This means you get to use all of the services you paid for with absolutely zero wastage. No more rushing to call people at weird hours or watching HD video unnecessarily. Just use as much as you want, when you want to.

You’re Tied to a Contract

When you first subscribe to a telco plan, you’re bound to it for a certain period of time. So let’s say you’re a new subscriber to the Telco A plan, and you’re bound for the first 2 years. But before that period is up, you realise that the signal keeps dropping off and you want to stop using this plan. You can’t just unsubscribe.

The typical cancellation penalty for doing so before the period is over is 10% of how much you’re meant to pay in that duration. So if you’re paying RM80 per month and you’re bound for 2 years, if you want to leave early, you may have to pay a
RM200
 cancellation fee. You’re paying the telco to
not
 give you anymore service. How does that even make sense?

Thankfully, a plan like ONEXOX Black doesn’t bind you under a contract that way. You’re contract-free and have the flexibility of cancelling any time you want, with no need to worry about cancellation fees, double billing, or any of that nonsense.

Limited High Speed Internet

Another thing about mobile data plans is that they often only offer you high speed internet at certain times of day or certain days of the week. So when you want to do some heavy surfing or messaging outside of these hours, your speed might get throttled.

The idea behind this makes a certain kind of sense. More high-speed internet on the weekends since you’re freer to do what you want outside of work hours, right? But not everybody has the same workweeks as everybody else. What if you take a long weekend? What if you switch from the night shift to the morning shift sometimes? Suddenly this “clever” allocation of data is not so smart.

Good thing that the ONEXOX BLACK plan offers you high-speed internet 24 hours a day. That’s right. Any time of day, any day of the week. You’re free to use as much data as you like whenever you want to. This, along with the freedom of not being bound by a contract, and not having to worry about your data being burned off, means it’s the one plan that gives you absolute freedom to enjoy your life online as you see fit.

Right now, the ONEXOX BLACK plan comes in three flavours. The one that gives you the most data (12GB), talktime (100 minutes), and SMS (100) per month is the B59 plan which only costs you RM59 every month. A steal when you factor in all the other advantages we just mentioned.

If you’re interested in the ONEXOX BLACK plan, you can visit
their official website
 to know more. Or you can go to their online store and
sign up right now by clicking here
.

<a href=”
http://xox.com.my/onexox-black/”target=”_blank”>

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Lazada Imposes 1.5% Service Fee On LazPayLater One-Month BNPL Payment Plan

Lazada has made a slight update to the fees of its buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) service, LazPayLater, now implementing a 1.5% service fee for the one-month deferment plan as well. This revision will take effect immediately, and has also been reflected in its Help Centre page.

When it was
first rolled out in November 2022
, LazPayLater allowed users to delay the payment of their purchases by one month without paying any extra charges (0%). Only those who choose monthly instalment plans (3, 6, or 12 months) will be charged a service fee of 1.5%. With this update enforced, it means that all LazPayLater users – regardless of their preferred payment plans – will now have to pay a standard 1.5% fee.

In a notice sent out to customers, Lazada explained that this LazPayLater update is spurred by the fact that such service fees are a standard practice in the industry. The e-commerce platform also said that the fees are used to cover the financing and administrative costs involved in offering instalment payment options.

“Rest assured that we have reviewed and set our rates to remain competitive and fair as we continue to provide you with flexible payment options while offering high-quality products and services,” said Lazada. Meanwhile, other charges remain unchanged; its late payment fee, for instance, is still maintained at RM30.

To note, Lazada is not the only e-commerce platform to impose the 1.5% fee on all of its BNPL payment plans, including the one-month deferment plan.
Shopee
, too, had made this update back in October 2022.

(Source:
Lazada
)

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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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    Michelle

    2 months ago

Actually lazada has 4.5%interest now on 1 month deferment plan.

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Why You Should Boost Your Coverage With Women-Only Health Insurance Policy

Basic coverage, while enough for many, will only get you so far, and it’s a known fact that some very common female-centric conditions are either entirely not covered, or only partially covered by the policy.

So before you decide to renew or buy a new health plan, let’s review the unique benefits attached to certain women-only health insurance and see if it might be a better fit for you:

1. Maternity Hospitalisation Coverage

If you’re planning on expanding your family soon, consider getting financial help with maternity costs related to pregnancy and childbirth complications, as well as new-born healthcare. Remember that private medical costs for pre and post-childbirth care can lead to a heavy bill that you may not be able to afford on your own.

2. Additional Cover for Feminine-Related Sickness

Basic health and even Critical Illness coverage might not provide full protection for women-specific diseases such as cervical and ovarian cancer. With women-only health policies, you could, in addition to comprehensive coverage, receive a one-time lump sum payment and even recovery benefits. Having the financial aspect taken care of, you will not have to worry about incurring heavy debt to get the best treatments available.

3. Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery

Ladies-only policies will often allow you to claim for reconstructive surgeries related to severe facial injury following an accident or after a mastectomy. On the other hand, other health insurance policies don’t generally provide coverage for these surgeries. Moreover, reconstruction for breasts following cancer treatments can cost around RM20,000 to RM30,000, which for the majority, is an unaffordable sum.

4. ‘Life-Moments’ Benefits

Some policies will pay out a sum for life-changing events such as marriage, births, retirement and bereavement. While usually only a small amount, the pay-out can help supplement expenses in these moments.

5. Menopausal Support

Menopause is a trying time to say the least! But a little support might long way towards softening the effects of the condition. Some women’s health policies provide coverage for further medical care on related treatments like hormone replacement therapy and osteoporosis.

When Buying Insurance…

Remember to select plans that are right for you, at the price you can afford. Furthermore, if there are parts of the policy that you don’t understand, be sure to clarify them with your insurance provider before you make the purchase to avoid any disappointments later on.

Lastly, do shop around to get the best deals on our
comparison page
, and discover the best health insurance plans available in the market now. Take a look at the bottom of the page as well for the best women-specific insurance policies available in Malaysia.

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AirAsia Wants You To Shred Your Unused Credit Cards And Score Free Flights

AirAsia has launched a “Shred & Fly” campaign that encourages Malaysians to cut their unused credit cards in exchange for free flights from AirAsia. Running up until 22 September, this campaign aims to promote the AirAsia credit cards as the fastest way to earn AirAsia BIG Points enabling members to redeem AirAsia flights.

Designed to reward frequent AirAsia flyers, the
AirAsia Gold and Platinum credit cards
 offer up to 6x BIG Points for every RM1 spent on AirAsia flights, and the generous quarterly bonuses of up to 5,000 BIG Points lets you quickly rack up BIG Points and redeem free AirAsia flights.

To participate in this campaign, participants must literally destroy their non-AirAsia credit cards in a machine called “The Shredder”. Upon shredding their credit cards, they must apply for an AirAsia credit card on the machine itself.

Once they have completed the application process, participants will receive BIG points ranging from a minimum of 3,000 to a maximum of 100,000 points. These BIG points can be used to redeem free flights to any of AirAsia’s 150 destinations, as well as other travel and lifestyle deals.

Malaysians intrigued by the campaign can find “The Shredder” at its next location at Dataran Merdeka (in conjunction with Minggu Muzik Malaysia) from 13 to 15 September, followed by MyTOWN Shopping Centre from 20 to 22 September.

“Shred & Fly” is part of AirAsia BIG’s wider “Earn BIG Live BIG” campaign that encourages people to live big and do something extraordinary, and shredding credit cards is certainly one way to do it. Visit
AirAsia BIG’s Facebook event page
 for further information and updates.

(Source:
GOASIAPLUS
)

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Razer Malaysia To Expand RazerPay Features and Collaborate With Local Merchants

(Image: Stuff.tv)

Popular gaming brand Razer has set up a Malaysian HQ as part of the company’s push into the fintech space. This follows the launch of the company’s e-wallet, RazerPay, last year where Malaysia was the first country in the world to support it.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq attended the launch of Razer’s first headquarter in Malaysia located at The Vertical, Kampung Kerinchi. Razer CEO Tan Ming-Lian said at the launch that RazerPay is aiming to become to largest e-wallet service in Malaysia with the introduction of new features in the future. At its launch in July last year, the e-wallet saw a spike of 500,000 users in less than a week.

To expand RazerPay’s services and attract more users, Razer will be collaborating with 7-11, Kenny Rogers, and U Mobile to push more rewards and incentives for using the e-wallet. To kick things off, RazerPay users can look forward to receiving a RM5 coupon to spend at any local 7-11 store, RM10 coupons to be used at all Kenny Rogers restaurants in Malaysia, and weekly contests organised by U Mobile which offers prizes like the Razer Phone 2.

Moving forward, Min-Liang added that the company is working on new updates on the e-wallet. RazerPay will be incorporating features like in-app coupons, instant messaging, and an overall upgrade to the e-wallet experience.

Tan Min-Liang revealed another goal for Razer Malaysia is to develop the next generation of talents by employing 280 Malaysians and collaborating with higher learning institutes to provide them with training and mentorship programmes. On top of that, exchange programmes with regional Razer offices will also be administered into its plans.

(Source:
The Sun Daily
,
Fintech News
)

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How To Spot a Multi-Level Marketing Business

What is Multi-Level Marketing (MLM)?

In a nutshell, it is a version of direct selling – but it has a two-prong marketing strategy where salespeople earn money and rewards by selling products
and
 by recruiting other salespeople. How you would
make money from selling a product
 is obvious, but how you earn from recruitment is through a ‘downline’.

Understanding MLM Downlines

A downline in the MLM context represents all participants recruited by an initial recruiter. When a recruiter taps someone join and buy in, that same recruiter receives a cut from his or her downline.

Thus, the more ‘downliners’ one has, the more money one (supposedly) makes, and it doesn’t end there – because the
original recruiter also gets a cut from those recruited by his or her downlines
 as well.

Are All MLM Companies Legit?

A quick internet search will reveal that there are many parties who believe all MLM businesses to be somewhat suspect; the
Direct Selling Association of Malaysia
 however, maintains that it is in fact a legitimate industry.

Companies like
Amway
,
Avon
,
Tupperware
,
Elken
, and
Mary Kay
 are some of the popular MLM-structured businesses that you may have heard of. Still, many others are simply
pyramid schemes
 sophisticatedly designed as an MLM business.

Spotting a Dubious MLM Business

You have probably been approached (more than once) by friends, colleagues and even family members to join in supposedly profitable “business opportunities” that turn out to be an MLM venture.

In fact, many
never realise what it is their getting into until later
 and worse still, if they have been duped into signing up with a fraudulent MLM business. Here are 4 tell-tale signs you are dealing with an unscrupulous MLM business:

1. The Focus is on Recruiting a Salesforce And Not Selling Products.

When the primary activity is recruiting other salespeople, know that you are in the company of ‘MLMers’. How many businesses (with exception of HR-related firms) focus on recruiting staff rather than selling their product or service?

In addition, you may notice that the products being sold have a
low market value
 or are otherwise unsaleable, and this is one of the most obvious signs of an unscrupulous MLM.

2. You Need to Pay First.

MLM businesses in general always require some sort of buy in, be it stock, “selling tools” or training. You need to be careful when parting with your hard-earned cash, especially if
no money-back guarantees
 are offered.

A clear cut sign of a scam is when start-up costs are very high without potential for recoup.

3. Potential Earnings Seem Too Good to be True

If a “business venture” promises a potential income of RM30, 000 every month for joining an MLM, take it with a grain of salt. It’s natural to be hopeful of such lucrative earnings, especially when you’re down and out, but don’t just take it at face value.

You know what it takes to
make an honest living
, so if it’s just too easy to reel in big bucks – approach with caution. Often MLM businesses with lower integrity will resort to such exaggerations.

4. You Are Led to Believe That a Product Can Sell Itself

It probably won’t. Even if you are selling a miracle product, there is no doubt that hard work is on the horizon. Spreading the message that all you’ll have to do is sit back and wait for money to roll in is often a sign of a low-integrity MLM and most likely just an oversell.

Should You Get Involved with an MLM business?

While this remains your personal decision, it has been indicated overseas
that profitability for MLM recruits are low
. Actual income levels for local participants could not be sourced at this time. Nevertheless, before you buy into any MLM business, be sure you know the sales viability of the products you are selling and your actual earning potential.

If you are looking for more guaranteed ways to grow your money, do consider a high-interest Fixed Deposit Account. Check out our
comparison page
 to find the best account for your money!

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AirAsia Releases RM399 Unlimited Pass For Domestic Flights

AirAsia has introduced another “AirAsia Unlimited” pass, this time targeted at domestic flights within Malaysia. For the price of RM399, passholders have access to unlimited domestic flights for a nine-month period from 25 June 2020 to 31 March 2021.

The AirAsia Unlimited Pass Cuti-Cuti Malaysia will cover 16 local destinations: Alor Setar, Langkawi, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuching, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, and Labuan.

Just like with AirAsia’s
previous version of the Unlimited Pass
, the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia pass is only valid for the base fare and is not inclusive of government taxes, fees, add-ons such as baggage or meals, and any other charges. For a one-way flight on a zero base fare using this pass, you would at least be required to pay a RM11 passenger service charge and a RM1 regulatory service charge.

To buy the pass, you must be a BIG Member and make the purchase on the
AirAsia website
 or mobile app. Flight redemptions using this pass can also only be made online or through the app, and you will have to search for flights marked
“100 OFF”
 to find the ones applicable under the unlimited pass. According to AirAsia, redemptions are only valid for point-to-point routes and exclude FLY-THRU routes.

Crucially, the terms and conditions point out that flight redemption is limited and subject to seat availability. Seats may not be available during periods of high demand such as weekends, public holidays, or school holidays. Your booking must be made at least 14 days before the departure date to be applicable.

You won’t be allowed to make any changes to your flight once you’ve booked it using the pass. In the event of no-show, AirAsia will refund you the airport charges or taxes paid, but you are only allowed up to three no-shows before AirAsia obtains the right to cancel your pass. You should also note that no BIG Points are given for the purchase of the unlimited pass or for any flights redeemed under the pass.

The
AirAsia Unlimited Pass Cuti-Cuti Malaysia
 is available for purchase for a three day-window starting tomorrow 11 June at 10am and ending on 13 June at 11.59pm. According to
AirAsia
, the unlimited pass is its key offering following the government’s announcement that domestic travel can once more resume under the recovery movement control order (RMCO).

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CIMB Launches New Mobile Banking App, CIMB Octo

CIMB Malaysia has officially taken the wraps off a brand-new mobile banking app called CIMB Octo. The app, which was said to be built from the ground up to meet technological, security, and user expectations of today and beyond, is available for download from today and will live alongside the bank’s CIMB Clicks app.

Interestingly, CIMB is taking a “collaborative approach” with the launch of CIMB Octo. The bank is taking a stance where the app is launched today with a limited set of features, and newer ones will be introduced progressively with the full set of features on the app to be rolled out by Q2 2023. A web version of CIMB Octo is set to be ready by the end of next year.

The phased approach, according to CIMB, is to allow new and existing users of CIMB Clicks to gradually adapt to the new app and encourages users to share feedback during this stage, allowing CIMB to incorporate them in future app updates alongside other enhancements and features.

The new CIMB Octo app was built on an entirely new technology stack and operational infrastructure compared to CIMB Clicks, which has begun showing its age. CIMB Octo employs a “microservices” approach, allowing much greater flexibility and agility to deploy new features to the platform. The app also places emphasis on enhanced stability and security, with support for more concurrent users compared to Clicks.

CIMB also stated that Octo allows users to take control of their mobile banking experience, allowing them customisation options as well as security and convenience tweaks. Users can customise their Homescreen with the ability to display account balances and customise widgets such as Transfer, DuitNow, DuitNow QR, JomPAY, and more based on their preferences. In addition, users can set biometric security via fingerprint or facial recognition to log into the app instead of using their passwords.

Samir Gupta, CEO, Group Consumer Banking of CIMB Group said, “CIMB OCTO reflects our focus on delivering solutions that are timely and relevant, given the accelerated shift towards digital transactions and more specifically mobile banking. It is a response to the changing behaviours of customers in Malaysia, providing a broader range of personalised banking solutions to meet their current and future needs, preferences and lifestyles. Inspired by our customers’ feedback, we have designed the new app with a refreshed interface and enhancements that embody the collaborative approach and personalisation.”

“In addition, the new app also provides CIMB with greater flexibility, agility and speed to market in deploying platform expansions such as capacity upgrades or new features in response to future customer needs and traffic growth. The release of our future-ready app marks a new phase in our digitalisation journey and represents our focus on Customer Centricity as part of our Forward23+ strategy. We hope that our customers will be excited to try out the new banking app, and we encourage them to share their feedback with us as we continuously refine its features and experience,” he added.

In this “early release”, CIMB Octo users can access the following features:

My Accounts & Details
Own Account Transfer
3
rd
 party Fund Transfer
DuitNow Transfer
Pay Loan & Cards
JomPAY
Prepaid Top Up
Add Favourite
DuitNow QR
Biometric or passcode approval for transfers up to RM500
Credit Card & CVV in-app display

Meanwhile, in the coming updates CIMB will add more features, including foreign transfer, widgets, DuitNow QR Cross-Border transactions, and machine learning-based insights and recommendations.

The CIMB Octo app is now available on the
Google Play Store
,
Apple App Store
, and the
Huawei AppGallery
.

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Pang Tun Yau

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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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Samsung Launches Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Z Flip 4 – Available Now For Pre-Order From RM4,099

Samsung has officially taken the wraps off its next-generation foldable devices: the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4. Designed to be feature even more refined experiences, the new foldables take yet another step towards making this new class of smartphones to the mainstream – albeit in the upper end of the market.

There are no major new features to the Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4; Samsung’s mission this time around was to build on the two models and refine the premium experience through a combination of subtle hardware and software tweaks. At first glance, both devices will look exactly the same to the
previous generation
 – but a closer look will reveal the details.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

It might be very minor, but the Fold 4 is smaller, lighter, and sleeker than its predecessor. Samsung has shaved off millimeters off the overall size, especially evident in the smaller bezels around the Cover Screen to give a more immersive experience when the phone is folded.

Similar to the theme of making subtle changes, the one major software upgrade makes multitasking on the main screen many times more convenient. On the Fold 4, Samsung has introduced the Task Bar, lining up all of the user’s home screen apps in the bottom of the screen, alongside the navigation buttons. Users now simply need to press and hold the icons they wish to open in Multi Window mode.

Naturally, on the hardware front it’s the usual upgrades. The processor is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, while the 12+50+10MP triple rear camera setup is a similar one found on the Galaxy S22, and a new 4MP Under Display Camera beneath the Main Screen. Meanwhile, other hardware aspects are retained from the previous generation: a 6.2-inch Cover Screen and 7.6-inch Main Screen featuring Dynamic AMOLED 2X technology, 12GB of RAM, a 4,400mAh dual battery with Super Fast Charging, and 5G support.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4

Just like the Fold 4, the Flip 4 aims to refine the already solid foldable phone experience from the previous generation. Designed for those who prefer a smaller footprint, the Flip 4 has also undergone minor weight and size shavings compared to the Flip 3 – and further enhancing the design aesthetics of the device.

This is further evident with the introduction of the Galaxy Z Flip 4 Bespoke Edition, an exclusive model that allows owners to control the look of their device. Available only on Samsung’s online store, there is a total of 75 combinations of glass colours and frame options to choose from.

There is greater emphasis on making the Flip 4 a content creator’s companion this year. FlexCam, a new mode for the camera, can be activated by folding the Flip 4 to a 90-degree angle. This mode offers a more intuitive UI to capture photos and videos in 1:1 format that fits today’s social platforms, taking advantage of the upgraded 12MP+12MP dual-camera setup.

Besides the new dual cameras, the processor is also the new Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 as found in the Fold 4, while the battery has been upgraded as well – it’s bigger at 3,700mAh and now supports Samsung’s Super Fast Charging tech.

Beyond that, the Flip 4 retains a similar set of hardware with the Flip 3: a 1.9-inch Outer Display, a 6.7-inch 120Hz Main Screen, and 8GB of RAM as standard.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 & Z Flip 4 Pre-Order In Malaysia

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 will retail at the following prices in Malaysia:

Galaxy Z Fold 4 12GB + 256GB: RM6,799
Galaxy Z Fold 4 12GB + 512GB: RM7,299
Galaxy Z Fold 4 12GB + 1TB: RM8,299

Galaxy Z Flip 4 8GB + 128GB: RM4,099
Galaxy Z Flip 4 8GB + 256GB: RM4,399
Galaxy Z Flip 4 8GB + 512GB: RM4,899
Galaxy Z Flip 4 Bespoke Edition (8GB + 256GB): RM4,599

Pre-orders for the two devices start from 10 August and will end on 1 September. As usual, you can expect quite a fair amount of pre-order rewards depending on the model. Perhaps most important is the inclusion of Samsung Care+ one-year extended warranty as well as three protective film replacements across the two years of warranty coverage for all pre-orders. Here’s the full list of pre-order goodies:

Galaxy Z Fold 4:
– Samsung Care+ one-year extended warranty worth RM599
– 3 protective film replacements
– 1 Samsung Online e-voucher worth RM650
– 1 free Standing Cover with Pen (worth RM369)

Galaxy Z Flip 4:
– Samsung Care+ one-year extended warranty worth RM499
– 3 protective film replacements
– 1 Samsung Online e-voucher worth RM650
– 1 free Flap Leather Cover (worth RM379)

The pre-orders can be made at the
Samsung Online store
, as well as Samsung Experience Stores and Samsung Authorised Partners – which will most likely extend to online retailers and e-commerce platforms as well.

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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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RinggitPlus.com Helps Malaysians Get More For Their Money

A website that saves you time, effort and lots of cash

Welcome to RinggitPlus.com, a place that helps Malaysians get more for their money. We’ll help you find smart savings and special offers on the widest range of Credit Cards and Debit Cards.

We believe it should be easier to find all the information you need to choose the best Credit Card or Debit Card for your lifestyle. Whether you want the most Cash Back or Reward Points, a great Balance Transfer deal or a Flexible Loan, RinggitPlus.com has all the information you need to find the best deal.

We know that fees and charges should be clear and obvious, not hidden from sight in the small print; that Special Offers should be really Special, with no catches or sneaky terms; and that you shouldn’t have to pay money to get the best saving on banking.

You’ll find no tricks at RinggitPlus.com, just plenty of hints and tips to help you get more for your money.

If you’re looking for the best personal loan, the highest fixed deposits or lowest rates for your mortgage then stay tuned. The RinggitPlus.com team are working hard so that we can help you with all of these really soon.

Open a RinggitPlus.com account and you’ll get access to exclusive deals, free gifts and VIP offers when you apply for a Credit or Debit Card. You’ll also be first in line to try our new products as we keep improving the website.

Got any questions or feedback? Send us an email. We’re always happy to hear from you.

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Bursa Malaysia Launches Bursa Digital Research To Boost Investors' Financial Literacy

Bursa Malaysia Berhad has launched its new Bursa Digital Research platform, described as a “multi-faceted research portal” that seeks to help investors make better informed investment decisions and to improve the public’s financial literacy. It serves as an extra source for research and data analysis for those who are looking for information on prospective investments.

According to Bursa Malaysia, the new portal will give investors a more direct and transparent method to better understand the business operations and value propositions of public listed companies (PLCs), as well as discover the companies’ price points. It will also complement the
Bursa Broadcast platform
 to enrich investors’ capital market understanding.

(Image: The Sun Daily)

At present, all the content on Bursa Digital Research can be grouped into four main content categories, namely:

Market Updates
: In-house research analysis offering latest insights into the capital market, covering a range of topics such as global and local market trends.
Bursa Blitz
: FAQs containing details on the latest development and future prospects of various PLCs’ businesses and industries.
Initial Public Offering (IPO)
: Factsheets regarding IPO launches, as well as quarterly performance reports.
Exchange Traded Fund (ETF)
: Monthly performance reports on ETFs that are available on the exchange.

Some of the PLCs that are currently featured on the Bursa Digital Research portal include Solarvest Holdings Berhad, IHH Healthcare Berhad, and Aurelius Technologies Berhad.

“Bursa Digital Research aims to provide an additional resource to help investors gain market insight and keep abreast of the latest developments in the stock market,” said the chief executive officer of Bursa Malaysia, Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, adding that the introduction of this platform will invite greater investor participation on Bursa Malaysia.

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Arif Kartono)

Bursa Malaysia further shared that it will continue to add more content to Bursa Digital Research from time to time. This is with the aim of refining the platform in a bid to increase information transparency, address information gaps in the market, boost investor confidence, and accelerate investment decision making.

Aside from
Bursa Digital Research
, Bursa Malaysia has also previously rolled out various other initiatives to facilitate conducive investor education and engagement experience. Some of these efforts include
e-learning platform Bursa Academy
 and virtual learning
“Mirror, Learn and Trade” (MLT) programme
.

(Source:
Bursa Malaysia
)

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Govt Makes Turnabout, Agrees To Maintain Subsidies For Eggs & Chicken After 30 June

(Image: Malay Mail/Devan Manuel)

The government has made a turnabout and agreed to continue subsidising chicken and eggs after 30 June 2023. This came following an earlier announcement that the prices of eggs and chicken in the market will be floated starting from 1 July.

This announcement was confirmed by both the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) as well as the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).

“After considering all aspects including ensuring the sustainability of the chicken and egg industry, and the welfare of the public remains protected, the prime minister has agreed with KPKM and KPDN’s proposal to continue subsidies and price controls for chicken and egg from 1 July 2023,” both ministries said in a joint statement.

(Image: Malay Mail/Ahmad Zamzahuri)

Prior to that, KPKM minister Mohamad Sabu had said that the subsidies for eggs and chicken will end on 30 June, and that prices will be floated from 1 July with some control from KPDN. He also shared that the government will roll out several measures to ensure that the supply of eggs and chicken in Malaysia is not disrupted subsequently. These included lifting the ban on exporting day-old chicks, whole chicken, and chicken parts from 1 July, as well as allowing the import of eggs and chicken from selected source countries.

Meanwhile, the
retail price ceiling for a standard chicken
 in Peninsular Malaysia currently stands at RM9.40 per kg. For eggs, the ceiling prices are set at RM0.45 (Grade A), RM0.43 (Grade B), or RM0.41 (Grade C).

(Sources:
Free Malaysia Today
,
Malay Mail
)

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Taskforce: Ceiling Price Of Bottled Palm Cooking Oil To Be Adjusted On Monthly Basis

(Image: Bernama)

The Jihad Tangani Inflasi taskforce has announced that it will adopt a monthly pricing mechanism for bottled palm cooking oil, with the maximum price to be adjusted on a monthly basis. For August, the price will be set at RM34.70 per bottle for five kilogramme bottles – effective from 8 August 2022.

According to the chairman of the special taskforce, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, the ceiling price of palm cooking oil will be determined each month based on the crude palm oil (CPO) price of the previous month. The new price will then be announced on the first of every month, followed by enforcement on the eighth of each month; retailers are given a grace period of one week to comply with the new maximum pricing.

“The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) will announce the price of [CPO for] the previous month, and that price will be the benchmark to determine the retail price of pure palm cooking oil sold without subsidy. MPOB has informed that the average price of CPO for July was at RM4,063 per metric ton. Based on that price, the selling price of cooking oil in 5kg bottles [will] be set at RM34.70 [for August],” said Tan Sri Annuar.

The minister also added that this ceiling price is only applicable for Peninsular Malaysia, and that he expects this mechanism to be maintained in the coming months. Additionally, the taskforce will soon share a pricing schedule that includes the ceiling price for other weights of bottled cooking oil as well.

(Image: Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain)

Tan Sri Annuar further explained that this method was adopted to allow for a more accurate pricing of palm cooking oil for the benefit of the public, as well as in a timelier manner. “This method is to make sure that when CPO price goes up, [we] won’t raise the cooking oil price too quickly, and when the CPO price goes down, [we] won’t be too slow to lower the cooking oil price. This happened in the past. So with this method agreed upon by the industry, every increase or decrease in the CPO price must be reflected in the retail price as soon as possible, in this case one month after the official price is announced,” he said.

The government had
stopped providing subsidy for bottled palm cooking oil
 (2kg, 3kg, and 5kg) starting from 1 July 2022, but this unfortunately led to significant hikes in the price of the commodity soon after.
Earlier efforts
 by the Jihad Tangani Inflasi taskforce to resolve the situation bore no fruit, which ultimately led them to
reintroduce a ceiling price for bottled palm cooking oil
.

Meanwhile, cooking oil in polybag packages (1kg) is still being subsidised. It is currently priced at RM2.50 each.

(Sources:
The Edge Markets
,
Malay Mail
)

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5 Non-Cheapskate Reasons to Cook at Home Instead of Eating Out

We all know that cooking at home is cheaper than eating out. You have to pay for drinks, food, the 6% GST, service charges, parking fees, petrol to get there, and other incidentals.

It’s such a drain on the wallet. From a purely budgetary standpoint, home cooking is the clear winner here.

However, home cooking is not just a good habit to get into because of the money you can save. In fact, there are several advantages to cooking at home that might not be obvious to everyone.

1. It’s Healthier

Cooking your own food means allowing yourself more opportunities to make healthier decisions in your diet. You don’t have to “order a salad” when you can just make a healthier veggie burger, for example.

It also goes without saying that since you’re the one who picks and chooses the ingredients that go into your cooking, you can cut down on the fat, sugar, and salt in your meals.

Some of you may think that eating out is only unhealthy if it’s fast food, but a recent
research article published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
 has found that non-fast food restaurants can be just as unhealthy.

But you don’t need a European research article to tell you this – just watch your local
mamak
 or hawker cook and you’ll see just how much oil and MSG get into your food.

So on this front, home cooking wins.

2. Cooking is a Survival Skill

Just like swimming, navigating, and managing money, cooking is also an essential life skill. In the event of a zombie outbreak, hunting squirrels and catching fish will be of no use if you can’t cook any of them well.

More realistically, in times when you’re traveling to a far away place and you’re worried about allergies or safety of the food, it pays to know how to cook with raw ingredients.

It won’t only save you some local currency, but will also help keep yourself fed during times when safe or familiar food options are scarce.

3. It Makes You a Better Party Host

Everybody will at one point or another, be responsible for a party. Whether it be a housewarming, a baby shower, or a simple get together with friends, there will be a time where we will be expected to entertain company.

While ordering delivery or taking everyone out somewhere will always be more expensive, learning how to cook for guests will also make for better conversation.

Sharing cooking tips, dietary quirks and tableware arrangement ideas become chat topics you can comfortably lean on. It’s cheaper, healthier, and makes for a better party overall.

4. You Get to Learn About Other Cultures

Eating out can be an adventure when you’re trying out food from a place you’ve never been in. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have the same experience cooking from home.

In fact, that same feeling of adventure is amplified by being involved in the food-making process more directly. Sure, you can have fun dipping your sushi in wasabi and fiddling with the pickled garlic, but it would be even more culturally immersive to roll your own sushi and cut up strips of nori seaweed yourself.

It’s fun to twirl linguini around your fork, yes, but way more fun to roll out your own pasta.

Mixing up the sorts of food you make at home can be a part of your own little mini-vacation from the usual things you’re used to eating and make mealtimes more interesting and enlightening.

5. It Improves Your Social Life

One underrated value of being able to cook is using it to bolster your social environment. An entire office or classroom demoralised by a recent group failure? Make a batch of brownies and lift everyone’s spirits.

Got into a heated argument over a silly misunderstanding? A tray of “I’m Sorry” lasagna, and it’s all water under the bridge. Furthermore, personalised food prepared just for the recipient are always a welcome (and cheap) gift alternative for any occasion if you’re short on cash.

Food brings people together, and the happier the people around you are, the happier you can be.

But to #GetMore from your home cooking experience – choose the
right credit card
 that will give you cashback, rebates and rewards whenever you shop for groceries.

Clearly, home cooking is not just for the budget-conscious, but can also be used as a multipurpose super power to improve your life and the life of others in many ways.

Do you have a non-budget reason to cook at home that we missed out? Let us know in the comments below.

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Ahmad Mudhakkir

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Special Aidilfitri Allowance For Civil Servants, Pensioners To Be Disbursed On 17 April

(Image: Channel News Asia)

The government has announced that the special Aidilfitri allowance for civil servants and pensioners that was announced during the revised Budget 2023 will be disbursed on 17 April 2023. This involves RM700 to be paid to all civil servants of Grade 56 and below, and RM350 for government pensioners.

In a statement, the director general of the Public Services Department (JPA), Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamed clarified that those appointed by contracts (contract workers), too, will be eligible for the RM700 aid. Similarly, retirees and veterans who have been reappointed on a permanent or temporary basis, and are still serving as of 17 April, are also qualified to receive the RM700 aid.

Meanwhile, the RM350 aid will be extended to government pensioners from various categories. These include government retirees on pension, published pension recipients, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) retirees, veterans with pension, as well as non-pensioned veterans.

(Image: New Straits Times)

Meanwhile, officers in the top management and civil servants who are subjected to disciplinary action or demotion from 1 January to 17 April are not qualified for the special assistance.

This special Aidilfitri allowance was announced during the
re-tabling of Budget 2023
 last month by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. At that time, he said that this special package is provided by the government as a token of appreciation for the efforts and sacrifices of civil servants in serving the members of the public. It is also aimed at helping them to prepare for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.

(Sources:
JPA
,
New Straits Times
,
Free Malaysia Today
)

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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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Maybank MAE Campaign Offers Up To Eight Cashback Rewards, Maximum RM10 Per Cashback

Maybank is organising the Scan & Pay Ultimate Cashback campaign, which lets you win up to eight cashback rewards of varying value from between RM0 to RM10 from now until the end of the year. You can earn these rewards by paying for transactions at selected merchants via the Scan & Pay function on the Maybank2u and MAE by Maybank2u mobile banking apps.

Open to individuals with an active Maybank2u account and those who are MAE customers, you need to spend a minimum of RM10 on your purchases to qualify for the campaign. There are more than 200,000 merchants which you can visit nationwide for this, covering various categories such as groceries, personal care products, F&B (including online deliveries), as well as retail and online shopping. Among some of the participating merchants include AEON, Mydin, Starbucks, Watsons, and Senheng.

Maybank also has an extra stipulation that states only Scan & Pay transactions funded by your Maybank current account, savings account, or MAE account are eligible for this campaign. In other words, if your Scan & Pay function is linked to other fund sources – such as your credit card – you will not be entitled to the cashback rewards, so be sure to check and change your source if necessary!

In addition to the above, make sure also that your Maybank2u and MAE mobile banking app are updated to the latest versions. This is because only Scan & Pay transactions performed via the Maybank2u app (version 5.6 and above), and MAE app (version 0.6.4 and above) are eligible for the campaign.

Another thing to note is that the eight cashback rewards that can be won are divided across the two campaign months, which means that you are limited to four cashback rewards each month. Meanwhile, Maybank has dedicated a total of RM2 million for the whole campaign, with RM1 million allocated for each month.

(Image: The Star)

The cashback rewards will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and the value will be determined by a randomiser programme. Additionally, those who won a reward will be notified through their respective mobile apps, and they can expect to receive the cashback in their default Scan & Pay current account, savings account, or MAE account within seven working days.

For more information about Maybank’s
Scan & Pay Ultimate Cashback campaign
 as well as the full list of participating merchants, head on over to the bank’s website.

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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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Contract vs Cash: Which is the Better Way to Buy Your Next Phone?

In the past, buying a mobile phone was a straightforward affair where you went to your local telecommunications shop, handed over some money and got your phone with its usual extra bits like a warranty, charger and cable.

These days, you’ll be able to buy your mobile phone under a contract with a telecommunications service provider. If you’re wondering how buying a phone via a contract fares compared to buying it the conventional way, here are the details:

Contract Purchase

#### What is A Contract Phone?

A mobile phone bought under a contract involves an arrangement with a telecommunications company where you’re given a phone, but have to pay a fixed amount of installments throughout your contract period, which is usually 12 or 24 months.

Additionally, you’ll be given a monthly package of calls, texts and mobile internet data. There are usually several types of packages available to go with your phone that you can choose from, with special features like extra call time, cheaper texts, cheaper international coverage and the like.

What Are The Advantages?

Purchasing a phone with a contract gives you several benefits. However, this depends very much on the telecom company’s offer, as packages differ from one service provider to another. Generally, these are what you can expect:

Discounts on mobile services like calls and texts, and in some cases, international roaming

Cash backs, rebates and free gifts that come with the phone of mobile plan

In some cases, you’ll be freed from paying monthly phone bills for the first few months as you’re required to pay an upfront deposit

The price of the phone is way cheaper than buying retail, and in some cases, the phone is given absolutely free if you choose a more premium mobile plan

What Are The Disadvantages?

Firstly, you’ll be tied to one mobile service provider throughout your contract period and won’t be able to switch providers for whatever reason. Another downside is that you’ll be required to pay an upfront payment which can be quite expensive.

For example, this
iPhone 7
 from Celcom comes with a contract that requires an upfront of RM1,100 which can be quite a burden for some. Lastly, if you go with a contract based phone purchase, chances are that your mobile plan won’t come cheap.

Cash Purchase

What Does Buying Cash Mean?

What’s the difference? You pay for the contract phone with cash too, right? What we mean here when we say ‘cash purchase’ is when we buy the phone by itself, without tying it down to a carrier, mobile plan, or anything else. This means paying only the retail price and nothing else.

What Are The Advantages?

The most obvious advantage is that you’ll have more flexibility to choose a mobile plan that suits you, and more importantly, a plan that is more affordable. Secondly, you’ll have the freedom to port out of your mobile service provider at any time, especially if you’re dissatisfied with their service.

What About Disadvantages?

Buying your phone in the conventional way means you’ll be missing out on certain free gifts or promotions on mobile plans. Some phones also might not be available for purchase outside of a mobile plan and might be hard to track down online.

If you’re keen on the latest and greatest without being tied down to a mobile plan, you may have to fork out extra to get it shipped from overseas.

To check out the Ringgit-for-Ringgit difference between buying cash and buying via contract, see table below for a quick comparison.

Model

Contract Price

Retail Price

iPhone 7 (32GB)

Phone (RM2188) + Plan (RM110 x 10 months plus RM150 x 14 months ) with First™ Platinum voice and internet plan =
RM5388

RM3199

Huawei GR 3

Phone (Free) + Plan (RM128 x 24 months) with MaxisOne Plan 128 =
RM3072

RM799

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

Phone (RM1589) + Plan ( RM148 x 24 months) with Digi Postpaid 148 =
RM5141

RM2399

Sources:
Celcom
,
Lazada
,
Maxis
,
DirectD
,
Digi
, and
11Street

Now that you know the differences between these two methods, we hope you will be able to make a more informed decision when it comes to buying your next phone!

If you’d like to compare and see what the best deals are for phones with contracts, you can always drop by and check out our
smartphone postpaid plans
 comparison page. Have anything to add to the article? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section down below!

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Michelle Chee

Michelle Chee

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Grab Carries On With Planned Devaluation Of GrabRewards Points

Grab has announced that it will be enacting some changes to its GrabRewards catalogue – starting with its GrabRewards Super Sale on 22 June 2020 and a major devaluation to its GrabRewards points after on 15 July.

The GrabRewards Super Sale and subsequent GrabRewards devaluation had originally been slated to take place starting 23 March 2020, but was
postponed
 in light of the movement control order (MCO) due to Covid-19.

Mark Your Calendars

From 15 July onwards, GrabRewards members will be facing a massive devaluation of redemption rates. To soften the blow, Grab is offering discounts for GrabFood, Grab rides, GrabMart, GrabExpress, and selected Grab partner rewards under its GrabRewards Super Sale from 22 June to 14 July.

Voucher Value

Before 22 June

Super Sale (22 June – 30 June)

Super Sale (1 July – 14 July)

15 July Onwards

RM3

N/A

550 points

275 points

550 points

410 points

550 points

RM5

600 points

800 points

400 points

800 points

600 points

800 points

RM10

1,200 points

1,600 points

800 points

1,600 points

1,200 points

1,600 points

RM15

1,800 points

N/A

N/A

N/A

While you’re noting these dates down, you should also be aware that Grab is extending its GrabRewards tier status and voucher validity until 31 December to provide flexibility to its customers amidst the ongoing restricted movement and social distancing guidelines. There will be no tier downgrades during the period between now and 31 December 2020, and the validity of all Grab food and ride reward vouchers will be extended until the end of the year as well.

How Big Is This Change?

When Grab first announced its impending devaluation exercise, we did
an in-depth breakdown on the change in redemption rates
 which you can refer to here. To recap, the redemption rates for all GrabRewards members will decrease by about 34% when the devaluation takes place come 15 July 2020. The calculations can be seen below:

Voucher Value

Points Required (until 14 July)

Points Required (From 15 July)

Points Increase

RM3

410

550

140 (34.15%)

RM5

600

800

200 (33.33%)

RM10

1,200

1,600

400 (33.33%)

With it taking 800 points to redeem a RM5 voucher from 15 July onwards, your rate of return will now be 1.875% for Platinum users (2.5% previously), 1.41% for Gold (1.875% previously), and 0.94% for Silver and Basic (1.25% previously). It’s a far cry from the good old days when Grab used to offer returns rates in the double-digit range – with these revised rates now, most
cashback credit cards
 give better rates of return.

As you may have noticed, Grab will also be removing its RM15 GrabRewards voucher, introducing a lower-value RM3 voucher instead. This is not the first time that Grab has decided to do away with its high-value GrabRewards vouchers; Grab used to have
RM20 and RM25 vouchers until they were removed
 in the latter half of last year. With the removal of the RM15 voucher come 22 June, the highest voucher you can redeem will now be the RM10 voucher, which enforces a lower cap on how much you can save per transaction.

Make Use Of The Super Sale

The GrabRewards Super Sale offers a good opportunity for you to use your points before the devaluation takes place on 15 July. From 22 June to 30 June, Grab is offering a 50% discount on its voucher redemptions; although this discount is based on the post-15 July redemption rates, it’s still a better deal than the current redemption rates for the vouchers. Therefore, if you want to use up your points, this nine-day window is the best time to make your redemptions – you can even stock up on your vouchers if you’re a regular user of Grab’s services and have enough points.

The second phase of the Super Sale period offers the vouchers at a 25%-off redemption rate. If you check the comparison table that we’ve shown you above, you’ll see that the redemption rates during this two-week period of the sale basically correspond to the pre-22 June GrabRewards rates.

It’s Finally Happening

As we have already
recounted back in March
, Grab’s recent revisions does challenge its position as one of the best e-wallets in Malaysia today. With competitors like Boost having established rewarding loyalty programmes of their own, we may see some GrabPay users jumping ship once 15 April rolls around. Grab does have the advantage of having its own prominent e-hailing and food delivery services integrated into its ecosystem – although with a 1.875% maximum rate of return, it may make sense for users to pay for these services using cashback or rewards credit cards instead of GrabPay.

According to Grab, the change in its GrabRewards catalogue was done to reflect the overall growth of its ecosystem and the increased methods users can earn and spend their rewards points. Indeed, this newest round of changes as well as
previous revisions to its earning rate
 show that the GrabPay e-wallet has graduated well past its user acquisition phase and is moving to adopt a more sustainable business model. While there’s no doubt that GrabPay is here to stay as a major player in the e-wallet landscape of the country, it will be interesting to see how users react now that this long-expected change to its
rewards catalogue
 is here at last.

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AMRO: Food Price Inflation May Peak By End Of 2022

(Image: Bernama)

Food price inflation in the ASEAN+3 region is expected to peak at the end of this year, said the regional macroeconomic surveillance organisation, Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO). This encompasses the ten ASEAN countries – including Malaysia – as well as China, Japan, and Korea.

In an analytical note, AMRO explained that global food prices have climbed steadily since the middle of 2020, peaking in March 2022 and staying high since. The impact of this is transmitted to the ASEAN+3 region with a lag, and as such, people in these countries can expect to experience the peak effects of food price inflation and headline inflation towards the end of 2022 instead.

The organisation also noted that as a net food commodity exporter, Malaysia may be in a better position to withstand global food price shocks, as local supplies can sustain domestic needs. It also remarked that Malaysia’s notable food commodity exports are edible oils. However, the country’s food price inflation is still driven to its highest rate in a decade thus far because of the elevated prices for meat, fish, and seafood – as these items are mostly imported.

“In Malaysia, prices of domestic chicken (46% of total meat consumption), have gone up due to higher prices of imported feedstock, as well as labour shortages at poultry farms,” the organisation highlighted in its report.

AMRO also said that it will take a while before global food prices start to ease, especially since some supply pressures will remain, with sanctions on Russia still enforced due to its conflict with Ukraine. Other factors contributing to elevated global food prices include the ever-present risks of unfavourable weather and livestock diseases.

In the meantime, some economies have implemented temporary policy interventions, such as price controls, to maintain the stability of food prices. AMRO also urged governments to discourage hoarding behaviour among the public and to provide targeted support to needy households to alleviate the situation. These include aids such as temporary cash transfers or subsidies.

“Over the longer term, efforts could focus on enhancing social assistance schemes and increasing the food supply by supporting domestic production and improving food distribution efficiency,” said AMRO.

(Source:
AMRO
)

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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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EPF: More Than 40% Of Malaysian Workforce Not Protected By Formal Retirement Scheme

(Image: Sinar Harian)

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has highlighted that more than 40% of Malaysia’s workforce are not protected under any formal retirement scheme, particularly informal workers. In fact, the EPF itself covers only 47% of the labour force.

“That’s below the global average of 68% of the labour force being covered by any kind of pension scheme,” stressed the chief strategy officer of the EPF, Nurhisham Hussein, who also explained that informal workers in this case referred to contract-for-service workers, own-account workers, business owners, and various other positions in creative industries.

Nurhisham further said that this limited retirement protection is a common challenge among many emerging economies, where many of its citizens are exposed to income insecurity at old age. Achieving the basic savings threshold (which is set by one’s age) also continues to be a key obstacle for many EPF members.

(Image: The Star)

“More than half of the members nearing full withdrawal age (50 – 54 years) have less than RM50,000 in savings, the equivalent of monthly replacement income of RM208 or below. The savings of EPF members have faced additional setbacks due to the Covid-19-related withdrawals, leaving them more vulnerable to the risk of old-age poverty,” Nurhisham stated, referring to previous special withdrawal facilities that had been launched, namely
i-Lestari
,
i-Sinar
,
i-Citra
, and a final
RM10,000 withdrawal
.

Given this data, Nurhisham said that the provident fund is seeking various ways to assist its members and enhance retirement income adequacy, especially for those who are in the informal sector. One such method is the
recently proposed Akaun 3
, which will function similarly to a savings account; members can make unconditional withdrawals from this special account in the event of emergencies.

Nurhisham also noted that the EPF is looking to introduce the Simpan Baik-Baik and Jom Tambah campaigns. Specifically, the Simpan Baik-Baik campaign seeks to create a conversational financial literacy narrative via multiple channels to educate members, while the Jom Tambah campaign promotes the EPF’s voluntary contribution programme.

(Source:
New Straits Times
)

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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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    ken

    1 month ago

Is there a way to check how much EPF usually deducts for leaving country foreign withdrawals?  I lost 6% when i got my bank draft in foreign currency.   No explanation or calculations given.  Hope its an error

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Save As You Spend With These Shopee And Lazada Malaysia Bank & Credit Card Promo Codes For 12.12

With 12 December catching up to us very soon, Malaysia’s end-of-the-year shopping spree is set to continue, thanks to the great deals that will be on offer in the upcoming 12.12 online sale festivals hosted by Shopee and Lazada. These final sale festivals of the year are a great chance for you to purchase necessities for the approaching Christmas and New Year festivities. Or, you know, to indulge in a favourite item as a reward for surviving the challenging 2020.

As always, banks will partner up with both the major e-commerce platforms to reward customers as they spend with their credit cards during these two events. Here, we’ve prepared a list of available promo codes that you can use to make your online shopping experience an even better one, so enjoy!

Lazada 12.12 Grand Year-End Sale Bank And Credit Card Promo Codes

With the exception of some banks that require you to key in the promo codes during checkout, most bank vouchers offered by Lazada for its
12.12 Grand Year-End Sale
 can be collected between 10 to 12 December. Once collected, the vouchers are yours to use and will not run out, so remember to claim them when the collection period begins. You can access
all the bank vouchers offered on Lazada here
 (refreshed at every 12pm, 4pm, and 8pm), but if you don’t want to trawl through everything, we’ve listed them out by partners here:

Exclusive for all Mastercard debit & credit cards (All Banks)

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: 12% off with no minimum spend required

Quantity: 6,500

Aeon Credit

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM35 off with a minimum spend of RM250

Quantity: 800

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM100

Quantity: 1,525

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Affin Bank

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM13 off with minimum spend of RM100

Quantity: 180

Alliance Bank

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: 15% off with minimum spend of RM100 (capped at RM18)

Quantity: 3,950

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

AmBank

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,550

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

BigPay

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Bank Simpanan Nasional

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 200

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

CIMB

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM15 off with a minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 2,900

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 2,000

Citi

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM18 off with a minimum spend of RM100

Quantity: 2,300

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM6 off shipping with a minimum spend of RM50

Quantity: 8,000

Existing customers (exclusive for Lazada Citi credit cardholders)

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM25 off with a minimum spend of RM100

Quantity: 1,000

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM8 off shipping with a minimum spend of RM50

Quantity: 5,000

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 2,000

Hong Leong Bank

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

HSBC

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM20 off with a minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 5,000

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Maybank

Existing customers

Promo code: DMBB12 (key in at checkout)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM85

Quantity: 6,000

Promo code: MBB1212 (key in at checkout)

Discount: RM15 off with a minimum spend of RM130

Quantity: Limited

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

OCBC

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Public Bank

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,000

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

RHB

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM20 off with a minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 2,500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Standard Chartered

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM20 off with a minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 1,000

Existing customers (exclusive for Visa cards)

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM15 off with a minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

UOB

Existing customers

Promo code:
Collect here

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 500

New customers

Promo code:
Collect here
 (valid until 31 December)

Discount: RM12 off with a minimum spend of RM12

Quantity: 1,000

Shopee 12.12 Birthday Sale Bank And Credit Card Promo Codes

Note that Shopee’s 12.12 Birthday Sale promo codes can only be used on Shopee Mall and Preferred Sellers only. Also, unlike Lazada, these Shopee promo codes may still run out even after you’ve claimed it (aka first-come first-served), so you may want to take some time to prepare your cart before the actual start of Shopee’s 12.12 Birthday Sale. Once the sale starts, you can then quickly tap into your preferred vouchers before they run out.

On top of that, note that these vouchers are not valid for selected products, including baby formula, food and supplements, diapers and potties, and S-Mart Milo. Make sure to double check the terms and conditions of these vouchers before use! A majority of
Shopee’s 12.12 vouchers
 can be found here, but we’ve also listed them out here for easier viewing.

Exclusive for all Visa credit and debit cards (all banks)

Promo code: VISA12 or
claim here

Discount: RM15 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 8,000

AEON Credit

Existing users

Promo code: AEONCR12 or
claim here

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM100

Quantity: 1,563

New users

Promo code: NAEONCR (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 1,563

Affin Bank

Existing users

Promo code: AFFN12 or
claim here

Discount: RM20 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 800

New users

Promo code: NAFFN12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 1,000

Alliance Bank

Promo code: ABMB12 (valid until 14 December, except for 12 December)

Discount: 12% off with minimum spend of RM100 (capped at RM12)

Quantity: 4,200 (200 per day)

Promo code: ABMB15 (valid only on 12 December) or
claim here

Discount: 15% off with minimum spend of RM100 (capped at RM18)

Quantity: 4,100

AmBank

Promo code: AMB12 or
claim here

Discount: RM18 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: Limited

Bank Islam

Promo code: BI12

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: Limited

Bank Simpanan Nasional

Promo code: BSN12

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,000

CIMB

Existing customers

Promo code: CIMB12 or
claim here

Discount: RM18 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 2,000

New customers

Promo code: NCIMB12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 1,000

Citi

Existing customers

Promo code: CITI12 or
claim here

Discount: RM27 off with minimum spend of RM200

Quantity: 2,447

New customers

Promo code: NCITI12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 2,000

Hong Leong Bank

Promo code: HLB12

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: Limited

HSBC

Promo code: HSBC12 or
claim here

Discount: RM20 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 6,250

Maybank

Existing customers

Promo code: MBB12 or
claim here

Discount: RM15 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 9,166

Exclusive for Maybank Shopee Visa Platinum credit cardholders

Promo code: MSCC12 or
claim here

Discount: RM20 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,000

Exclusive for AMEX credit cardholders

Promo code:
Claim here

Discount: RM18 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 3,000

New customers

Promo code: NMBB12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 2,000

OCBC

Existing customers

Promo code: OCBC12

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,000

New customers

Promo code: NOCBC12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 1,000

Public Bank

Existing customers

Promo code: PBB12

Discount: RM12 off with minimum spend of RM120

Quantity: 1,000

New customers

Promo code: NPBB12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 1,000

Standard Chartered

Promo code: SCB12 or
claim here

Discount: RM20 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: Limited

UOB

Existing customers

Promo code: UOB12 or
claim here

Discount: RM20 off with minimum spend of RM150

Quantity: 1,485

Exclusively for Apple products

Promo code:
Claim here

Discount: RM320 off minimum spend of RM4,000 on Apple products sold by senQ Official Store, Machines Official Store, & Switch Official Store

New customers

Promo code: NUOB12 (valid until 14 December)

Discount: RM10 off with minimum spend of RM40

Quantity: 2,000

***

With these 12.12 sale events being the final major online festivals of the year for both
Lazada
 and Shopee, you can expect a whole lot of discounts being offered, but we hope that you’ll be able to further save on your purchases with these promo codes. Also, be sure to
take advantage of the online shopping benefits of your credit cards
 as you shop. This way, you’ll earn cashback and reward points through your cards even as you profit from the online shopping discounts already provided.

Here’s to you having another great round of retail therapy!

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TAGS:

12.12

Aeon Credit

Affin Bank

Alliance Bank

AmBank

AmEx

Bank Islam

Bank Simpanan Nasional

BigPay

CIMB

Citi

E-Commerce

E-Commerce Platforms

Hong Leong

HSBC

Lazada

Lazada Citi Platinum Credit Card

Mastercard

Maybank

Maybank Shopee Credit Card

OCBC

Public Bank

RHB

Shopee

Standard Chartered

UOB

Visa

Year-End Sales

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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