90% Of Eligible Malaysians Not Tapping Into PeKa B40 Free Health Screenings

(Image: Bernama)

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has revealed that 90% of six million Malaysians eligible for free health screenings under the Health Care Scheme of the B40 Group (PeKa B40) did not make use of the service. In fact, only 600,000 people have tapped into the benefits of the scheme in the last three years.

The Health Minister attributed the low uptake primarily to the mindset and misperceptions of the Malaysian public. He explained that many
believe that a health check is unnecessary as they seem healthy
, while others avoid or delay health screenings for fear of bad news.

In an effort to increase the take-up rate for PeKa B40, Khairy – who is also the member of Parliament of Rembau – shared that his ministry had engaged private medical practitioners for community outreach programmes in his constituency. Regrettably, the programmes had only managed to achieve 200 health screenings, falling short of their 500 targeted screenings. “That’s even with blind listings of names, addresses, and also phone numbers of people to call up,” he added.

(Image: The Star/Art Chen)

As such, Khairy said that a key challenge to raising the take-up rate for PeKa B40 is to change the misperception of health screenings among the people. The government needs to help Malaysians understand that the objective of undergoing a health check is to ensure that they are in the best state of health, and therefore, should not be avoided.

PeKa B40
 is a healthcare protection scheme that was introduced during the tabling of Budget 2019, and was
upgraded under Budget 2020
. Catering to the B40 income group, the scheme is provided for Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) recipients and their registered spouses aged 40 and above. It is administered by ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ProtectHealth Malaysia, which is established under the Ministry of Health.

(Source:
Malay Mail
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

B40

Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat

BPR

Health Screening

Khairy Jamaluddin

Ministry of Health

PeKa B40

ProtectHealth Corporation Sdn Bhd

ProtectHealth Malaysia

About THE AUTHOR

Nur Adilah Ramli

Nur Adilah Ramli

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


EPF Launches Belanjawanku 2022/2023 Guide And Belanjawanku App

(Image: The Borneo Post)

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has officially launched the Belanjawanku expenditure guide for Malaysians (2022/2023 Edition), along with the Belanjawanku mobile application. Both items were rolled out in hopes to help the public better manage their budget and finances by providing minimum monthly expenditure estimates based on households.

Produced in collaboration with the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) of Universiti Malaya, this new Belanjawanku guide is actually an updated and enhanced version of the first Belanjawanku guide – which was first introduced back in 2019. While the 2019 Belanjawanku guide only provided estimates for Klang Valley residents, the latest version has been expanded to cover 11 major cities across the country, including Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) and Kuching (Sarawak).

As was the case before, the guide highlights the estimated minimum monthly budget that is required by various households to enjoy a reasonable standard of living. It also breaks down the estimated budget into the various expense categories that each individual or household is expected to spend on.

So for instance, the Belanjawanku guide estimated that single individuals who take the public transport will need an estimated minimum monthly budget of RM1,930 to survive in the Klang Valley, whereas single individuals who are also car owners are expected to spend an approximate minimum of RM2,600 each month. Meanwhile, the estimated minimum monthly budget for married couples range between RM4,630 to RM6,890, depending on how many children they have.

Aside from the Belanjawanku guide, the EPF also rolled out the Belanjawanku app, which contains interactive features for users to track their monthly expenses. They also have the flexibility to monitor their expenses using either the estimates provided in the Belanjawanku guide or the Rule of Thumb method. Briefly, the Rule of Thumb (45/35/20 Rule) states that you should allocate 45% of your budget for necessities, 35% to commitments, and 20% to savings.

To note, the Belanjawanku app has actually been rolled out much earlier for a pilot test – as early as in August 2022. Since then, it has recorded almost 12,000 downloads.

Chairman of the EPF, Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir said that the launch of both the Belanjawanku guide and app is part of the provident fund’s efforts in helping Malaysians to improve their financial literacy and to improve at managing their finances.

“According to the National Financial Literacy Strategy 2019-2023, developed by the Financial Education Network (FEN), of which the EPF is a member, a total of 76% of Malaysians have a budget, but not all adhere to the budget. The data also shows that 47% find it difficult to set aside RM1,000 for emergency use,” said Tan Sri Ahmad Badri, adding that the Belanjawanku guide will be used by EPF’s Retirement Advisory Service (RAS) officers in providing advice to members.

Individuals can download the
Belanjawanku guide for free
 from the EPF’s official website. Meanwhile, the Belanjawanku app can be downloaded from
Google Play
, the
App Store
, and the
Huawei AppGallery
.

(Source:
EPF
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Belanjawanku

Belanjawanku App

Belanjawanku Guide (2022/2023 Edition)

Employees Provident Fund (EPF)

EPF Belanjawanku

EPF Retirement Advisory Service (RAS)

Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC) of Universiti Malaya

Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Budget 2021: E-Cigarettes And Vape Liquids To Be Taxed; No More Tax-Free Cigarettes In Duty-Free Islands

From 2021, the government will begin imposing a 10% excise duty on all cigarette products, both electronic and non-electronic. In addition, vape liquids will also be imposed an excise duty of 40 sen per milliliter.

On top of that, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz also revealed that cigarettes and tobacco products sold in duty-free islands (Langkawi, Labuan, Tioman, and Pangkor) will also be full-priced. This means the only spots to purchase them duty-free will be at airports, where there is a purchase limit per customer.

This excise duty was announced during the tabling of Budget 2021. The move was a way to increase the country’s income and sustain the expansionary Budget, which is the largest in Malaysia’s history.

Stay up to date with our
Budget 2021 coverage here
.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Budget 2021

Duty Free

Duty Free Cigarettes Malaysia

Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz

Vape

Vape Tax

Vape Tax Malaysia

About THE AUTHOR

Pang Tun Yau

Pang Tun Yau

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


How Much Does Owning a Pet Actually Cost?

There are two kinds of pet lovers in the world: those with pets, and those who want pets. If you’ve always wanted one, it’s important to know how much a pet costs. We don’t mean just walking into a pet store and checking out the price tags. The initial cost of a pet is always clear from the get-go, but the running costs may not always be obvious.

So here we’d like to take a look at the actual running costs of owning and caring for a pet, month-to-month, so you know what you’re really getting into before adopting or buying your own pet cat, dog, or hamster.

1. Food & Treats

Your local veterinarian will tell you that dogs eat an average of
7.5kg
 of food per month, while cats eat roughly 6.83kg per month, but this can vary based on the size of your pets. They’ll need a combination of dry food, wet, canned food, as well as extra treats as incentive for house training. Hamsters are all about the same size but we’ll include their food costs in here too of course.

2. Grooming

Shampooing your pets once a week is necessary for their hygiene as well as removing any ticks or fleas from its coat. While dogs love splashing around in a tub, do not EVER put a hamster into a pool of water. Simply use a toothbrush, spray some pet shampoo onto a toothbrush and lightly brush its fur coat. Cats on the other hand, have their own way of cleaning their fur so you don’t need to bathe them unless they get into mud or other dirty situations their licks can’t handle.

3. Veterinarian Check-Ups

If your animal friend is under 16 weeks, you will need to take it to the vet at least once every three to four weeks. That’s for all the vaccinations it needs to stay healthy and disease-free.

In the phase after your pet has received all the initial immunizations, a check-up once or twice every year will suffice. This applies to your hamster too! Just because it doesn’t occupy such a large volume of space doesn’t mean it isn’t hurting, or doesn’t need vaccinations.

Now let’s populate a table with data on the price of each of the above to see how much you’ll be spending on your pets every month:

Dog

Cat

Hamster

Shampoo and Sanitation

RM2.20

RM2.20

RM2.20

Health Checkup

RM16.67

RM16.67

RM16.67

Dry Food

RM74.75

RM38.20

RM18.72

Wet Food

RM57

RM61.95

–

Extra Treats

RM20.90

RM25.38

RM14.73

Total Monthly Cost

RM171.52

RM144.40

RM52.32

*All information sourced from petsmore.com, based on appropriate products for species and are correct at the time of writing

In summary, the total cost per month of owning a
dog is RM171.52
,
RM144.40 for a cat
 and
RM52.32 for a hamster
. Of course, these prices may differ with the brand and quality of the products you choose for your pets, as well as the amount your pets consume.

According to this, it means the average monthly cost of caring for a fluffy friend is about
RM200
. Now that you know this, we hope you can make a more informed decision and understand better how much it really costs to keep a fluffy friend around. Have anything to add to the article? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section down below!

Price References:
Pet Shampoo
,
Dry Dog Food
,
Wet Dog Food
,
Dog Treats
,
Dry Cat Food
,
Wet Cat Food
,
Cat Treats
,
Dry Hamster Food
, and
Hamster Treats

3

2

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Personal Finance

Pet Ownership

Pets

About THE AUTHOR

Cindy Leow

Cindy Leow

See all articles

Comments

 (1)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

1
 Comment

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Kingnoobie

    2 years ago

Dogs are the best animal in the world

0

Reply


Budget 2020 Malaysia: Eligible, Non-B40 Vehicle Owners To Get Fuel Subsidy Via Kad95

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has revealed that the targeted fuel subsidy for the B40 group will extend to eligible vehicle owners who are not classified in the B40. This will be done via the introduction of a Kad95, which offers the same subsidy.

Earlier this week, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced the
new petrol subsidy scheme
. Today Guan Eng in his Budget 2020 tabling has revealed that this scheme will be extended to those not in the B40 group who are Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipients, with the same vehicle ownership eligibility criteria:

cars with an engine capacity of 1,600cc and below

cars with an engine capacity over 1,600cc but 10 years and older

motorcycles with an engine capacity of 150cc and below

motorcycles with an engine capacity over 150cc but 7 years and older

Those eligible will receive a petrol card called Kad95, which will grant the same set of subsidies as the BSH recipient groups (30 sen per liter limited to a monthly cap of 100 liters for cars and 40 liters for motorcyles). Kad95 will be implemented in stages in the first quarter of 2020.

The expansion of the targeted fuel subsidy means this scheme will now benefit 8 million Malaysians, and the Government will allocate a total of RM2.2 billion.

It is not currently known the actual mechanics of the distribution of the card, nor how it will be used – but more on this will definitely be revealed in the coming days.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

B40

Budget 2020

Fuel Subsidy

Petrol

Petrol Price

Petrol Subsidy

About THE AUTHOR

Pang Tun Yau

Pang Tun Yau

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


The Enhanced TNG Card Is Finally Launched, Allows Reloads From TNG eWallet With Zero Fees

Touch ‘n Go (TNG) eWallet has officially rolled out its enhanced TNG card today, along with its accompanying top-up feature within the eWallet app. With this, users are set to have a more convenient experience when reloading their cards as they will no longer need to visit specific stores or reload kiosks to do so.

As had been previously leaked, the
enhanced TNG card is a new card with near-field communication (NFC) capability
 that enables you to reload straight from your TNG eWallet with zero fees – something that cannot be done prior to this. Other than that, the card’s functions remain the same; you can use the enhanced TNG card for payments at toll highways, public transportation services, and parking sites – among other locations.

The new card itself can be purchased at selected petrol stations and retail stores, as well as via your TNG eWallet, at the price of RM10 (not inclusive of courier charges if purchased via TNG eWallet). Each user may purchase as many cards as they like over the counter, but if you’re making an order via your TNG eWallet, then you’re limited to only two enhanced TNG cards per transaction. You can also order the cards for family and friends, and have it delivered to your preferred address (although shipping is limited only to Peninsular Malaysia).

Upon receiving your new TNG card – with delivery taking up to four working days for orders via TNG eWallet – you’ll need to first register and link the card to your eWallet account before you can tap into its full benefits. To do so, you must have verified your eWallet account via the electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) procedure, after which you can tap on the TNG Card icon on the home screen of your eWallet app to start the process:

Tap on the “Add Card” button
Tap on “Scan Now” to switch on your phone’s NFC function
Place your card behind your phone, and your eWallet will automatically record your 10-digit serial number (you may also manually key in the serial number if you prefer to do so)
Fill in the preferred card name
Tap on the “Add” button
Enter your six-digit TNG eWallet PIN, and you’re done!

Note that you’re allowed to register only a maximum of five enhanced TNG cards in your eWallet account.

Meanwhile, to reload your card, simply tap on the TNG Card icon again, and follow the subsequent steps:

Tap on the “Reload” button of the card that you’d like to top up
Place your enhanced TNG card against the back of your phone (with NFC function turned on)
Enter the top-up amount when prompted (each reload transaction is capped at RM500, while the card limit is set at RM1,500)
Authorise the payment with your eWallet PIN
Scan your card at the back of your phone again, and the transaction is complete!

Do be aware that your enhanced TNG card and TNG eWallet balances are
not
linked; it does not work like PayDirect, which links existing TNG cards to the eWallet for selected payments such as
parking
 and
toll
. You can check the balance of your enhanced TNG card by scanning the card via NFC.

Additionally, note that users will not be able to directly transfer the card balance from their existing TNG card to the enhanced TNG card. Instead, you’ll need to submit an
eRefund request
 in order to process a refund to your preferred account (TNG eWallet or bank accounts), which you can then use to manually top up the new enhanced TNG card. This refund process will also cause your existing TNG card to be terminated.

Finally, if you’re ready to give the enhanced TNG card a try, make sure that your TNG eWallet app is updated to its latest version! This is because this new feature is only applicable for the app version 1.7.72 and above.

(Source:
Touch ‘n Go eWallet
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Enhanced Touch 'n Go Card

NFC Technology

Touch 'n Go

Touch 'n Go Card

Touch 'n Go eWallet

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (1)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

1
 Comment

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Alex

    1 year ago

First thing is ensure phon need have NFC function. However not all smartphone in market with that function especially android version phone. Means, you may need to purchase new phone with NFC function. 2nd thing is, security of use NFC. You need to remember to turn off NFC function while not using to prevent data stolen. You can browse for NFC issue on that.

0

Reply


PTPTN Launches myPTPTN Mobile App To Offer Services On One Platform

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has rolled out its new mobile application, myPTPTN, allowing customers to access various PTPTN services online on a single platform.

Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said that the services provided by the myPTPTN app include loan statement review and repayment, as well as Simpan SSPN statement review and deposits. She added that the app can also help notify users of their loan advance payment offer, loan approval, and loan payment date, with the activation of the push notification function.

Besides that, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini assured that PTPTN customers can use the mobile app without worrying as it is equipped with electronic identity verification for data protection. This includes email and mobile phone number verification upon registration, and transaction verification using the Transaction Authorisation Code (TAC).

In launching the app, the Higher Education Minister stated that myPTPTN is part of PTPTN’s initiative to accelerate the national digitalisation plan. She added that the corporation has also introduced seven payment channels last year “to ensure flexibility and convenience for customers to make payments, instead of having them go to the counter”.

Meanwhile, PTPTN chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid said that as of 28 February this year, the corporation has disbursed loans amounting to RM65.82 billion, and received Simpan SSPN deposits of almost RM11.51 billion.

“Statistics show that in January and February, about 1.2 million transactions worth around RM265.91 million of loan repayments were done online. This is about 51.66% of loan repayments of RM514.7 million. For Simpan SSPN, about 1.04 million online transactions deposited RM306.79 million into the fund. This is 49% of the RM626.04 million deposited,” added Ahmad Dasuki.

Ahmad Dasuki said that given the encouraging statistics of online transactions among customers, PTPTN is positive that myPTPTN will offer convenience to depositors and borrowers in managing their loan repayments, especially the younger generation.

“𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐮 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐓𝐏𝐓𝐍”
Muat turun, daftar dan lakukan transaksi sekarang dengan aplikasi myPTPTN
Hanya klik-klik je! RM250,000 mungkin menjadi milik anda.
 Maklumat lanjut,
https://t.co/iHOPL7py4V

pic.twitter.com/0vvdQltaFB
— PTPTN (@PTPTNOfficial)
March 29, 2022

To encourage the use of the mobile app, PTPTN is currently running the
myPTPTN Klik-Klik Je! Campaign
 until 15 June 2022, with total prizes worth RM250,000 up for grabs. PTPTN customers may download
myPTPTN
 at the
Google Play Store
,
Apple App Store
 and
Huawei AppGallery
.

(Source:
New Straits Times
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid

Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad

Ganjaran Kesetiaan Simpan SSPN Prime

myPTPTN

PTPTN

SSPN

About THE AUTHOR

Nur Adilah Ramli

Nur Adilah Ramli

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


OPR Maintained At 1.75%, No Change By Bank Negara Malaysia

The Monetary Policy Committee of Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has once again decided to maintain its overnight policy rate (OPR) at 1.75%.

In its statement, BNM said that the latest indicators point towards significant improvement in the nation’s economic activity in the third quarter. Although the introduction of targeted measures to contain Covid-19 in several states could affect the momentum of recovery in the fourth quarter, growth for the year 2020 is expected to be within the earlier forecasted range.

As for headline inflation, it is likely to average negative this year given the substantially lower global oil prices. For 2021, both headline inflation and economic activity is projected to average higher.

(Image: Malay Mail)

Earlier in
September
, BNM also maintained the OPR at 1.75%, after having already slashed the OPR by a total of four times in 2020. From 3.0% at the start of the year, the OPR was reduced by 25 basis points in
January
 and then by another 25 basis points in
March
. In
May
, the OPR was slashed by 50 basis points to its lowest level in ten years at 2.0%, before being further reduced to the current record low of 1.75% in
July
.

“The MPC considers the stance of monetary policy to be appropriate and accommodative. The cumulative 125 basis points reduction in the OPR this year will continue to provide stimulus to the economy,” said the central bank. “The MPC will continue to assess evolving conditions and their implications on the overall outlook for inflation and domestic growth. The Bank remains committed to utilise its policy levers as appropriate to create enabling conditions for a sustainable economic recovery.”

(Source:
Bank Negara Malaysia
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bank Negara Malaysia

BNM

Interest Rates

OPR

Overnight Policy Rate

About THE AUTHOR

Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


CIMB and MPH help you expand your mind

Knowledge is king. So why not head on over to
MPH
 with your CIMB credit card and help yourself to heaps of it?

You’ll be privileged to
a RM5 book voucher with every RM50 you spend at any MPH bookstore in the country. You can also opt to pay for your purchases with your CIMB credit card bonus points.

Promotion valid till 31 December this year. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get smarter!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

About THE AUTHOR

John Royce

John Royce

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


UOB credit card dining perks at Luna Bar

Grab your friends and your UOB credit card and enjoy a night

out in city at Luna Bar. Receive up to 20% off your total bill when you make

payments with a UOB credit card excluding tobacco products and alcoholic

beverages.

This promotion is valid until 31 December 2013 and is not

applicable with other on-going offers, promotions, discounts, set menu,

functions, special events and loyalty programmes. This offer is not valid

during the eve of public holidays and during public holidays.

For further details please refer to the promotion
Terms

& Conditions
 page.

At a lost on which UOB credit card to get? Let us help you

find the right one at
RinggitPlus.com

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

About THE AUTHOR

Brendon Lee

Brendon Lee

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Inexpensive Ways to Increase the Value of Your House

It is not uncommon to find a heavily renovated house going for nearly twice the amount of the surrounding properties thanks to the generous facelift it received from its owners.

However, expensive renovation is not the only way you can help boost the value of your property. We found small, inexpensive ways you can help your house stand out from the rest if and when you decide to sell it.

Keep it Clean

Many people overlook the importance of keeping their house in spick-and-span condition. Whilst you may think it is merely about aesthetics; dirt and grime can cause expensive damage to a house that is not only costly to fix – it will make potential buyers think twice!

For example, grime covered bathroom tiles stain for good if left unchecked; as do kitchen countertops that have been exposed (but not immediately cleaned) to oil and food particles. Stained tiles often need to be changed as do countertops.

Dirt may also attract vermin into your home that end up causing more damage.

Pay Attention to Positioning of Fixtures and Fittings

Nothing annoys a potential buyer or tenant quite like a carelessly placed fixture that not only inconveniences the user; it sometimes renders the fixture positively useless.

This writer cannot stress enough the number of times she has seen toilet paper holders placed directly under showers and air-con units placed in corners and crevices that make airflow positively impossible to reach the living areas and the occupants!

It costs nothing to consider the layout and plan of your home carefully so as not to place fixtures and fittings in such silly places that you cause more trouble than you solve by installing them.

Invest in Good Quality Paint

Some cost required here but definitely less than to renovate or modify the structure of your home. Investing in good paint both inside and outside the house can protect the structure of your home (at least for a few years) from the affects of mold, mildew and weather damage.

Don’t just take the word of the paint brand of course, ask around and check out
local forums for advice on the best paint to use
. You won’t need to do it every year but keeping your home well-painted will surely serve to make it look much better in the eyes of a potential buyer!

Consider Convenience When Choosing Fittings

All houses will need the usual curtain rods, water heaters, lights and nowadays, aircon units too. Whilst it might be tempting to attempt an avant garde type of curtain rod or fancy lights – consider the convenience and feasibility of finding the complements you need to match such as light bulbs and curtains.

If you (and subsequently your new buyer) are forced to pay hundreds of ringgit to custom-make a curtain every time you need a new one – it’s going to get old pretty fast. Ditto on the light bulbs that require trips to 5 different hardware stores to find (cough* true story* cough).

Similarly, think about the location and availability of plug points. We rely on so many electrical items in the home – the safe and convenient thing to do is ensure you have enough plug points for all your appliances!

You may think it is no big deal and a buyer could easily change these items – put yourself in his shoes. If he has to choose between, say, your home that requires rare light bulbs, expensive upholstery and specialised technicians because your aircon brand is obscure; and the other house down the street with ordinary, fuss-free fittings; which do you think he will choose?

Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home – the convenience could help you keep sanity when maintaining your home too!

Keep Things in Good Repair

Just like your health – leaving a maintenance problem too long can cause it to deteriorate into a very costly job than it would have been had you dealt with it in the outset.

Did you notice a clogged sink? Get it unclogged before you burst a pipe! Perhaps you noticed a slight leak in the ceiling – get it fixed before a deluge finds it’s way into your living room!

Rust, corrosion, dirt and wear and tear can take ugly tolls on a house and if not dealt with in a timely fashion – can cause even bigger, sometimes irreparable damage to a home.

Whilst not all fixes may be cheap – they are worth handling before they become larger problems.

Good Housekeeping

A lot of these tips are pretty basic but if kept up, can put your house above the rest in the market if you decide to sell it. But what is best for a potential buyer is also best for you.

Wouldn’t you want to live in a well-cared for home? Of course!

If you need financing for your home projects or if you’ve decided on it – renovations; consider renovation loans that often come tied into your
home loan
. You can similarly apply for a
personal loan
 or even
remortgage your house
 for a higher amount but lower interest rate.

Renovation financing is outside the scope of this article but stay tuned for a separate article soon!

In the meantime, check our
our list of the best home loans in Malaysia
 for your home financing needs.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Homes

Housekeeping

About THE AUTHOR

Diana Chai

Diana Chai

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Allianz Life Introduces Limited-Pay Universal Life Insurance, Allianz Legacy Plus

Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia has rolled out its new Allianz Legacy Plus plan, a limited-pay universal life insurance that aims to help its customers secure their legacy for their loved ones. Offering coverage up to the age of 88, it enables policyholders to also lock in their funds for a specified period while tapping into a range of perks, including auto-increases in the insured amount and loyalty bonuses.

Open to those aged between 30 to 65 years old, the Allianz Legacy Plus plan comes with a conditional no lapse guarantee that will cover unforeseen costs and fees, provided the premiums are paid up to date. The policy also features an auto-increase benefit to help policyholders hedge their funds against inflation, automatically increasing their insured amount at prescribed intervals from the 21
st
 policy year onwards. Depending on your entry age, you may enjoy a maximum total auto-increase of 45%.

In addition to that, policyholders will be paid a compounding loyalty bonus of 0.5% of the account value, starting from the beginning of the 21
st
 policy year until the policy matures. There is also a guaranteed maturity benefit, which ensures that policyholders will receive either the account value or a specified percentage of the insured amount (up to 145%), whichever is higher.

Meanwhile, in terms of protection, the Allianz Legacy Plus offers a high non-medical limit of up to RM4 million, with no medical check-up required. As for fees and charges, Allianz noted that the premium charge will depend on your chosen premium payment term. There is also a monthly policy fee of RM7, cost of insurance (which will be deducted monthly from the policy account), and fund management charge.

According to the chief executive officer of Allianz Life, Charles Ong, Allianz Legacy Plus was conceived to meet the people’s post-Covid-19 needs, who want more certainty out of their policies without committing to a long period of premium payment. “As such, we introduced Allianz Legacy Plus, which has a short premium commitment period, allowing our customers to lock in their legacy without long-term payments. In addition, there is a guaranteed payout for the insured amount and the coverage continues regardless of market conditions,” he said.

Ong also highlighted that this new product is apt for those who wish to create a legacy that can be passed on to their loved ones as a gift. “This product is also suitable for business owners who want to create an instant legacy for their loved ones without impacting important cash flow liquidity for the business. With this protection plan, we are providing our customers with a chance to write their own legacy,” he stated.

(Sources:
Allianz Life Insurance
,
BusinessToday
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Allianz

Allianz Legacy Plus

Allianz Life Insurance

Charles Ong

Limited Payment Life Insurance

Universal Life Insurance

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


What is Cukai Tanah (Quit Rent)?

Is it tax season still? It
was
 back in April, where we shared with you our tips on income tax along with our suggestion on why
not
 to spend your tax refunds. Now that it’s May, we feel it’s a good time to talk about that other bit of tax we get hit with every year, the quit rent or
cukai tanah
.

What is
Cukai Tanah
?

It’s all in the name.
Cukai tanah
 literally translates to ‘land tax’, which is a tax levied on the land that’s in use upon whoever is using it. Back in feudal times, all land belonged to the monarch (king, sultan, or whoever was at the throne) of those lands. Those not of royalty have to pay taxes on the land that the royal Highness has graciously allowed them to use.

This land tax funds the kingdom (or state) so that it can provide for its people. In countries where the monarchy is no longer in power, this land tax does not exist anymore (they’re replaced by other forms of taxation). Since Malaysia still has all its kings and the land tax is a healthy source of income for the states, we citizens still have to pay it.

How Does the Tax Work?

Nowadays, the National Land Code makes it compulsory for all landowners to pay
cukai tanah
 (now also known as quit rent) once a year to the relevant land office of their State Government. It’s imposed on owners of both freehold and leasehold land. If your property is rented, the tax is often included into the cost of your rent, so you don’t have to worry about it.

But if you do own land, you’re required by law to pay up every year between 1st January and 31st May, even if you don’t get any notifications or letter requesting you to do so. Failure to pay your
cukai tanah
 can result in your land being reposessed.

Whoa. How Do I Pay
Cukai Tanah
 Then?

The amount you need to pay varies from state to state and it even changes depending on the class of land you own. You can visit the official website of the
Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment
 to check the rates and different methods of payment you can use for wherever state you own the land in. You’ll have to pay per square footage of the land you own and it typically doesn’t cost you more than RM200 per year.

We hope you have a better understanding of
cukai tanah
 now and are ready to pay up (if you have to) by the end of the month! Speaking of owning land, why not check out our
home loan comparison tool
 if you’re in the market for some new properties? Have any more questions about
cukai tanah
? Feel free to ask us in the comments section down below!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Cukai Tanah

land tax

Renting

Tax

About THE AUTHOR

Ahmad Mudhakkir

Ahmad Mudhakkir

See all articles

Comments

 (1)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

1
 Comment

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Mrs. Reita Raja Gopal

    3 years ago

where do I get the biller code number to pay my quit rent for a residence at kuala lumpur w.p.

9

Reply


New Rahmah Eyewear Package To Offer Glasses From As Low As RM50

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) said that the ongoing Payung Rahmah programme has now been further expanded to also cover eyewear via a new Rahmah Eyeglass Package.

Rolled out in collaboration with eye care provider MOG Eyewear, Malaysians will be able to purchase glasses at the affordable price of between RM50 to RM100, at 96 MOG Eyewear branches nationwide. On top of that, individuals may also upgrade their lenses to blue-cut lenses with ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection at just RM100.

MOG Eyewear further clarified in its own social media post that the Rahmah Eyeglass Package will be officially launched across all MOG outlets on 10 June 2023. “Our aim is to provide equal opportunities for consumers to afford quality eyewear for different vision needs. At just RM50 or RM100, we hope to make vision care accessible for our community and boost awareness of the importance of yearly eye checks and changing your eyewear timely to meet your vision needs,” it said.

The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub also took to his Facebook account to express his appreciation for the effort and dedication that made the launch of the Rahmah Eyeglass Package possible. Additionally, he said that he hopes the Payung Rahmah programme can be continued with more attractive offers to meet the needs of the people.

To note, Payung Rahmah is an aid programme that was
introduced by the government early this year
, with the aim to reduce the cost of living for the lower-income group (B40) and hardcore poor. Aside from the latest Rahmah Eyeglass Package, some other packages and initiatives that were also rolled out under the Payung Rahmah programme include
Menu Rahmah
, Bakul Rahmah, and Jualan Rahmah. Takaful operators, too, have expressed an interest in offering
Rahmah insurance
 through the programme.

(Sources:
Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub [Facebook]
,
Malay Mail
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub

Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN)

MOG Eyewear

Payung Rahmah

Rahmah Eyeglass Package

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (1)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

1
 Comment

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Badariah Mazlan

    3 months ago

Semuga pemberian peluang kepada seseorang yang memerlukan penglihatan yang lebih cerah dan dengan membeli harga yang sangat murah

0

Reply


Maybank To Move Selected ASNB Account Services From Maybank2u App To MAE App

Maybank has alerted customers that effective 7 October 2022, selected functions of its Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) services will be permanently moved from the Maybank2u mobile banking app to the MAE by Maybank2u (MAE) app. This is in a bid to offer Maybank customers an improved mobile banking experience.

Specifically, two functions under Maybank’s ASNB account services will be relocated from the Maybank2u app to the MAE app:

View own and child’s account balance(s)

Make transfers to own account(s) via Favourites

Once the move is completed in October, customers can proceed to manage their ASNB accounts within the MAE app via the following steps:

View account balance
Transfer to own account
– Launch MAE app and select “Maybank2u” from the navigation bar at the bottom
– Log in and tap on “Wealth” from the top navigation
– Select “ASNB Accounts” to view your account balances
– Launch MAE app and select “Transfer” from Quick Actions
– Log in and select “ASNB” from the top navigation
– Select your account under “Favourites”, and key in your desired amount before completing your transfer*
*
Select “ASNB Transfer” under New Transfer instead if you wish to perform new transfers

Maybank also reassured customers that all their account details and saved favourites will be made accessible through the MAE app after the update; this means you won’t have to key in and save your details again in your MAE app. Alternatively, those who prefer not to conduct these ASNB transactions through the MAE app can also
log in to the Maybank2u website
 to do so.

This update is likely spurred by the fact that Maybank2u app will eventually be phased out in the future, to be replaced by the MAE app. This was
confirmed back in October 2020
, when the
MAE app
 was first rolled out. However, Maybank did not reveal a set date for the official removal of the Maybank2u app at that time.

You can download the MAE app for free from
Google Play
, the
App Store
, and
Huawei AppGallery
. If you have any enquiries about this latest update, you can also email Maybank at
[email protected]
.

(Source:
Maybank
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad

ASNB

MAE

MAE App

MAE by Maybank2u

Maybank

Maybank MAE

Maybank2U

Maybank2u App

Maybank2u Web

Maybank2u Website

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Malaysia Personal Income Tax Guide 2022 (YA 2021)

NOTE:

This is the income tax guide for the year of assessment 2021. If you are filing your taxes in 2023, then head on over to our
income tax guide for YA 2022 here
.

March has arrived, and we all know what that means:
time to file your taxes
. But are you prepared to tackle the task? Do you have your EA forms ready? Have you determined your income tax rates, and collected all the receipts for your tax reliefs? For that matter, what
are
 the tax reliefs that you’re entitled to? And where should you start if you’re a first-time taxpayer?

Many Malaysians may find the tax filing process a little…well, taxing – but we’re here to help! Here’s our complete guide to filing your income taxes in Malaysia 2022, for the year of assessment (YA) 2021.

Do You Need To Pay Income Tax?

(Image: Malay Mail/Ahmad Zamzahuri)

If you’re an individual earning more than RM34,000 per annum (about RM2,833.33 per month) after EPF deductions, you have to register a tax file.

Income tax doesn’t just cover your monthly salary, but all types of income – whether it’s from your business or profession, employment, dividends, interest, discounts, rent, royalties, premiums, pensions, annuities, and others. For salaried employees, this also includes things like bonuses, overtime, commissions, and
all other taxable income
.
Freelancers and part-timers
, too, are required to register and file their taxes.

You don’t have to pay taxes in Malaysia if you have been employed in the country for less than 60 days or for income that is earned from outside of Malaysia (aka foreign-sourced income). If you’re not sure what counts as income that you have to declare for tax purposes, we’ve elaborated more on this in a later sub-section of this guide (“How To File Income Tax In Malaysia” >> “Declare Your Income”).

How Much To Pay: Malaysia Tax Rates And Chargeable Income (YA 2021)

Meanwhile, here’s the
updated list of income tax rates
 that individual taxpayers are required to pay for YA 2021, based on their chargeable income:

Chargeable Income (RM)
Calculations (RM)
Rate %
Tax (RM)
0 – 5,000
On the first 5,000
0
0
5,001 – 20,000
On the first 5,000
Next 15,000
1
0
150
20,001 – 35,000
On the first 20,000
Next 15,000
3
150
450
35,001 – 50,000
On the first 35,000
Next 15,000
8
600
1,200
50,001 – 70,000
On the first 50,000
Next 20,000
13
1,800
2,600
70,001 – 100,000
On the first 70,000
Next 30,000
21
4,400
6,300
100,001 – 250,000
On the first 100,000
Next 150,000
24
10,700
36,000
250,001 – 400,000
On the first 250,000
Next 150,000
24.5
46,700
36,750
400,001 – 600,000
On the first 400,000
Next 200,000
25
83,450
50,000
600,001 – 1,000,000
On the first 600,000
Next 400,000
26
133,450
104,000
1,000,001 – 2,000,000
On the first 1,000,000
Next 1,000,000
28
237,450
280,000
Exceeding 2,000,000
On First 2,000,000
Next ringgit
30
517,450 ………..

To find out your tax rate from this table, you must first determine what is your chargeable income – which is defined as your taxable income minus any tax deductions and tax reliefs. As you can see, the tax rate you are charged with increases as your chargeable income does. The more you reduce your chargeable income (
through tax reliefs and such
), the lesser your final tax amount will be.

As an example, let’s say your annual taxable income is RM48,000. Based on this amount, your tax rate is 8%, and the total income tax that you must pay amounts to RM1,640 (RM600 + RM1,040). However, if you claimed RM13,500 in tax deductions and tax reliefs, your chargeable income will be reduced to RM34,500. This enables you to drop down a tax bracket, lower your tax rate to 3%, and reduce the amount of taxes you are required to pay from RM1,640 to RM585. That’s a difference of RM1,055 in taxes!

Income Tax For Foreigners (Residents and Non-Residents)

(Image: Nikkei Asia/Yukinori Okamura)

Do foreigners or expatriates who are working and earning income in Malaysia need to pay income tax? In short, yes.

Any foreigner who has been working in Malaysia for more than 182 days (considered as residents) are eligible to be taxed under normal Malaysian income tax laws and rates, just like Malaysian nationals.

Meanwhile, those who stay in Malaysia for less than 182 days and are employed for at least 60 days (referred to as non-residents) are subjected to a flat rate based on their types of income:

Types of income
Rate (%)
– Business, trade, or profession
– Employment
– Dividends
– Rent
30
– Public entertainer
– Interest
15
– Royalty
– Payments for services in connection with the use of property or installation, operation of any plant or machinery purchased from a non-resident
– Payments for technical advice, assistance, or services rendered in connection with technical management or administration of any scientific, industrial or commercial undertaking, venture, project or scheme
– Rent or other payments for the use of any movable property
10

Foreigners employed in Malaysia must give their notice of their chargeability to the Non-Resident Branch or nearest LHDN branch within two months of their arrival in Malaysia.

How To File Income Tax In Malaysia

In Malaysia, the process for filing your income tax returns depends on the type of income you earn, and subsequently, what type of form you should be filing. Resident individuals who do not carry on a business will file the BE form, whereas resident individuals who do carry on a business will file the B form. Meanwhile, non-resident individuals (foreigners) file the M form. You can find the full list of different forms on the
LHDN website
 here.

The deadline for filing income tax in Malaysia also varies according to what type of form you are filing. For the BE form (resident individuals who do not carry on business), the deadline falls on either 30 April 2022 (manual filing) or 15 May 2022 (e-Filing). As for those filling in the B form (resident individuals who carry on business), the deadline is on 30 June (manual filing) or 15 July (e-Filing).

In this section, we’ll take you through the full process of filing your taxes.

1) Registering as a first-time taxpayer on e-Daftar

If this is your first time filing your taxes online, there are two things that you must have before you can start: your income tax number and PIN to register for e-Filing (the online service to submit your income tax return form (ITRF)). To get your income tax number, you’ll need to first register as a taxpayer on e-Daftar. After that, you can obtain your PIN online or by visiting a LHDN branch. Here’s a more detailed
guide on how you should go about registering as a first-time taxpayer
.

2) Logging in to e-Filing

You can access e-Filing through ezHASiL or your tax dashboard,
MyTax
. Once you’ve logged into e-Filing for the first time and set up your account as per the steps above, you can start filling up your ITRF online. Remember that you can choose to view the e-Filing webpage, your ITRF – and in fact – the entire LHDN website in either English or Bahasa Malaysia; just select the language of your choice at the top of the screen.

3) Filling up your ITRF

Choose the right type of ITRF based on the category of income that you fall under:

Income tax return form (ITRF)
Category
e-B/e-BT
For residents earning income from business/knowledge or expert worker
e-BE
For residents earning income without a business
e-M/e-MT
For non-resident individuals/knowledge workers

As you choose the right form, make sure that you also select the right year of assessment: YA 2021 (remember, you are declaring your income earned for the previous year). Next, we can get right down to the business of filling out your form; here’s a breakdown of what the BE form (for residents earning income without a business) will look like:

i) Particulars of individual

This section requires you to fill in your basic personal details. Some of the items will already have been filled out for you based on the information that you provide when registering as a first-time taxpayer, but always make sure to double check for accuracy. You should also make sure that you select the right
type of assessment
, which determines whether you will be filing as a single person, or filing together or separately with your spouse.

Just to note, the government had previously said that it will be
implementing a new prefix for taxpayers
, changing the existing SG (which is the prefix dedicated to individuals with non-business income source) and OG (for individuals with business income source) to IG. However, this has been postponed to an indefinite date.

ii) Other particulars

This is a continuation of the previous section that relates to your individual particulars. Make sure to get your
handphone number
 down correctly as LHDN will send you a TAC when you sign and submit your e-form, and your
bank account number
 must also be accurate if you want to get your tax refund. Additionally, you now have the option to choose DuitNow as your preferred payment method for tax refunds; just be sure to select “Payment via DuitNow” under “Method of payment for tax refund”, and then fill in the required DuitNow information.

If you’ve changed employers in the previous year, make sure to change the
Employer’s Number
 to reflect this update. You’ll also see a new detail that requires you to clarify if there is
tax borne by employer
; choose “yes” if your income tax is paid by your employer, and “no” if otherwise.

Besides that, the
disposal of asset under the Real Property Gains Tax Act 1976
 will be relevant to you if you sold any property in the last year.

You will also find the section for
Incentive Claims
 under paragraph 127(3)(b) and subsection 127(3A) here, which relate to specific exemptions made under gazette orders and exemptions given by the Minister of Finance, respectively. You can leave this section blank if this does not relate to you.

iii) Declare your income

Under
statutory income
, fill out all the money that you’ve earned from employment, rents, and other source in the respective boxes. This is where your EA form comes into play as it states your annual income earned from your employer.

However, there are several reasons why you shouldn’t merely accept the annual income stated on your EA form as the final figure for your statutory income from employment. You are also required to declare any non-salary related benefits that can count as “income from employment” and may need to be added to your income figure. These include income from rents, interest, discounts, royalties, premiums, pensions, annuities, periodical payments, as well as payments received for part-time and occasional jobs (broadcasting, lecturing, writing, and so on).

Aside from that, you wouldn’t want to include any income that is entitled to tax exemptions on your form either. For instance, perquisites (which cover things like parking, medical, and transport allowances) and benefits-in-kind (such as cars, personal drivers, accommodation, and so on) are taxable under law, but the government has provided some tax exemptions for them. Your
severance package
 may also exempted from tax under certain conditions, if you lost your job in the previous year. If you want to find the answer to whether or not your RM100 monthly travel allowance is tax exempt, check out our article on
tax exemptions
.

Once you’ve keyed in all your statutory income, the form will automatically total it up to show your
aggregate income
. The next step will be to move on to any
tax deductions
 you may be eligible for so you can lessen your aggregate income. For example, you can
make a tax deduction
 from your aggregate income if you have made a contribution of gifts or donations to the government or a government-approved charitable organisation. After making the deductions, you will be left with your
total income
.

At the bottom of this section, you’ll have to key in the total
monthly tax deductions (MTD)
 paid during your year of assessment. MTD or Potongan Cukai Bulanan (PCB) is the compulsory mechanism where employers deduct monthly tax payments from a taxable employee’s salary. You can find this amount on your EA form.

You will also find a section on non-employment income of preceding years not declared, approved investment under angle investor tax incentive, and self-instalments – which you can fill out if relevant.

iv) Claim for tax reliefs and tax rebates

Here comes one of the most important parts of filing your taxes – claiming for tax reliefs and rebates! We’ve already explained how
tax relief
 can reduce your chargeable income (and thus your tax rate and tax amount) above. For the full list of tax reliefs you can claim for in YA 2021 and an explanation of each relief, you can refer to our post on
everything you should be claiming for here
 – or to the infographic below:

Once all your tax reliefs have been claimed, your chargeable income determined, and your tax rate and amount decided, you can claim for any
tax rebates
 you are eligible for.
Zakat
 and
fitrah
 can be claimed as a tax rebate for the actual amount expended up until the total tax amount.

For example, let’s say your employment income is RM50,000 a year and you have claimed RM15,000 in tax reliefs. This would bring your chargeable income down to RM35,000 and the amount of tax you must pay is RM600. If you have contributed RM400 in the last year on zakat, you can minus that amount from the RM600 and end up with a final tax amount of RM200 to pay.

Besides zakat and fitrah, you are also eligible for a tax rebate of RM400 for yourself if your chargeable income does not exceed RM35,000. To find out more about the tax rebates that you could be eligible for, you should also check
our article on it here
.

v) Check your summary

You’re almost done! On this page, you should see the final tax amount displayed. Don’t worry if your tax amount is in the negative as this is due to what you have already paid through MTD. This means you will get a tax refund from the government.

You can always go back through the form at this stage and amend any details that you may have missed out on; the form will make the necessary changes to the final tax amount automatically as you do so. Once you’re certain your form is free from errors, click “Next”.

On the declaration page, request a TAC from the number you’ve registered with LHDN and key it in. Then, click the sign and submit button, and enter your identification number and password in the pop-up (remember to
allow pop-ups
 on your browser for this!), and press the sign button.

And with that, congratulations, you’re done with income tax filing for YA 2021! Before you say goodbye to income taxes for the rest of the year, make sure to save and print the acknowledgement and e-BE form for records purposes.

Amending Your Income Tax Form

If you’ve been extremely careful during the process of filling in your ITRF, then there should not be any mistakes in your form. However, if you eventually catch an error and find yourself needing to amend your income tax declaration – no need to panic! You can submit an appeal for amendments on or before 30 April 2022.

Here are the steps that you will need to take:

Print your e-form and make corrections in the wrong space (a brief signature next to the correction). Next, make the tax calculation manually up to the “Tax Paid” level. In the event of any balance due, the balance shall be paid on/before 30 April 2022.

Attach a letter of appeal that explains the changes you wish to make along with a copy of your e-form and all original documents and receipts to confirm income, all claims and tax deductions. Once you’ve done that, you will need to send it to the branch that you have registered with.

You can also submit your appeal letter and supporting documentation through the
IRBM Customer Feedback Portal
, if it is more convenient.

Do note that LHDN will go through each error appeal as part of the audit process and the time taken for the amendment will depend on the information and documents submitted.

Note that you can actually also make online amendments via e-Filing (e-application for amended BE form), but only for the following two specific circumstances – and if your BE form is submitted before the submission deadline:

Under declared/not declared income

Overclaimed expense

To access this service, simply go to your MyTax dashboard, click on “e-Filing”, and you’ll find “e-Application for Amended BE” as one of your options. Fill in the form and submit it.

Meanwhile, if you need to amend your ITRF after 30 April, you are allowed to submit an Amended Return Form (ARF) within six months from the ITRF submission deadline. Your ARF must be submitted to the branch that handles your income tax file, and only taxpayers who have submitted their ITRF on time the first round is allowed to submit an ARF. Again, this amendment method is only permitted for the following mistakes:

Under declared/not declared income

Overclaimed expenses

Overclaimed capital allowances, incentives, or reliefs

How To Pay Income Taxes In Malaysia?

With your taxes filed and your final tax amount determined, you will find yourself in either one of two situations.

For those subject to MTD, you may find that tax reliefs and rebates have contributed to making your final tax amount less than what was deducted each month. Therefore, you are eligible for a tax refund! It will be automatically credited to the bank account that you’ve provided in your tax form within 30 working days after submission.

On the other hand, if you find after the filing that you still owe more taxes, you’ll have to pay them before the due date, which is 30 April 2022. Here are a few of the ways you can
pay your income taxes in Malaysia
:

Method
Details
Online banking through FPX
Requires a bank account with Affin Bank, Alliance Bank, AmBank, Bank Islam, Bank Muamalat, Bank Rakyat, Bank Simpanan Nasional, BNP Paribas Bank, CIMB Bank, Deutsche Bank, Hong Leong Bank, HSBC Bank, Kuwait Finance House Malaysia, Maybank, OCBC Bank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, or UOB Bank
Online using credit card on ByrHASiL
Visa, Mastercard, American Express accepted
Pos Malaysia
Over the counter (cash only) or online
Via ATM
Only at CIMB Bank, Maybank, Public Bank, and RHB Bank
Via cash deposit machines
Only at Maybank

While it may be a positive thing to be able to pay your taxes with your credit card, do note that almost all banks do not provide benefits for government-related spending. Therefore, it is unlikely that you will be able to earn cashback or rewards points on the amount that you pay for your taxes. However, some cards do include government spend as part of your monthly or annual spend requirements that go towards unlocking higher cashback tiers or annual fee waivers.

What If You’re Late With Your Income Tax Payment?

A penalty of 10% will be imposed on the balance of tax unpaid after the deadline. A further penalty of 5% will be imposed on the amount owed if the tax and penalty is not paid within 60 days.

If you disagree with the late payment penalty, you can forward an appeal in writing to the Collection Unit of LHDN within 30 days of being issued a Notice of Increased Assessment. However, the penalty imposed has to be settled first regardless of any appeal – if you are successful, LHDN will refund you the relevant amount at a later date.

Appealing Your Income Tax Notice Of Asessment

After you file your taxes, there is a possibility that LHDN may serve you a notice of assessment. A notice of assessment is essentially a written statement by LHDN that states your taxable income, amount of tax due, and so on.

If you disagree with any of the info laid out – perhaps because of a discrepancy in tax reliefs or other errors – you can file an income tax appeal. The appeal must be made within 30 days from the date of notice in writing to the LHDN branch which issued the assessment.

You’re required to fill in the Q form, write a letter identifying the mistakes, and submit supporting documents for any expenses, deductions, or reliefs claimed. The appeal will be forwarded to the Special Commissioners of Income Tax. Should you have a valid reason for requiring more than 30 days to file an appeal, then the N form is the one you’ll need. Both the Q and N forms are available at the LHDN office, or can be downloaded from the
LHDN website here
.

When Do I Stop Filing My Taxes?

Malaysians are allowed to stop paying taxes only when they have permanently closed their tax files, which is permitted under any of the following three conditions:

A retiree with no taxable income

An individual who is leaving Malaysia for good

An individual aged 55 years and above, with no taxable income

So for instance, let’s say you are a retiree who is still taking up some freelance jobs every now and then (with earnings not exceeding RM34,000 per annum), or an individual aged 45 with no taxable income. In both circumstances, you’re still required to continue filing your taxes as you do not meet the criteria required to close your tax files.

Remember, filing your taxes does not necessarily translate to having to pay taxes; you only pay taxes if your chargeable income requires you to. Filing your taxes, meanwhile, is a matter of accountability where you declare what you have earned in the previous year.

Finally, if you’re eligible to close your tax files permanently and you’d like to do so, you’ll need to send an official notification or letter to the branch where your tax file is handled. You must also ensure that there is no outstanding amount that needs to be paid, or a pending refund status before submitting your income tax file closure application.

***

We hope that this guide will be useful to you as you file your taxes this year. We also have a whole series of articles that address different aspects and questions pertinent to income tax filing; you can access them from the list below:

Everything You Should Claim As Income Tax Relief Malaysia 2022 (YA 2021)

Income Tax Malaysia: What’s New For YA 2021?

How To File Your Taxes For The First Time

How To Check If Your Hotel Stay Is Eligible For The Tourism Tax Relief

Confirmed: Special Lifestyle Tax Relief Is Stackable For Smartphone, Personal Computer, & Tablet Purchases

MyTax: One-Stop Portal To Make Tax Filing More Convenient

How To Claim Income Tax Reliefs For Your Insurance Premiums

Income Tax Malaysia: Quick Guide To Tax Deductions For Donations And Gifts

Understanding Income Tax Reliefs, Rebates, Deductions, And Exemptions In Malaysia

How To File Your Taxes As A Freelancer

How To File Income Tax For Your Side Business

How To File Your Taxes If You Changed Or Lost Your Job Last Year

How To Pay Income Tax In Malaysia

Income Tax Glossary

4.4

7

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

e-Daftar

ezHASiL

Income Tax 2022

Income Tax Malaysia

Income Tax YA 2021

Income Tax YA2021

Inland Revenue Board

Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri

LHDN

Longform

MyTAX

Personal Income Tax

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (4)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

4
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Hi Alex, may I know whether walk in fees to gym is claimable ? Is it claimable under Lifestyle – Additional relief for the use / benefit of self, spouse or child in respect ?

19

Reply

    Wong

    1 year ago

    Reply to

        Anonymous

Hi Alex

eye surgery (cataract) is it claimable under medical expenses?

13

Reply

    Maha Letchimy

    1 year ago

Hi Ms Cheong, just a question, last year I bought a iphone  for my son under maxis as he is my subline, and I pay monthly for it, can I make a claim on it, thank you

2

Reply

    Maggie Cheomg

    1 year ago

Hi Alex

Acute skin allergy is consider serious disease? Medical expenses deductible?

2

Reply


Maybank Partners With Pepsi In CNY Campaign To Offer Cashback Of Up To RM888

Maybank has collaborated with Pepsi to launch a Pepsi x MAE Prosperity Angpao Win Up To RM888 campaign, allowing customers to earn randomised cashback of between RM0.28 to RM888. The ongoing promo – which will run until 15 February 2022 – requires the bank’s customers to purchase selected Pepsi products, and then carry out a separate Scan & Pay transaction of RM0.01 to win the cashback reward.

To participate in this campaign, Maybank customers must first ensure that they have registered and activated the Scan & Pay function on their Maybank2u or MAE by Maybank2u (MAE) app. Once done, go ahead and purchase a carton of Pepsi, Pepsi Black, 7UP, or Kickapoo (Chinese New Year Value Pack Carton (24x320ml)) from the following retailers, using any of your preferred payment methods:

Hero Market
AEON BiG
AEON
EconSave
Mydin
Giant
TF Value Mart
99 Speedmart
Tesco/Lotus’s

Within the carton, you’ll find a MAE Prosperity Angpao card containing a dedicated QR code for this campaign, which you then need to scan with your Scan & Pay function and make a payment of RM0.01 – similar to the procedure used for the bank’s
1 SEN-Sation campaign
. From there, the cashback reward will be awarded to you randomly by Maybank’s randomiser programme, credited to your account within seven working days from each eligible transaction.

Each Maybank customer is entitled to one earning opportunity during each campaign month, which means that in total, you get three chances throughout the entire campaign period. Specifically, the schedule is as follows:

Period 1
: 5 – 31 December 2021 (1x chance)
Period 2
: 1 – 31 January 2022 (1x chance)
Period 3
: 1 – 15 February 2022 (1x chance)

Note as well that you must set the source of fund for your Scan & Pay feature to your current, savings, or MAE accounts in order to qualify for this campaign. If your source of fund is set to a Maybank debit or credit card, your RM0.01 Scan & Pay transaction for this campaign will be disqualified, and you will not win any cashback rewards.

Finally, do be aware that Maybank has earmarked a total of RM388,000 for the entire campaign period, with the rewards to be provided on a first-come first-served basis.

(Source:
Maybank
)

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

Not yet a Maybank credit cardholder?

Apply now!

TAGS:

7UP

Chinese New Year

Kickapoo

MAE

MAE App

MAE by Maybank2u

Maybank

Maybank Scan & Pay

Maybank2U

Mobile Banking

Mobile Banking App

Pepsi

Pepsi Black

Promotional Campaigns

About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Good Debt vs Bad Debt: Which Ones Do You Have?

While people sometimes get nervous at the mere idea of debt, it’s not always a bad thing. In fact, borrowing money can actually be a positive financial move. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between good debt and bad debt.

What is Good Debt?

Good debt is the debt we incur towards an expense or purchase that will give us higher value than the total amount we’ll be paying for it. A rule of thumb is that what you’re spending on will increase in value and your commitments are comfortable.

Examples of this might be a small business loan, real estate loan, or education loan. With a small business loan, hopefully your business gains traction and you profit from it, with a real estate loan you’re counting on the value of the property to increase so you can sell it off for a higher price, and with an education loan you’re improving your resume so you can potentially earn more salary with a better job.

What is Bad Debt?

This type of debt is often incurred to purchase items which quickly decrease in value, at high interest rates; and could be subject to low probability of successful repayment.

Examples of bad debts include any type of borrowings for extravagant or unnecessary purchases (though this is subjective) that you can’t afford to repay –– expensive clothing, luxury holidays, pricey furniture, etc.

This Sounds Like Most of My Debt is Bad Debt…

That’s perfectly normal, actually. Most of us with a car loan certainly have bad debt, since the value of a car immediately depreciates as soon as it’s driven off the lot. But this doesn’t mean that it’s a bad thing to have bad debt. It’s just called bad debt because it’s best to get rid of these as fast as possible.

What if I’m Not Sure What Kind of Debt I Have?

This is also normal, but much more hazardous. Mistaking bad debt for good debt is one of the big reasons people fall into too much debt. One major rule of thumb is to really think about the
future financial benefit
 of your purchase or expense. Only when this can be confidently assessed should it count as good debt.

Good debt can also turn into bad debt. If a hot property you’re paying for suddenly becomes devalued, or if the degree programme you’re financing becomes no longer lucrative, these debts can no longer be called good debt, and you should move quickly to get rid of them as soon as you can.

Too much debt, whether good or bad, can unnecessarily impose a heavy financial burden to you. This is why it’s important to plan your financing needs and borrow as economically as possible. Here are a few suggestions on how you can make better financial decisions and minimise bad debts:

Assess your repayment ability
 – combined debt should not be more than 60% of your monthly income.

Borrow only for purchases that will
improve your finances
 in the long run. Don’t just think about the enjoyment or practical use of your purchases.

Make sure you
understand all the terms, conditions, and risks
 associated with the debt you are about to incur.

Last but not least, remember to shop around for the most affordable loan packages. You can use our comparison page to very easily find the best rates and terms for
personal
,
home
 or
auto loans
 as well as
credit cards
. Have anything to add to this article? Do share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comments section down below!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bad Debt

Debt

Good Debt

About THE AUTHOR

Desiree Nair

Desiree Nair

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


MAS Introduces 50% Off Neighbour-Free Seats For Its Economy Flex Fare

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has introduced neighbour-free seats as an exclusive product for its Economy Flex fares, offered at 50% off. The neighbour-free seat feature gives you the option to purchase the seat or seats next to you, offering extra safety in the time of Covid-19 given that airlines are currently permitted to operate at full capacity.

With MAS now implementing its enhanced Economy flexible fare options across its entire network (with the exception of flights from Malaysia to Japan and Japan to Malaysia, Jeddah, and Madinah), this means that you can opt for neighbour-free seats on almost all Malaysia Airlines flights as long as you purchase the Economy Flex fare. You will receive an email 72 hours before your flight departure allowing you to purchase the seat next to you at 50% off the original price.

Prior to this, the three flexible MAS fare options for economy – Economy Lite, Basic, and Flex – were only available for flight destinations in the
ASEAN and South Asia regions
; in fact, when these flexible fares were first launched in September 2019 they were only available on
domestic flights
. Similarly, the neighbour-free seats feature is not new as it was first introduced in
October 2019
, but only on selected routes.

To recap, these flexible fare options are meant to allow greater personalisation for MAS passengers with varying levels of preference on the benefits required on a flight. The Lite fare, which only offers the essentials like 7kg of cabin baggage, is targeted towards day-trippers and business commuters; the Basic fare, with Enrich Mile upgrade options, 20kg check-in baggage, and 1x rebooking fee waiver offers a more classic full-service experience.

Lastly, the Flex fare comes with the most perks including 15% child discount, allowed refund, unlimited free rebooking, flexibility for early boarding, and now with 10% off your next Economy Flex purchase and 50% off the neighbour-free seat feature as well.

These latest enhancements to Malaysia Airlines’ fare options are part of the
national carrier’s efforts
 to offer “unparalleled safety, security, flexibility, and a completely hassle-free, premium experience based on the needs of each customer.”

4.5

2

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Economy Class

Malaysia Airlines

MAS

MAS Economy Flex

MAS Flexible Fare

Neighbour Free Seats

About THE AUTHOR

Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Having These Jobs Can Make Your Insurance More Expensive

No one can really put a monetary value on someone’s life, can they? Even so, insurance companies spend tonnes of money on research to do almost exactly this.

Insurance companies take down every single detail of you, ranging from your age, weight, height, medical history, family history and a tonne of other information to compute a premium. This premium is how much you have to pay to the insurers to get your coverage.

While the coverage is almost the same amount for everyone, the premiums we pay are different depending on the level of risk we represent. If none of your physical or health attributes inflate your insurance premium, then your job may be the factor that does it for you.

Here are a few common professions that are viewed as dangerous and could be making your insurance premiums more expensive.

Aviation

Despite
CNN
 labelling air travel as the safest form of transportation, being a pilot or a crew member is a type of profession that is going to cost you a little more when you pick out an insurance policy for yourself.

While jobs like pilots and flight attendants are viewed as dangerous, they are highly compensated with good salaries and robust benefits by the company.

On top of that, the grand benefit of being able to travel and see the world may be one of the reasons so many people still opt for such a dangerous yet safe profession.

Engineering

The engineering department is heavily divided by the ones who work on site and those who sit behind their desk.

While all positions are vital, those who are in the thick of things and are involved on site, usually have their insurance premiums jacked up.

That is why it is important that you not only put down your designation or profession, but include a description of your duties whenever you fill out an application for insurance. By doing so, you eliminate the chance of being overcharged on your insurance premium.

While it may be a dangerous job and inflates your insurance premium, you will not find yourself unemployed for long.

According to
LOVEMONEY
, this highly skilled profession is the second highest demanded occupation in the world. This not only almost guarantees them a healthy salary at the end of every month, it also gives engineers the option to live their lives in other parts of the world, should they opt to migrate.

Read Also:
7 Signs You Should (Probably) Quit Your Job

Public Safety

Another area of occupation that screams “risky” to insurers is comprised of the everyday daredevils of our society. Fireman, police officers, bodyguards, security guards and whoever that practically works in an industry of protecting others and saving lives can expect higher premiums.

They are looking at inflated insurance premiums simply because they put their lives on the line everyday to keep others safe. Even the head of security who may rarely partake in the action directly, is usually labelled as being in a high-risk environment.

While the private sector may reward these individuals who work as personal bodyguards with a proper remuneration package, our police officers who
do not enjoy a very large pay cheque
 are compensated with other government benefits such as housing and other subsidies.

Offshore Crew

The minute people talk about offshore crew, we automatically imagine the oil and gas industry. Many times we forget those who work on holiday cruises or cargo ships fall under this category too.

All staff on board are automatically viewed as having a risky profession. The cleaning crew, chefs, lounge singers, casino dealers, and all the technical staff on board can expect to have higher insurance premiums, due to the fact that their jobs are in the high seas.

While some of these jobs are not always viewed as glamorous, the perks make up for everything else. There are many jobs that pay well out there, but almost none give their employees time off the way offshore employers do.

In some cases, the employees work three weeks on board and in return, get two weeks off. That is equivalent to working approximately 8 months a year, with the remainder of the year allocated for paid off days.

Getting the Right Cover

Sometimes, we are lucky enough to choose our profession, and other times our profession chooses us. No matter how safe your profession may be, it is always better to be even safer. Look into an insurance policy that can swoop in and save the day should any misfortunes befall you.

If you chose to work in one of the riskier categories of professions mentioned above, fret not, you can still head on over to our
medical insurance page
 and use the comparison tool to help you pick out the best insurance package that suits you the best.

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Aviation

Engineering

Life Insurance

Offshore Crew

Public Safety

About THE AUTHOR

Gavin Pereira

Gavin Pereira

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Cheap Year-End Travel Destinations in Malaysia for RM400 or Less

As the year-end approaches and the semester break beckons, it’s tempting to go on a holiday although your bank account balance may beg to differ. Holidaying on a budget may sound like an impossible feat but with careful planning and an iron-clad itinerary, rest assured that you too can have an enjoyable vacation.

Taking note of the toll prices and petrol consumption for every trip, we have narrowed down the locations that are not too far from the city center and can be accessed via public transport as well. Here are 4 places that you can head to for the upcoming year-end holidays.

 Affordability Guide

$$$$ – (RM400 or less)

$$$ – (RM350 or less)

$$ -(RM300 or less)

$ – (RM200 or less)

 Photo courtesy of ReFarm

Kampar

 State
 : Perak

 Toll to Exit from
 : Tapah or Gopeng

 Distance from KL
 : 170 KM

 Train Station to Alight From
 : Kampar

One of the richest towns in the early 70s, Kampar has long shed its image as a tin-mining settlement and focused more on the second thing that it’s more commonly known for: authentic, tasty hawker food. Ask any of the local and they will tell you that just like it’s more famous counterpart Ipoh, there are many other dishes that have made its mark in Klang Valley.

 Accommodation
 : Not a fan of the usual hotels or homestays? It’s alright, you can opt to stay in a room that is built from
 repurposed cement culvert
. Rates start from RM150/room.

 Eat
 : Ask any Kamparian and they’ll tell you that their Green Bean Fried Noodle, Beef Brisket Noodles and Fishball Noodles comes highly recommended. Prices start from RM5 for a small bowl of noodles.

 Activities
: Batu Berangkai Waterfall is a popular picnic spot among locals so if you are a fan of crystal clear waters, this is where you should be. Alternatively, you can go to a
 recreational farm
 nearby for some nature-focused activities such as jungle-trekking,

 Things to look out for
 : Avoid the waterfall during rainy days as this will cause the water levels to rise and the currents to run deep.

 Overall affordability
 : $

 Photo courtesy of Eco Murai Rimba

Batang Kali

 State
 : Selangor

Toll to Exit from
 : Batang Kali

 Distance from KL
 : 49KM

 Train Station to Alight From
 : Batang Kali

Apart from its gruesome history (read up Batang Kali Massacre for a better understanding of what happened here), Batang Kali is a haven for retirees and growing families so if you are seeking for an eco-retreat where the people are friendly, and food is cheap, look no further as this is where you need to be.

 Accommodation
 : Distance-wise, it is possible to opt for a daytrip but if you wish to spend more time exploring the town, you can choose to stay at a
 local bed and breakfast
 with prices starting from RM160.

 Eat
 : Mua Lao and Lao Hei are traditional delicacies that you won’t want to miss. Loh mee from local daichow establishments are also popular with both locals and tourists alike.

 Activities
: Soak away your worldly worries in the hot springs of Hulu Tamu. Hot springs entry fee is RM3 per person. Other activities include bird-watching, star-gazing, BBQ pit rentals and more.

 Things to look out for
: Watch out for monkeys and other wild animals from the forest reserve nearby as they may prey on you and your belongings.

 Overall affordability
 : $$

 Photo courtesy of GoBentong

Bentong

 State
 : Pahang

 Toll to Exit from
 : Bentong

 Distance from KL
 : 71KM

 Bus Terminal to Alight From
 : Bentong Bus Terminal

Previously known as a stopover town for those who are heading to Kuantan and other states in the East Coast, Bentong has succeeded in shedding its image as a place of transit with its ongoing efforts to promote itself as a foodie paradise. You may have seen some of Bentong’s produce on the aisles of specialty supermarkets such as Ben’s Independent Grocer, Jason’s Food Hall, Sam’s Groceria and more so if you want to get the best buys for less, what better way than to head to the source itself?

 Accommodation
 : Technically, it is possible to make a day trip to Bentong but if you have fallen in love with the charm of this quaint, sleepy town, then you may want consider putting up a night at a
 homestay
. Prices start from RM199 per night.

 Eat
 : Grab some Kaya puffs and pineapple biscuits for starters, then embark on a
tofu-centric escapade
 where you can enjoy both savoury and sweet beancurd in different serving styles. Food selection a little too mild for your liking? Give
 crocodile meat
 a try then and for anyone who’s not a fan of reptiles, no worries as the restaurant do serve other poultry and meat-based dishes as well.

 Activities
 : Wildlife conservatories are aplenty in Pahang but if you want to watch the majestic elephants in their natural habitat, then a visit to Kuala Gandah’s Elephant Sanctuary in Lanchang, Pahang is due. Ticket prices for the elephant sanctuary starts from RM10 for adult and RM5 for kids.

Outdoor adventurers who favour something more fast-paced may opt for white water rafting, abseiling, canopy walk and other activities at
 Lata Lembik Recreation Park
. Prices for these activities start from RM150.

If you are a fan of outdoor activities, you might find our other article
 ‘Cheap October Travel Destinations for Every Traveler Type’
 of interest to you.

 Things to look out for
 : Bring waterproof bags if you are planning to take part in the outdoor activities as not all these areas have lockers which you can peruse to store your precious belongings.

 Overall affordability
 : $$$

Balik Pulau

 State
 : Penang

 Toll to Exit from
 : Bayan Lepas or Gelugor

 Distance from KL
 : 364KM

 Train Station to Alight From
 : Butterworth

Granted that it is undeniable that a great number of cultural attractions and hawker favourites are situated in GeorgeTown and Batu Feringghi, why not take the road less taken and give Balik Pulau a visit instead?
 Instagram-able mural
 ? Check. Good food? Check. Affordable trinkets that you can take home? Check.

 Accommodation
 : Make cutting costs a cinch when you opt to stay in a
 container room
! With Free Wifi and a comfy queen sized bed to boot, rates start from RM102 a night.

 Eat
: As far as stereotypes go, a visit to Penang is not complete without a bowl of Assam Laksa and fresh seafood so take your pick from there.

 Activities
 : Calling all equine lovers out there, here’s your chance to get up close and personal with the beautiful horses and ponies at Countryside Stables Penang. If horses are not your thing, fret not as there are other things you can do as well such as joining a bike tour, exploring the fruit orchards and supporting the cottage industry of Balik Pulau.

 Things to look out for
 : The trunk roads heading towards Balik Pulau may be long and winding so if you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to bring along some nausea pills and paper bags in case of unexpected mishaps.

 Overall affordability
 : $$$$

Hopefully these cheap and affordable travel destinations will provide you with inspiration and insight on your year-end holiday break planning. Feel that you need a bit more cash before you go on your next getaway? Why not put your money in a savings account and let it accumulate?

Discover the perks of the best saving accounts in Malaysia by using our
 comparison tool

and from there, you can select the best savings accounts to help you get more from your money! Happy saving.

Any other cheap destinations that you would like to recommend? Share your experiences and ideas in the comment section below!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Budget Travel

Travel Planning

Travel Tips

About THE AUTHOR

Arnie Ruxana

Arnie Ruxana

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


What Not to Do When Repairing a Poor Credit Score

We all know that a bad credit score makes it tougher to manage our finances well. So, it’s important to know when your score isn’t as healthy as it should be and how to fix it. However, there are also a few things you have to remember
not
 to do when attempting to repair a poor credit score.

Here are what to avoid:

Trying to ‘Bargain’ for a Better Credit Score

Suppose you get a bad score and you notice that some parts of the report don’t look right. If you suspect that something’s been recorded in error, then you have the right to dispute it. What you should
not
 do however, is dispute your score because you feel like you can get it ‘bargained’ to a higher one somehow. That’s not how credit scores work. When faced with a bad credit score, it’s best to just focus on becoming a good paymaster and servicing your loans on time to slowly improve your score.

Paying Only Some Bills and Skipping Others

Once you’re sure that the information on your report is correct and you know you need to fix your credit score, it’s time to start paying your bills on time. But remember to be consistent. Don’t be tempted to pay off only the bigger bills because they look intimidating or only paying the smaller ones because it’s easier.

Being a good paymaster means paying all your bills on time, not just clearing them one by one. Service each of your commitments regularly even if this means you won’t be clearing some debts as fast as you can. Your credit score is about being a good paymaster, so as long as you’re paying your bills on time, your score
will
 slowly improve.

Continuing Your Old Spending Behaviour

If you have a poor credit score, it’s highly likely that this has to do with your payment behaviour and spending habits to date. Have a good look at your spending patterns and bill repayment behaviour in the past. Then, make changes to ensure you’re paying all your bills and credit obligations on time. Once you ‘get current’ on your bills, remember to maintain that disciplined behaviour and stay current – this consistency will ensure your credit score improves over time.

Applying for More Loans

Focusing on just repaying your debts can take quite a toll on your cashflow. You might even be tempted to apply for a consolidation loan to help you out. While these types of loans can definitely ease the burden of servicing multiple loans and even lower your interest rate, remember to make absolutely sure that you can pay it all off before the interest rate catches up with you.

In fact, besides consolidation loans, you shouldn’t take on any other new loans while you’re trying to repair your credit score.

Not Checking Your Credit Report

Once you’ve gotten into the habit of paying your credit obligations on time, remember to check your credit report regularly. This will help you stay on track when it comes to bill repayments, as well as help you see if your score is improving over time.

Checking your credit report isn’t hard to do at all. The easiest and fastest method would be to visit
CTOS
 and sign up for a CTOS User ID online.

If you aren’t familiar with CTOS, it’s a credit reporting agency that helps to compile and provide credit information in Malaysia. It offers MyCTOS Score report – a comprehensive credit report that can help you understand your credit health better and help identify the areas which you need to work on to improve your creditworthiness.

A MyCTOS Score report contains your personal details, CCRIS records, directorships, legal action records, the number of times you’ve been searched, as well as your CTOS Score – a credit score that ranges between 300 (lowest) and 850 (highest). It’s a great way to monitor your credit health, and you can easily sign up to get your MyCTOS Score report online.

You can find out more about MyCTOS Score report and sign up for your CTOS User ID at
www.ctoscredit.com.my
. Have you gotten your MyCTOS Score report before? Did it help you understand your credit health better? Share your thoughts and experience with us in the comment section below!

0

0

votes

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Bill Payments

CCRIS

Credit History

Credit Score

CTOS

Loan Applications

MyCTOS Score Report

About THE AUTHOR

ringgitplus

ringgitplus

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments


Boost Offers 50% Subsidy On Groceries At Selected Supermarkets Nationwide

Between today until 31 July 2022, Boost is running a campaign which is said to offer users a 50% subsidy on groceries at selected supermarkets across Malaysia. The campaign is part of its ongoing #BoostUntukRakyat relief mission that is aimed at helping Malaysians reduce their expenses on essentials.

Users can tap into the 50% subsidy by redeeming a RM10 Partner Wallet credit for groceries in the BoostUP Rewards catalogue using only 4,000 Boost Stars – which is 50% off the usual 8,000 Boost Stars requirement. Alternatively, they may use a combination of RM4.75 (Boost e-wallet credit) and 200 Boost Stars via FlexiRedeem to enjoy direct savings of RM5 or 50% off.

To redeem the RM10 Partner Wallet credit, simply launch your Boost app, and follow the steps below:

Tap on Rewards, and select BoostUP Rewards
Tap on the FlexiRedeem tab
Select RM10 Boost Untuk Rakyat Groceries Wallet
Tap on Redeem Reward; you may use your Boost Stars, or combine your e-wallet credit with Boost Stars to redeem the RM10 Partner Wallet credit
Select Redeem Now on the My Rewards page
Key in the redemption code provided to complete the process

Upon successful redemption, the RM10 Partner Wallet credit will appear on the My Partner Wallets page within your Boost app, with a validity period of 30 days from the redemption date. The credit will be automatically utilised when you use Boost to purchase daily necessities (no minimum spend required!) from any of these participating supermarkets:

Area
Participating supermarkets
Peninsular Malaysia
Lotus’s, Econsave, Giant, Mydin, AeonBIG, TF Value Mart, The Store, Village Grocer, Pacific Hypermarket, NSK, Hero Market, B.I.G., Milimewa, Cold Storage, Mercato, Big Supermart, Jimart
Sabah
Bataras, Servay, CKS, Boulevard Sabah
Sarawak
Daesco, Nam Leong, Boulevard, H&L, Emart, Doremon, Super Save, MDS Mart, Ta Kiong, Farley, BS Supermart, Borneo Supermart

Note that the RM10 Partner Wallet credit is only limited to the first 5,500 redemptions throughout the campaign period. Each user is only eligible to redeem the credit once during the entire campaign.

“Many Malaysians have expressed their struggles to make ends meet in recent months due to price hikes on certain essential goods. We hope that our new 50% subsidy on groceries will help Malaysians afford more with less when purchasing eggs, chicken, and essentials at any of our partnered supermarkets across East and West Malaysia,” said the chief executive officer of Boost Life, Ungku Norliza Syazwan Ungku Halmie.

“The #BoostUntukRakyat relief is a continuous initiative, and we want to hear from the rakyat on how Boost can better alleviate financial burdens for Malaysians. We encourage everyone to share your recommendations, and we will work towards further enhancing our support,” remarked the group chief executive officer of Boost, Sheyantha Abeykoon.

(Source:
Boost
)

5

1

vote

Article Rating

SHARE

TAGS:

Boost

Boost App

Boost E-Wallet

Boost Life

Boost Partner Wallet

Boost Stars

BoostUntukRakyat

BoostUP Rewards

FlexiRedeem

RM10 Boost Untuk Rakyat Groceries Wallet

Sheyantha Abeykoon

Ungku Norliza Syazwan Ungku Halmie

About THE AUTHOR

Nur Adilah Ramli

Nur Adilah Ramli

See all articles

Comments

 (0)

Subscribe

Notify of

new follow-up comments

new replies to my comments

Label

Name

Email

Δ

Label

Name

Email

Δ

0
 Comments

 Inline Feedbacks

View all comments