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

Editor’s note:
this guide is for YA 2021. Visit our latest
YA 2022 guide here
.

With the income tax season having arrived once more, taxpayers will no doubt strive (yet again) to get the maximum tax refund possible. After all, no one wants to pay more tax than they absolutely must, do they?

And as we’re sure most of you are aware, maximising tax refunds means tapping into as many tax deductions, tax reliefs, and tax rebates that you are eligible for. This way, you’ll be able to reduce your aggregate income, chargeable income, and amount of tax charged, respectively – and in turn, ensure that you pay less tax.

Here, we’ve prepared an infographic to give you a quick view of all the tax reliefs, deductions, and rebates that you can claim for YA 2021. You should be familiar with most of them, but there may be some newer incentives that you may not be aware of.

For specific details about each tax relief, deduction, and rebates, go ahead and scroll past the infographic to read on.

The Specifics Of Tax Reliefs, Deductions, And Rebates For YA 2021

Now that you’ve seen the full list of items that you can tap into to help you with your tax refunds, this section offers a closer look at the details and fine prints for each tax relief, deduction, and rebate that you’re eligible for:

Tax Reliefs

Briefly, tax reliefs allow you to reduce your chargeable income (your income that will determine what tax rate you are charged with). Here are the full details of all the tax reliefs that you can claim for YA 2021:

1) Individual and dependent relatives

Claim: RM9,000

Granted automatically to an individual for themselves and their dependents.

2) Medical treatment, special needs, and carer expenses for parents

Claim: Up to RM8,000

Includes care and treatment by a nursing home, and non-cosmetic dental treatment. Must be evidenced by a registered medical practitioner or written certification of a qualified carer. Parents must reside and treatment must be provided in Malaysia.

Note that the amount has been increased from RM5,000 back in YA 2020. The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) has also done away with a “sub-category” of this tax relief that previously allowed individuals to claim RM1,500 for each parent (RM3,000 for mother and father) if they did not make a claim for medical treatment for their parents.

3) Husband/Wife/Alimony

Claim: Up to RM4,000

You’re entitled to this relief only if your spouse has no source or income, or if he/she elects for a joint assessment in your name. You cannot claim this if your spouse has a gross income exceeding RM4,000 derived from sources outside of Malaysia.

For husbands paying alimony to a former wife, the deduction is allowed for the amount of alimony paid or up to a limit of RM4,000. Meanwhile, the total deduction for a wife and alimony payments to a former wife is restricted to RM4,000. Only formal alimony agreements qualify for this tax relief.

4) Education fees (self)

Claim: Up to RM7,000

You can claim for fees spent on a course of study undertaken in a recognised institution or professional body in Malaysia (as listed by
the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
). For those who are doing their Masters or Doctorate degrees, any course of study undertaken is eligible. For others, any course of study up to tertiary level undertaken for law, accounting, Islamic financing, technical, vocational, industrial, scientific, or technical skills or qualifications will be eligible.

For YA 2021, the government has also extended this tax relief for individuals who take up any course of study undertaken for the purpose of upskilling or enhancing their skills – although it is limited to only RM1,000. These courses must be recognised by the Director General of the
Department of Skills Development
 under the National Skills Development Act 2006.

5) Medical expenses

Claim: Up to RM8,000 (in total)

Expenses
Claim limit
Details
Medical expenses on serious diseases for self, spouse, or child
Up to RM8,000 in total (inclusive of medical expenses for fertility treatment, vaccination expenses, and complete medical examination)
Includes treatment of AIDS, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, renal failure, leukemia, heart attack, pulmonary hypertension, chronic liver disease, fulminant viral hepatitis, head trauma with neurological deficit, tumour in brain or vascular malformation, major burns, major organ transplant, and major amputation of limbs
Medical expenses for fertility treatment for self or spouse
Up to RM8,000 in total (inclusive of medical expenses on serious diseases, vaccination expenses, and complete medical examination)
– Includes intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or any other fertility treatments on yourself or your spouse, including consultation fees and medicines.
– Only married individuals are eligible for this tax relief
Vaccination expenses for self, spouse, or child
Up to RM1,000 (included in the overall RM8,000 tax relief allowed under this category)
Includes vaccination for pneumococcal, human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza, rotavirus, varicella, meningococcal, tetanus-diphtheria-acellular-pertussis (TDAP combination), and coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)
Complete medical examination for self, spouse, or child
Up to RM1,000 (included in the overall RM8,000 tax relief allowed under this category)
– Refers to a thorough examination as defined by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)
– Also includes Covid-19 detection tests (e.g. PCR and RTK tests) and vaccination expenses

Make sure to retain the receipts of your treatments, along with a certification of the registered medical practitioner for future reference – especially for expenses spent on serious diseases and fertility treatment.

6) Lifestyle purchases for self, spouse, or child

Claim: Up to RM2,500

You are entitled to claim this tax relief for the purchase of:

Books, journals, magazines, printed newspapers, and other similar publications in both hardcopy and electronic forms; banned and offensive materials excluded

Personal computer, smartphone or tablet; additional charges for warranty or devices used for the purposes of own business excluded

Sports equipment for sports activities defined under the Sports Development Act 1997, including golf balls and shuttlecocks, and payment for gym membership. Motorised bicycles and club memberships which provides gym facilities are excluded

Internet subscription paid through monthly bill registered under your own name

7) [Special] Purchase of personal computer, smartphones, or tablet for self, spouse, or child

Claim: Up to RM2,500

(Image: Malay Mail/Shafwan Zaidon)

This is an
additional lifestyle relief
 (on top of the general lifestyle relief mentioned above) that was first introduced during YA 2020, which allows you to claim up to another RM2,500 in relief for the purchase of a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet. Originally allowed for the purchase of such electronics between 1 June to 31 December 2020, it was subsequently
extended until 31 December 2021 under the Permai stimulus package
.

To illustrate how it works, say you’ve purchased a smartphone worth RM2,000 in March and a laptop worth RM4,000 in July, you can claim up to the maximum amount offered under these two tax reliefs. Under the additional tax relief, you can claim up to RM2,500 for the purchase of the laptop. And under the general lifestyle tax relief, you can claim RM2,000 for the smartphone and another RM500 from the purchase of the laptop.

Also, note that this relief can only be claimed if you buy the device for non-business purposes, and it does not extend to additional charges for warranty.

8) [Special] Tourist accommodation or attractions

Claim: Up to RM1,000

This is another additional relief that was introduced during YA 2020 to
help the country’s tourism and travel industry
 to recover from the economic repercussions brought on by Covid-19 – and was subsequently extended to YA 2021. You can claim this relief for expenses spent on tourist accommodation charges and entrance fees to tourist attractions for individuals, applicable to payments made until 31 December 2021. The scope of this tax relief has also been expanded to include the purchase of travel packages from 1 January 2021 onwards.

Take care, though, to check that your selected accommodation premises are registered with the
Commissioner of Tourism
. The travel agencies whom you buy your travel packages from should also be
approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC)
.

9) Expenses related to sports activity for self

Claim: Up to RM500

(Image: AsiaOne)

A third additional lifestyle tax relief that is allocated
specifically for sports-related expenses
, including:

Purchase of sports equipment for any sports activity as defined under the Sport Development Act 1997 (excluding motorised two-wheel bicycles)

Payment of rental or entrance fees to sports facilities

Payment of registration fees for sports competitions where the organiser is approved and licensed by the Commissioner of Sports under the Sport Development Act 1997

This tax relief is also on top of the general lifestyle tax relief mentioned earlier.

10) Breastfeeding equipment

Claim: Up to RM1,000 per mother

You are entitled to this relief if you are a breastfeeding mother and have purchased breastfeeding equipment for your own use to breastfeed your own child aged 2 years and below. Breastfeeding equipment that qualifies include:

Breast pump kit and ice pack

Breast milk collection and storage equipment

Cooler set or cooler bag

Note that you’re only allowed to claim this once every two years.

11) Childcare fees

Claim:  Up to RM3,000

This tax relief is allowed for childcare fees for a child aged 6 years and below, paid to a registered childcare centre or kindergarten. The maximum claim is restricted to RM3,000 even if you have more than one child who is eligible for this care. If a married couple is assessed separately, this relief can only be claimed by either the husband or the wife who makes the expenditure. Meanwhile, divorced husband and wife can both claim the tax deduction, provided they made payment for the childcare fees of different children.

The maximum limit for this relief used to be set at RM1,000, but has since been increased to RM3,000 as part of a
Covid-19 pandemic aid
.

12) Net deposit in SSPN

Claim: Up to RM8,000 per individual with children

Parents who have savings in the National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) for their children’s higher education can claim tax relief for the net deposit in SSPN up to the claim limitation. Net deposit is essentially the amount of savings that remain after deducting any withdrawals that you have made during the year. To make things easier for taxpayers, the SSPN will generate a tax document that shows you the net deposit you can claim for tax relief.

13) Ordinary child relief (under age of 18)

Claim: RM2,000 per child

A deduction is allowed for every child who is unmarried and is below the age of 18 years at any time during the year of assessment.

14) Child (18+) in full-time education

Claim: RM2,000 per child or RM8,000 per child

Individuals are allowed to tap into a deduction of RM2,000 for each child who is unmarried, 18 years of age and above, and receiving full-time education.

Meanwhile, you can claim RM8,000 if you have children who are unmarried, 18 years of age and above, and meet any of the following criteria:

In full-time education (other than matriculation/pre-degree/A-Levels) at an educational establishment in Malaysia

Serving under articles or indentures to qualify in a trade or profession in Malaysia

Pursuing a full-time degree (or equivalent, including Masters or Doctorate) outside of Malaysia

15) Life insurance and EPF

Claim: Up to RM7,000 (allocation differs for public and non-public employees)

Payments of your or your spouse’s life insurance premiums (but not child) are deductible under this relief, as are contributions to approved schemes, such as the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Private retirement scheme contributions, however, do not fall under this category.

Note that the treatment of this relief differs depending on whether you are a pensionable public servant or someone who works in the private sector. The EPF relief allocation does not apply to pensionable public servants, who have opted for pensionable retirement and do not contribute to any approved schemes other than private retirement schemes. As such, they are allowed to claim up to the full RM7,000 relief under life insurance premium payments and takaful contributions.

Meanwhile, those who are not public servants – who are also EPF contributors – will be restricted to a limit of RM3,000 for life insurance premium payments and takaful contributions, and RM4,000 for EPF or other approved schemes.

16) Private retirement scheme (PRS) and deferred annuity

Claim: Up to RM3,000

The total deduction under this relief is restricted to RM3,000 for an individual and RM3,000 for a spouse who has a source of income. If you elect for joint assessment of income tax with your spouse, the deduction allowed is also restricted to RM3,000.

17) Education and medical insurance

Claim: Up to RM3,000

This claim is allowed for insurance premiums that are related to education or medical benefits for yourself, spouse, or child. The total deduction under this relief is restricted to RM3,000 for an individual, and RM3,000 for a spouse who has a source of income. Again, couples who elect for joint assessment will be restricted to a deduction limit of RM3,000.

18) SOCSO

Claim: Up to RM250

Your contributions to the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) can be claimed as relief during the year of assessment.

19) Equipment for disabled self, spouse, child, and parent

Claim: Up to RM6,000

You can claim the amount spent on purchasing any necessary basic supporting equipment for yourself, spouse, child, or parent – as long as the individual is disabled and is registered with the Department of Social Welfare. Basic supporting equipment includes haemodialysis machine, wheelchair, artificial leg, and hearing aids. Spectacles and optical lenses are excluded.

20) Disabled individual

Claim: RM6,000

Disabled individuals who have been certified in writing by the Department of Social Welfare as a disabled person are eligible for a further deduction under this relief.

21) Disabled husband/wife

Claim: RM5,000

Those who have a disabled spouse are entitled to a further deduction under this relief. Previously, the relief allowed was set at RM3,500, but it was increased to RM5,000 under Budget 2021.

22) Disabled child

Claim: RM6,000

If you have a disabled child who is unmarried, you are entitled to a deduction under this relief.

23) Additional relief for disabled child (18+) in higher education

Claim: RM8,000

You are also entitled to this additional relief (on top of the RM6,000 relief for disabled child mentioned above) if you have a disabled child who is unmarried (aged 18 years and above), and is enrolled in any of the following:

Full-time education (other than matriculation/pre-degree/A-Levels) at an educational establishment in Malaysia

Serving under articles or indentures to qualify in a trade or profession in Malaysia

Pursuing a full-time degree (or equivalent, including Masters or Doctorate) outside of Malaysia

Tax Deductions

Unlike tax reliefs, tax deductions reduce the amount of your aggregate income – which is the sum of your total income for the year put together. You are allowed to tap into the following deductions for YA 2021, but make sure to be aware of the fine prints:

1) Donations to charities, sports bodies, and other approved projects/funds

Deduction: Up to 10% of aggregate income

Donations that fall under the following categories are restricted to 10% of your aggregate income:

Gift of money to approved institutions/organisations/funds

Gift of money for any approved sports activity

Gift of money or cost of contribution in kind for any approved project of national interest

Gift of money in the form of
wakaf
 to religious authorities or public universities or endowment to public universities

Any donations and contributions that were made by individual taxpayers to
help fight against the Covid-19 pandemic
 also fall under this category. This includes donation made to the
Covid-19 Fund
 that was set up by the government in 2020 to help those affected by the pandemic. Do make sure that you are able to provide supporting documents to verify your donations, such as official receipts and bank slips.

2) Other donations, gifts, and contributions

Deduction: Up to value of gift unless otherwise stated

Donations under these categories have varying limits and restrictions with regard to the deductions allowed:

Gift of money (unlimited) to the government/state government/local authority

Gift of artefacts, manuscripts, or paintings

Gift of money not exceeding RM20,000 for libraries

Gift of money or contribution in kind for disability facilities in public places

Gift of money or medical equipment not exceeding RM20,000 to approved healthcare facilities (PPEs, face masks, and hand sanitisers not included)

Gift of paintings to the National Art Gallery or state art galleries

3) Membership subscription for professional bodies

Deduction: Membership subscription paid

The membership subscription paid to professional bodies for one’s profession, like medical or legal professional fees, can be claimed as a deduction.

Tax Rebates

Finally, tax rebates are calculated at the end section of your BE form, after you’ve determined the amount of tax charged on your chargeable income. It directly affects your amount of tax charged.

1) Tax rebate for self

Rebate: RM400

If your chargeable income (after tax relief and deductions) do not exceed RM35,000, you will be granted a rebate of RM400 from your tax charged.

2) Tax rebate for spouse

Rebate: RM400

If your chargeable income (after tax relief and deductions) do not exceed RM35,000, and you have been allowed the tax relief of RM4,000 for your spouse, you are entitled to this rebate. To reiterate, the RM4,000 tax relief for spouse is provided if your spouse has no source of income, or elects for joint assessment in your name.

3) Departure levy rebate for umrah or religious travel

Rebate: Amount of departure levy paid

This rebate is granted to anyone who leaves Malaysia by air to perform
umrah
 or other kinds of religious pilgrimage, but not for the purpose of performing hajj. You will need to provide supporting documents in order to claim this rebate:

For
umrah
: A copy of the visa issued by the embassy of Saudi Arabia

For any other religious pilgrimage: Written verification by a recognised religious body

Note that you can only claim up to two trips per lifetime for this tax rebate.

4) Zakat/fitrah

Rebate: Zakat/fitrah paid

The rebate is applied to the payment of obligatory zakat and fitrah during the basis of the assessment year.

***

Now that you know the various tax reliefs, deductions, and rebates that you can tap into for YA 2021, make sure to scrutinise your expenditure throughout last year so that you can maximise your tax refund. It may take a while, but it’ll be well-worth the effort!

We will also be coming out with our exclusive Income Tax Guide YA 2021 soon to help you navigate your way through all the nitty-gritty details of filing your taxes, so keep an eye out for it! Do also check out our other
income tax articles
 for in-depth information, such as how to file your taxes for the first time or if you’ve changed or lost your job in the year of assessment.

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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    Leonardo

    1 year ago

Is the education relief applicable to the children ? (international school fees)

Is the medical expenses include also miscellaneous expenses not covered by the private insurance ?

0

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Really helpful for a first timer to have all these details so detailed and on point. Thanks a bunch!

12

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Cant seem to find “Membership subscription for professional bodies” section in the BE form

71

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Fantastic article, thanks for the detailed coverage!

4

Reply

    Steph

    1 year ago

Can I ask that Hepa B vaccination can claim in the tax relief?

21

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

I am confused child at polytech can claim rm2k or rm8k

9

Reply

    Confused

    1 year ago

How to define “complete medical examination (self, spose , child) ”

“Refers to a thorough examination as defined by the Malaysian Medical Council (MMC)”

I can’t find any answer to this.

Does a blood test report count for it?

Pls help. Thanks in advance.

27

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Hello,

“Internet subscription paid through monthly bill registered under your own name”

Is this referring to monthly mobile data or home wifi?

Thank you in advance.

57

Reply

    Vic Rail

    1 year ago

Is severance pay tax deductible ? Where on the BE form can this be inserted as a deductible. It comes in the EA form, but there is no way I can declare it as deducted

0

Reply

    Pang Tun Yau

    1 year ago

    Reply to

        Vic Rail

Severance pay should be eligible for partial tax exempt event, according to the IRB’s explanatory notes:

https://phl.hasil.gov.my/pdf/pdfam/Explanatory_Notes_BE_2021_2.pdf

you should also check with a tax consultant who will be able to provide professional counsel in this matter.

0

Reply

    Anonymous

    1 year ago

Hi

After submitting my BE online last month, Now, I only realize I forgot to claim laptop purchase during 2021 for personal use. Is there any way to claim back?

thanks

0

Reply

    rogeeangela

    9 months ago

How about personal smartphones purchase outside malaysia with receipt under different warranty?

0

Reply


Travel Rewards You Can Enjoy With These Maybank American Express® Cards

After years of restricted movement, it’s not surprising that many have travelled and are making future travel plans to cross off their dream travel destinations, as a way to reconnect with one another, as well as to visit friends and family.

When planning to travel, there are plenty of considerations that must be taken into account such as the weather of the destination, the travel routes, what items should be brought along, as well as how to manage the different currencies. Though there are many credit cards available in the market, not all are made specifically for travellers.

However, these Maybank American Express Credit Cards offer a multitude of different benefits that can be enjoyed both locally and internationally. Let’s see how each of these Maybank American Express Credit Cards can benefit travellers:

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card

KrisFlyer Miles

3,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles on first card spend

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM1 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot & KrisShop website

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM3 spent on online transactions

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM4 spent locally or overseas

Others

50% savings on access fee to Plaza Premium Lounge (Local & International*), 5X a year

Up to 30% discount for dining experiences at Marriott Bonvoy Hotels and Resorts in Malaysia

Complimentary Travel Personal Accident coverage of up to RM750,000

Hertz and Avis car rental benefits

If you earn a minimum annual income of RM36,000 (or monthly salary of RM3,000), then you’d be eligible for the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card. Aside from that, its annual fee is waived for the first year and is RM100 for each consecutive year. These reasons make the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card a great choice that could easily meet your travel needs.

Cardholders get to enjoy a 50% savings on local and international Plaza Premium Lounge access. On top of that, you’ll enjoy a 30% discount when you dine at Marriott Bonvoy Hotels and Resorts in Malaysia which may be significant if you travel for longer durations. If you’re planning to rent a vehicle while you’re away, you could utilise your 10% to 15% savings at Avis and Hertz. In fact, you may also be entitled to an upgrade.

Compared to the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card, the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card has somewhat similar offerings with a lower annual income requirement of RM36,000.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card

KrisFlyer Miles

7,000 bonus KrisFlyer miles on first card spend

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM1 spent on Singapore Airlines, Scoot & KrisShop website

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM2 spent on online and overseas transactions

1 KrisFlyer mile for every RM2.5 spent locally

Others

5X complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounge, per annum

20% discount on Fastrack VIP Airport Meet & Greet

Fast track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status with minimum charge of RM35,000 on Singapore Airlines

Up to 50% savings on dining experiences at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Up to 40% discount for dining experiences at Marriott Bonvoy Hotels and Resorts in Malaysia & more

4X Complimentary Access to Golf Clubs Around The World

Complimentary Travel Personal Accident coverage of up to RM750,000

The Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card offers additional benefits compared to its Gold counterpart. To be a proud holder of the Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card, you must meet the minimum annual income requirement of RM60,000.

As a Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card holder, you’ll earn KrisFlyer Miles by spending less both locally and internationally.

While the Gold card above offers a 50% savings on access fee to selected Plaza Premium Lounge, Platinum cardmembers will enjoy 5x complimentary access to Plaza Premium Lounges worldwide each year. Additionally, you’ll receive a 20% discount on Fastrack VIP Airport Meet & Greet services, the chance to upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold, as well as 4x complimentary access to golf clubs around the world.

Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express
®

Treatspoints

10,000 TreatsPoints upon first spend (applicable only for Principal Card New Applicants)

Earn 5x Treatspoints for every RM1 spent locally

Earn 5x Treatspoints for every RM1 spent overseas

Earn 1x Treatspoints on all transactions for utilities, education, EzyPay and insurance transactions

7,000 Treatspoints can be converted to 1,000 Enrich/ KrisFlyer/ AirAsia to offset travel spending

Others

Up to 50% savings on F&B at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Up to 40% dining discount at participating restaurants nationwide

Access Golf Clubs around the world, 10% savings on green fees for guests

Enjoy complimentary Accidental Death and Disablement coverage of up to RM1,000,000 for American Express Reserve card as well as travel inconvenience coverage for missed connections, luggage delay and luggage loss when you charge your travel fares to the card

The Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express is undeniably the most premier out of the three cards listed in this article for multiple reasons.

For one, cardholders enjoy a greater discount when dining at Shangri-La Hotel and its participating restaurants. While the Platinum card allows 4x complimentary access to international golf clubs each year, Premier Reserve cardholders can access golf clubs around the world for up to 24 times a year.

Not only that, Premier Reserve cardholders get higher travel protection coverage, which is up to RM1,000,000 and covers missed connections, luggage delays, or loss.

If you fall into the bracket of people who make a minimum annual income of RM100,000, you too could be a Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express cardholder. Your annual fee as a cardholder will be RM800 but it’s waived for the first year.

***

Frequent travellers can enjoy plenty of benefits when they apply for the right credit card. Always search for those that reward overseas transactions and offer benefits that can be utilised globally.

All the three credit cards listed above have their own unique benefits. Whether you plan to stay protected with a coverage of up to RM1,000,000 with the Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express, relish in tasty cuisines for half the price at Shangri-La Hotel thanks to the Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express, or rest and relax at Plaza Premium Lounges for free as a Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card holder, these three credit cards offer attractive and extensive benefits that can be enjoyed near and far.

Begin the easy application process today! To learn more about these individual credit cards, click the respective links below:

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Platinum Credit Card

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer American Express® Gold Credit Card

Maybank 2 Cards Premier Reserve American Express

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Lisa Ameera Azman

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UOB Revises Benefits Of Its UOB Preferred Platinum Credit Card

UOB has announced a revision to the benefits of its UOB Preferred Platinum credit card, allowing cardholders to soon earn up to 5x UNIRinggit rewards points for selected transactions, including entertainment, dining, grocery, and petrol. This is slated to take effect starting from 1 May 2022.

Specifically, the new reward points earning structure for the UOB Preferred Platinum card will enable you to gain 5x UNIRinggit rewards points for every RM1 that you spend on entertainment, grocery, and dining (including drinking places). This is capped at RM1,000 under each category; every subsequent RM1 spent beyond the cap will not earn you any further UNIRinggit points.

Aside from that, you will also be able to earn 3x UniRinggit points for every RM1 spent on petrol expenses and recurring transactions. This earning rate is limited to RM500 for petrol expenses, whereas no capping applies for recurring transactions. Note that the benefit for recurring transactions only apply to expenses spent on telecommunications equipment and services, monthly telephone charges, and membership clubs (sports, recreation, and athlete clubs). It excludes payments made for insurance, utilities, and government services.

Additionally, you’ll continue to be able to earn 1x UNIRinggit points for every RM1 spent on any other expenses.

The revision is somewhat of an improvement from the existing earning structure of the UOB Preferred Platinum card, which currently lets you earn 3x UNIRinggit points for every RM1 spent on dining, overseas spend, and recurring payments. This is in addition to being able to earn 1 UNIRinggit points for what you spend on other expenses.

Here’s a table to better summarise the changes that will take effect starting from 1 May:

Expenses
Before 1 May 2022
1 May 2022 onwards
Overseas spend
3x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent
N/A
Dining
3x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent
5x UNIRinggit points for every RM1 spent (capped at RM1,000; now includes drinking places as well)
Entertainment
N/A
5x UNIRinggit points for every RM1 spent (capped at RM1,000)
Grocery
N/A
5x UNIRinggit points for every RM1 spent (capped at RM1,000)
Petrol
N/A
3x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent (capped at RM500)
Recurring transactions
3x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent
3x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent (no cap)
Other spend
1x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent
1x UNIRinggit for every RM1 spent (no cap)

So as you can see, the revision to the rewards points earning structure of the UOB Preferred Platinum card has made it a more rewarding card to use on a daily basis, catering to necessary day-to-day needs. This is in comparison to its previous position as a more exclusive card meant for those who travel often.

Aside from these adjustments, the other features of the UOB Preferred Platinum will remain unchanged. Its minimum annual income requirement is still set at RM40,000, and cardholders will still need to pay an annual fee of RM198 for the principal card, and RM30 for supplementary cards.

(Source:
UOB
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Local Telcos Continue Offering Free 1GB Data Daily Until Further Notice

(Image: Malay Mail)

Local telcos will continue to provide free 1GB data daily for their customers during the extended conditional movement control order (CMCO). The ongoing perk will be offered until notified otherwise.

Maxis, Celcom, Digi, U Mobile, and Yoodo have all confirmed that their prepaid and postpaid customers will be able to continue enjoying the freebie, as well as free calls to the national and state-level Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) hotlines.

Most telcos offer the free daily data only during a specific period of the day, and some also require you to redeem it daily. Here’s a recap of how the five telcos offer their free internet.

Maxis

Free 1GB internet daily
 for all active Maxis, Hotlink Postpaid, Hotlink Prepaid, and Maxis Business users.

Usage time: 8am to 6pm daily

Free data must be redeemed daily through the relevant apps:

Maxis app

Hotlink Postpaid app

Hotlink app

Maxis Business app

Celcom

Free 1GB internet daily
 and unlimited access to WhatsApp (chat, voice, and video call) for all active customers, including Celcom Business customers.

Usage time: 8am to 6pm daily

Automatically activated; you can check your quota balance via the
Celcom Life app
.

Digi

Free 1GB internet daily
 for all active prepaid, postpaid, and broadband subscribers (except for Postpaid Infinite Plan subscribers).

Usage time: 8am to 6pm daily

One-time redemption through the
MyDigi app
; the free internet will be automatically renewed on a daily basis after that.

U Mobile

Free 1GB internet daily
 for all active prepaid, postpaid, and broadband subscribers.

Usage time: 8am to 6pm daily

Automatically activated; you can check your quota balance via the
U Mobile app
.

Yoodo

Free 1GB internet daily
 for all active users.

Usage time: 24 hours from the renewal time and date of your free data

Free data must be redeemed daily through the
Yoodo app
.

The
free daily internet
 was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the reveal of the
Prihatin Economic Stimulus Package
 on 27 March 2020, with the offer officially starting on 1 April 2020. For some telcos, this is in addition to other bonuses and initiatives that they had already launched when the MCO first began on 18 March 2020.

Telcos were also subsequently reminded to ensure that the free internet package offered to consumers is of
high quality
.

(Source:
The Star
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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The Malaysian Auditor General's Report 2013: a Financial Love Letter to Government Ministries

The Malaysian Auditor General’s Report 2013; the third series of which was released just yesterday; is not anyone’s idea of fun-time reading but if you can get through the pages and pages of seemingly boring text, there’s a love story right there.

If that document was turned into a love letter from the AG to the relevant ministries, I reckon it’ll look something like this (P.S. I picked the highlights because of course you don’t want 132 pages of text. You’re welcome).

A Love Letter from the Auditor General

Dear Beloved Government Ministries,

If I could put a definite date on the last time since I’ve written you; it would be one year and 40 days ago (but who’s counting?). As I always do, I wrote you a lengthy letter on all the things I loved and hated about how you managed our money. This year, I do so again with the fervour and dedication I had last year.

Overall Performance

I love it when you try to do better for me (and the
Rakyat
). You’ve outdone yourself with 2013 being the best in 4 years as far as overall financial management is concerned. In 2013, 23 ministries were being rated excellent as compared to 22 in 2012 and 19 in 2011. I could go even further back but then you’ll say I am being calculative. You know I am not calculative when it comes to you (well, maybe a little. I am an Auditor General but you promised to love me anyway).

However, I am a little disappointed at the way your Departments performed on their level. In 2013, only 21 (46.7%) out of 45 Departments were rated as excellent compared to 21 (53.9%) out of 39 Departments in 2012 and 21 (50%) out of 42 Departments in 2011. Perhaps you need to be harder on them, dear.

Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT)

Having our own little love nest is so important to us that I know you devised this ingenious taxation system to make sure property prices aren’t continuously artificially inflated so other lovebirds can also enjoy having a home.

Overall, management of
RPGT
 collection was satisfactory and you collected revenue amounting to RM537.60 million, RM607.99 million and RM787.29 million for the year 2011 to 2013 respectively (I am thinking a second honeymoon in the Cayman Islands?).

But before you get ‘lucky’; please know I am sufficiently disappointed that you missed some collections that could’ve made our coffers bigger. There were RPGT arrears amounting to RM773,636 involving 19 individuals and 6 companies; the 10% tax increase under subsection 21(4), RPGTA 1976 amounting to RM17,122 was not imposed on disposers; and civil suits under section 23, RPGTA 1976 were not taken against 6 companies with tax arrears amounting to RM590,263!

Dear, how could you let such an oversight happen? Nevermind, let’s get on to the next item.

Research and Development

I write this with disappointment. Only RM199.63 million was spent when RM355.95 million was approved for the Science Fund. You ask for all this money and don’t use it? Surely, after all these years you can’t expect me to believe you have any problems
spending
 money! Also, there’s a matter of the RM3.74 million you need to get back from the relevant folks for stuff you paid for but were never done. This includes the science fund extras, the Techno Fund (what was this about anyway, your sudden obsession with
feng tao
 music?) extras and some other stuff I forget but are in my longer letter that’s being held up by POS Malaysia.

Paddy Seeds Subsidy

You paid farmers a total of RM436 million in subsidies from 2007 till 2013 and this helped them get a better grade of seed for the benefit of all of us rice eating Malaysians. But it turns out you paid RM0.41 million in improper subsidies to people who were not in compliance with their agreements. Also, an allocation of RM7.11 million was earmarked for this programme in Sabah and Sarawak in the budget but it hadn’t been actually been extended there yet. Something’s seedy here (geddit? Oh I was always the funny one in this relationship).

1AZAM Initiative

Although your women (ahem,
the Women’s Ministry
) did an excellent job in finding employment for 265 participants whom we spoke to, but we were disappointed that give or take 50% were
not able to increase their household income by more than RM300
. The scheme has cost RM1.6 billion in public funds. I don’t know, dear. They might want to know why performance was so lacklustre even with such an ample budget. I think it might have something to do with the selection of participants which were not all done the right way via eKasih (remember that pesky decision National Action Council (NAC) 3/2010?) but I could be wrong so I listed more suggestions in my full, extended letter to you.

Payment to Dead Veterans

It’s kind of you to want to not discriminate between the living and the dead but was it truly necessary, my love, to
pay them pensions equalling RM12 million
? We’re sure their next-of-kin made good use of the funds to erect memorials and plan how they will next defend the country but considering we had to borrow RM111.770 billion in internal and external loans, surely we have no room for more
unnecessary
 expenditure?

But I should have known you by now, dear. This is one of your weak points. Apparently this paying of pensions to dead veterans have
been going on since 2011
. You must really have a thing for the dead.

Signing Off Now

Before I end my note to you this year (I’ve also made a
longer version for your bedtime reading pleasure
), let me also remind you about those outstanding summons that people never seem to pay. Is PDRM doing anything about it? Also, what’s going on with 1Bestari? It’s seems like I can
never get a good enough connection
 in those places to listen to Spotify. Hopefully, I’ll have less to say next year but we shouldn’t bet on it (because betting is
haram
)!

Faithfully Yours,

A-G

If you guys didn’t realise, most of it was written in jest but the numbers are real as are the AG’s comments, commendations and complaints (well, for the most part). You can find the original comments and criticisms on the
AG’s official webpage
. But what’s not-so-funny and actually pretty interesting is that just like your company and mine; the government ministries get audited too and because taxpayers (you and I!) fund the government, we get to look at the report (it’s public viewing).

What do you think of this year’s report?

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Mavcom Fines AirAsia Group RM400,000 For Violating Consumer Rights

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve)

The Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) has imposed a fine of RM200,000 each on AirAsia and AirAsia X for violating the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016 (MACPC).

Under the MACPC, both companies have been found guilty of charging passengers credit card, debit card, and online banking processing fees separately from their base fares. The airline charges between RM4 to RM12 per flight when paying with any form of payment that isn’t BigPay (a prepaid card owned by the AirAsia group). Other budget airlines also charge a similar processing fee at different rates.

According to subparagraph 3(2) of the MACPC, airlines are required to fully disclose any charges and fees that are part of their final airfare to passengers. As this particular MACPC provision took effect on 1 June this year, Mavcom found that AirAsia and its sister company had contravened subparagraph 3(2) of the code.

In late July, AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes announced that the airline will be
removing all processing fees for card and online banking payments
 from 1 October 2019.

(Source:
Malaysiakini
)

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Lazada Malaysia Introduces New Collection Point Feature For Self-Pickup

Lazada Malaysia is further making it easier for shoppers to get their items with a new delivery option called Lazada Collection Point, which allows customers to select a preferred location to pick up their packages at their convenience.

Collection Points delivery option is currently only available in the Klang Valley, and only made its debut earlier this week during the Lazada 7th Birthday Sale. The e-commerce giant did mention that this service will be expanded throughout the country in the future. CEO of Lazada e-logistics, Petra Olivier, said “with more Malaysians turning to e-commerce for their lifestyle needs, Lazada strives to differentiate itself through advances in logistics and technology to create an ever-evolving, continuously improved shopping journey.”

In concept, Lazada Collection Point is similar to Amazon Locker in the US, which lists locations such as department malls, 24-hour convenience stores, and even petrol stations. Having a separate pick up point is great for those who do not have anyone at home to pick up the package, and do not wish to ship to their office address.

For now, Lazada Collection Point is quite limited both in eligible items as well as pickup locations. Customers will be able to see the Collection Point banner appearing on the checkout screen if all their items are eligible for the option.  All available locations close to your shipping address will appear for selection. Once your package arrives at the Collection Point station, customers will be notified through e-mail, SMS, and the Lazada app, along with instructions on how to collect your packages.

To collect a package, customers only need to enter the OTP (One Time Password) that is given when the package is delivered to the Collection Point. Customers must collect all packages within three days upon delivery – if not, they will be returned to the seller and a refund will be processed.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Lazada is offering a self-pickup option. In 2016,
Lazada partnered with local company Boxit
, which set up lockers for self-collection at 7-Eleven outlets in Malaysia. It isn’t immediately clear if Boxit is still operating, however.

Nevertheless, Lazada shoppers will no longer have to worry about being present for deliveries, as they can now collect parcels at their own convenience. For more information, head over to
Lazada Malaysia
.

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Over 32,000 SMEs In Malaysia Have Shut Down Since MCO Started

(Image: Hari Anggara)

A total of 32,469 small medium enterprises (SMEs) have folded since March, when the movement control order (MCO) was first implemented to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that 9,675 SMEs shut down their operations during the first phase of the MCO from 18 March to 9 June. From June to September, 22,794 SMEs had folded, with August recording the highest figure at 17,800 SMEs closing down during that month.

The minister gave these statistics in a parliamentary written response to a question regarding the number of SMEs that had folded since the start of MCO, quoting figures given by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

(Image: Malay Mail)

Wan Junaidi added that surveys conducted by the ministry had found that the majority of the folded businesses were micro SMEs – making up 79.5% of the closures during the MCO and 70.8% during the RMCO. Moreover, the majority of micro SMEs surveyed had yet to receive any government assistance.

The ministry has proposed that the government increase the current special Covid-19 financial relief to entrepreneurs in order to address this issue. It also proposed an expansion of promotional, marketing, and product development training programmes, in addition to hosting programmes to help entrepreneurs digitise their businesses.

(Source:
The Star
,
Free Malaysia Today
)

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Maybank, CIMB To Offer Six-Month Moratorium For Johor Flood Victims

(Image: Bernama)

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that Maybank and CIMB have both agreed to offer a moratorium of six months to borrowers who are affected by the recent flood happening in Johor.

“With regards to the moratorium, to ease the flood victims, the Johor state government had suggested that a moratorium be offered to flood victims to delay their loan repayment as the situation is dire. So far, Maybank and CIMB have agreed to a six-month moratorium,” said Datuk Seri Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister.

Datuk Seri Anwar further said that aside from these two largest banks in Malaysia, the government has also reached out to and urged other banks to offer assistance as well.

In a separate statement, CIMB shared that it will provide a six-month payment relief on loan and financing products for individual and business customers who have been impacted by the flood, under its Flood Relief Assistance Plan. Late charges and other selected fees will also be waived to reduce the financial burden on them, including charges for credit/debit card replacements, statement requests, or replacement of damaged passbooks and bankers’ cheques.

(Image: The Star)

CIMB’s SME customers who need additional cash flow assistance can also access a Disaster Relief Facility of up to RM700,000 at a preferential rate, said CIMB. This is on top of the bank’s efforts to work with its insurance partners to expedite the processing of insurance claims.

Maybank, too, has said that it is offering financing/loan repayment deferment to impacted customers, as well as a reduction in their monthly instalment payments or extension of repayment tenure. It will also waive the fees and charges for selected services, such as replacement of debit and credit cards, and cheque books lost or damaged during the floods.

The recent flood has affected several states in Malaysia – namely, Johor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, as well as Sabah and Sarawak – with Johor being the worst-hit. Johor experienced a first wave of flood between 24 January to 10 February, followed by another wave on 1 March. More than 40,000 people in the state were displaced from their homes and forced to move into temporary shelters.

Following that, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi sought the government’s assistance to provide a bank moratorium of three to six months on loan repayments for affected individuals.

(Source:
Malay Mail
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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JPJ Offers Up To 70% Discount On Summonses In Conjunction With Merdeka Day 2021

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) is offering a discount of up to 70% on the payment of summonses in conjunction with the celebration of Malaysia’s 64
th
 Merdeka Day. The offer – which is valid starting from today – will last until 16 September 2021.

According to a statement from JPJ, the discount will be provided for all compoundable summonses, except for cases that are still under mention in courts, including those with the status of arrest warrants or trial.

The reduction is for all summonses issued under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334), and other rules and orders under it, including cases that are still blacklisted. Note, though, that traffic offenders who have been blacklisted are required to visit a JPJ office (branch or state) for redocumentation purposes before they can proceed with the payment process.

Aside from that, JPJ also clarified that the offer applies to summonses that are still active and valid, provided that payments are made within the offer period.

If you’d like to tap into this offer by the JPJ, you can head on over to any state JPJ offices and branches, Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) outlets, or kiosks to pay your summonses. Alternatively, you can also do so online via the
mySIKAP JPJ portal
.

Finally, JPJ said that it hopes this offer will assist in easing the burden of the Malaysian public, following the economic crisis that has impacted people from all walks of life due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

(Sources:
JPJ
,
The Star
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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    Yap Chieng Siong

    2 years ago

How come jpj only.?

How about traffic compound.?

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    Anonymous

    2 years ago

AES still working?

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    Mohd asri seliman

    2 years ago

Refund roadtax.rm126.00

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Manulife: BNM Should Adopt Aggressive Stance With OPR Hikes

(Image: Business Today)

Manulife Investment Management has opined that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) should adopt a more “aggressive pace” in increasing the overnight policy rate (OPR).

Head of asset allocation (Asia) for Manulife, Luke Browne said that given Malaysia’s lower inflation rate – as compared to other countries in the region – aggressive interest rate hikes could work as the country moves forward. “Clearly, that has to be held in the context of the current situation, you need clarity of data, ensuring that it is the right decision and then move aggressively. So, yes, I sit in the camp of fast and hard,” he said.

Browne acknowledged, however, that not all experts will agree with his opinion. “Not all portfolio managers think the same. I would prefer to see aggressive, fast-paced, get it done, take the pain, and then move forward,” he stated.

At present, Malaysia’s OPR stands at 2.50%, following three consecutive hikes in 2022 thus far – with the latest raise made
in September 2022
. Both
BNM
 and
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz
 also previously said that the increase of Malaysia’s OPR will be carried out at a gradual pace as there are consequences to hiking it too aggressively.

(Image: The Sun Daily)

Meanwhile, the head of macro strategy (Asia) for Manulife, Sue Trinh pointed out that there is less pressure on BNM to adopt an aggressive monetary policy due to the volatile market conditions in the country. The reopening of international borders also supported the country’s economic recovery, which led to less urgency for an aggressive policy.

Trinh further stressed that there is actually very little that BNM can do to address rising consumer prices as the bulk of the inflation is driven by the supply side. For context, Malaysia’s latest consumer price index (CPI) indicated that
inflation has increased 4.7% year-on-year in August 2022
, with the food and non-alcoholic beverage component being the main contributor.

Finally, Trinh said that Malaysia’s future economic growth may still be affected by several factors, including domestic political uncertainty – which threatens the implementation of fiscal policies. “Malaysia is also exposed to the potential of a global economic recession, considering the country is an exporter to the world’s major economies, such as the United States, China, and Europe,” she said.

(Source: The Edge Markets [
1
,
2
])

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Grab Introduces GrabFood Signatures Value Packages Starting From RM4.90/Month

Grab has introduced the new GrabFood Signatures Value Packages, which act as a bundle of 15% off discount vouchers that can be used on GrabFood Signatures orders. Depending on which package you choose, you can get the discount vouchers in bundles of 5x, 15x, or 30x valid for a period of 30 days.

The three Signature Value Packages are currently being offered at a lower launch price before 19 September 2020. You can get the bundle of 5 vouchers for RM4.90, 15 vouchers for RM9.90, and 30 vouchers at RM14.90. After 19 September, the price of each Value Package will go up by RM5 respectively.

Each discount voucher is capped at RM50 per order, so you can get up to RM250 worth of savings for the Makan 5x package, up to RM750 worth of savings for Makan 15x, and up to RM1,500 saved for Makan 30x. These are actually very attractive deals given the reasonable prices of the Signature Value Packages. Better yet, there is no minimum spend required to use the vouchers.

According to Grab, you can only repurchase a particular package once it expires at the end of its 30-day validity period, even if you use up all of your vouchers before the 30 days are over. However, you can maximise your savings by purchasing more than one of the different Value Packages on offer – for example, you can purchase the Makan 5x and Makan 15x and get twenty vouchers to use in a month, or you could go all out and buy all three packages.

To purchase a GrabFood Signature Package, just tap on the banner dedicated to it on the Grab app, select your package of choice, and pay with your GrabPay e-wallet credits. The set of vouchers will then appear in your My Rewards section and you can use them for any GrabFood Signatures restaurant order.

With Grab’s lengthy list of participating GrabFood Signature merchants, you shouldn’t have to worry about a lack of choice when it comes to using your Value Package vouchers. GrabFood Signature merchants include popular brands like The Alley, Texas Chicken, Secret Recipe, myBurgerLab, and more.

“As a home grown tech enabler, Grab has been actively innovating its platform and services to ensure small and independent businesses are supported while still providing budget conscious customers the convenience of on-demand food delivery in their part in helping the nation regain economic stability,” said Grab in a statement. In addition to the GrabFood Signatures Value Packages, Grab is also lowering short-distance delivery fees for selected restaurants in and around the Klang Valley as part of its efforts towards this cause.

In the past, Grab had previously offered similar subscription-type packages consisting of discount vouchers for its services, such as its
GrabClub
 and
GrabFood Deluxe
 plans. The
 GrabFood Signatures Value Packages
 are available for purchase from now until 31 December 2020 – but remember to get them before 19 September if you want to take advantage of the promotional launch prices.

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Shop Groceries And More Online & Enjoy Big Savings At Shopee’s 4.4 Sale!

Get ready for Shopee’s 4.4 Brand Festival this 4th April 2020, and shop for your essentials while staying safe at home!

Stock up on groceries and more with Shopee’s Stay At Home Essentials, featuring everything you need to whip up all your favourite meals in the kitchen. From fresh and frozen produce, snacks, supplements to baby essentials and household items, you’ll surely find something you need at affordable prices with free shipping.

Get a
2kg pack of Milo from 23% off
 or
Huggies Diapers at 44% off
! Whatever you need, Shopee has it. All you have to do is shop online, and Duduk Rumah, Shopee Hantar!

Shop Your Favourite Brands With Savings up to RM150!

Besides groceries, you will also be spoiled by the variety of products on sale. This is the time for you to purchase items from your favourite brands that you’ve been eyeing for, with big discounts! If you’re not sure where to look, check out Shopee’s Brand Spotlight from 12AM, which will feature one-hour special sales for various lifestyle, health and fashion brands such as
Philips
,
Anmum
,
Bio Essence
,
Levi’s
 and more.

Don’t miss out, as you’ll only have an hour of limited time deals from your favourite brands. Be on the lookout for various vouchers offered by your favourite brands to be redeemed for additional discounts throughout the day!

Save More With Special Limited Time Deals From As Low As RM0.44!

Yes, you are seeing that right!

At an unbelievable price from as low as RM0.44, you can stock up on household items and more. Check out stationery items, health products, games, and mobile accessories with
Shopee’s RM0.44 Limited Time Deals
 happening from 12AM to 2AM only!

Besides that, don’t miss out Shopee’s Limited Time RM4 deals to get the most out of your ringgit. From 12AM sharp, enjoy deals from Shopee’s local and global sellers. And with just a minimum spending of RM8 when you shop between 12AM to 2AM, you’ll also get to enjoy free shipping!

Enjoy Additional Discounts With Vouchers & Cashback

Shopee is known for their generous offering of vouchers for an enhanced shopping experience.
Claim as many vouchers
 as you want before shopping to your heart’s content and save even more on your essentials with vouchers which offer cashbacks worth up to 25%, coin cashback worth vouchers of up to 16%, and additional cash discounts from Shopee Mall and all participating sellers.

And for foodies, you might also want to check out Shopee’s takeaway and delivery deals! Enjoy 30% cashback with no minimum spend for food and services vouchers for takeaways and delivery vouchers from dahMakan, A&W and Black Whale. But hurry up, because they’re only limited to the first 600 orders per day!

Play While You Shop & Win Prizes Worth Up To RM444,000!

That’s not all, shoppers also stand a chance to win prizes worth up to RM444,000 in prizes, vouchers and coins by simply participating in
Play & Win games
 – Shopee Flip & Match, Shopee Lucky Bag, Shopee Throw and One or Not.

So get your shopping list ready – and start collecting all the vouchers you need, because
Shopee 4.4 Brands Festival
 is happening in just a few hours! Whatever you’re looking for, Shopee is bound to have the best deal for it. Head over to
Shopee 4.4 Brands Festival
 now to shop your groceries and more, and just Duduk Rumah, Shopee Hantar!

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Katrina Balan Quiroz

Katrina Balan Quiroz

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

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5 Sneaky Mall Spending Traps Waiting For You This Weekend

If you thought the designer boutiques and
pinot noir
 serving restaurants were the only stores waiting to relieve you of your money; you’d best think again.

The mall is actually filled with super sneaky money traps that will make your wallet lighter despite your best efforts.

1. Exorbitant Parking Fees

If mall parking lots on weekends are anything to go by; it is evident that most Malaysians drive to malls instead of opting for public transport. Who can blame them? Super popular shopping haunts such as 1Utama or Sunway Pyramid are far beyond the reach of an efficient public transport system such as the LRT.

Of course, if you want the luxury of parking your car right inside the shopping destination of your choice, you’d better be ready to pay the price.

Some malls in the Klang Valley charge hourly fees that can range between RM1.50 – RM3 per hour. Imagine how much you’ll be paying for a half day visit.

2. The Not-So-Cheap Foodcourt

Foodcourts were once a great place to grab a quick lunch under RM10 and then continue your shopping. You wouldn’t usually expect fancy furnishings or a great ambiance but you could get your belly full without going broke.

However, foodcourts in many popular malls today are far from cheap. Of course, food is more expensive everywhere you turn but the once frugal foodcourt is now pretty much on par with the RM15-RM20 per person price tag of sit-down diner or franchise cafe.

The foodcourt to many is supposedly the place for cheap eats so few people take the time to stop and consider if the prices really are cheap in comparison.

That’s not to say that an inexpensive food court doesn’t
at all
 exist; it’s just that they are fast becoming a dying breed.

3. Tester Temptation

Walk through a mall and you’re sure to run into a shop assistant offering you a taste of a new gelato flavour; savoury snack or a sip of sweet fruit juice.

You might think; “hey what the hell – it’s free,” but the food and drinks offered as testers are usually heavily seasoned or sweetened making it easier to hook you. Have you ever opened a bag of chips or cookies and tried eating
just one
? Did you succeed?

Probably not. Foods like these aren’t very expensive but can be addictive. Once you’ve had a sip of the juice, you want a whole pack; a taste of the gelato and you want an entire serving. The price of tag of RM8-10 at that point will seem trivial as you reach for the amount and hand it over.

There is certainly no harm in a small treat but those amounts
you never intended to spend in the first place
 tend to add up. Four small indulgences a month is RM40: A tidy sum of RM480 a year!

4. The Rat Maze

A lot of malls are now getting larger and just that much more confusing. Escalators, lifts, restrooms and restaurants are all arranged strategically to make sure you walk pass as many merchants as possible.

Some malls even make it mandatory for you to walk the full floor before getting to the checkout (
cough
 Ikea
cough
)!

The idea is to entice you to feast your eyes on just one more item and then another in the hopes you will be drawn to purchase. If shopping was an in-and-out operation that most people hope: some merchants dependent on impulse purchases (because their items aren’t exactly necessity) will surely be out of business.

5. Mall Free Gifts

It isn’t just the merchants offering free gifts to entice you – mall management has followed suit. You will see billboards and posters plastered around the mall announcing a free gift with purchases above a set amount.

The gifts will usually be tiered according to purchase totals such as a smaller gift for RM100 spending; a slightly more attractive gift for an RM200 spend and a limited or premium gift if you spend say more than RM1,000.

If you were only planning to purchase a few items, you might be tempted to spend more to ‘make weight’ and earn yourself that free gift.

Don’t take the bait! Spend what you intended to when you planned this mall trip.

We love the malls – it’s a great place to meet up with friends without fear of the heat and food is amply available. But this treasured Malaysian pastime is costing us in so many ways.

Don’t be duped! Be conscious of the subtle tricks malls play and spend only when it was really part of your agenda.

If you are going to be spending some time at the mall this weekend; check out our tips on
saving money on your weekend indulgences
 as well as a quick guide on
getting more from your credit card when shopping
.

Don’t have a credit card that gives you more on your shopping trips? We
might be able to suggest a few to tickle your fancy
.

Have a great weekend!

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Diana Chai

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Pos Malaysia Enables Payment For PDRM Fines With Ongoing 80% Summons Discount

(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Hussein Shaharuddin)

Pos Malaysia has announced that motorists who wish to settle their outstanding Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) summonses via the ongoing 100-Day Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia discount offer can now do so at all post offices across the country.

“We are pleased to inform that the PDRM up to 80% traffic summons discount in conjunction with the 100 Days Keluarga Malaysia Aspiration is now payable at all our post offices nationwide, including post office outlets located in malls,” Pos Malaysia shared in a Facebook post. It also reminded all customers to adhere to stringent Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) when visiting the outlets.

For context, the summons discount offer by PDRM was initially provided only between the short period of
9 – 12 December 2021
. It was, however, subsequently
extended to 31 December 2021
 due to overwhelming response from the public.

(Image: New Straits Times/Nurul Shafina Jemenon)

Aside from enabling Pos Malaysia as a payment channel, PDRM has also allowed payments for the summonses (discounted amount) to be made via all Maybank automated teller machines (ATMs) in Malaysia. To do that, simply access your account at the ATM and select the “PayBills” option. Key in your MyKad number when prompted, and the Maybank ATM will show you your outstanding PDRM traffic fines. You can then make your payment on the spot, with no service charge. Note that this excludes the Smart Recycler Machine (SRM).

Catch the 80% discount offer and pay your
#PDRM
 summons at a Maybank ATM with 0 service charge. Valid till 31 December 2021, excluding SRM (Smart Recycler Machine).
pic.twitter.com/nc6qk8kQYT
— Maybank (@MyMaybank)
December 14, 2021

With this, both the new Maybank ATM and Pos Malaysia payment options will complement other existing payment channels that are currently accepted by PDRM – including traffic summons payment counters of district and contingent police headquarters, as well the MyBayar Saman online portal. However, it is not certain if PDRM will decide to keep both new options beyond the current discount period.

(Source:
Pos Malaysia
)

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About THE AUTHOR

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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AmBank Launches New UnionPay Platinum Credit Card

AmBank has become the first local bank to launch a UnionPay credit card in Malaysia. Designed for an emerging group of Malaysian travellers, the AmBank UnionPay Platinum credit card offers bonus points for overseas spending as well as complimentary airport lounge access.

While not as commonly accepted internationally, UnionPay-backed cards have a much greater acceptance in China – making this an attraction option for those who frequently travel there. In Malaysia, only the
Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC)
 offers UnionPay-based credit cards – though soon U Mobile will offer a UnionPay prepaid card option with its
GoPayz e-wallet
. For AmBank’s UnionPay Platinum, the main card benefits include:

5x AmBonus points for all overseas retail transactions

2x complimentary Plaza Premium Lounge access in over 26 major airports

Complimentary access to UnionPay Lounge in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, which offers dedicated customer service personnel, complimentary coffee and tea, mobile charging ports, and free WiFi

Preferential rates for over 1,400 DragonPass airport lounges worldwide

Preferential discounts at over 350 golf courses worldwide

Exclusive seasonal dining, shopping, and lifestyle offers

The minimum annual income to qualify for the
AmBank UnionPay Platinum credit card
 is RM60,000 (RM5,000 per month), and the RM450 annual fee is waived for the first year, and for subsequent years upon spending of RM20,000 and above with the card.

“We are very excited to partner UnionPay as they have set up a strong issuing business support for their partners, especially for us here in Malaysia. There is a fresh branding campaign focusing on worldwide travel and dining privileges such as dining at Michelin Star restaurants. The look and feel is young and modern. Our UnionPay card will excite our customers who travel, entertain and enjoy dining, here in Malaysia as well as internationally, particularly China,” said Jade Lee, Managing Director, Retail Banking, AmBank (M) Berhad.

As part of the new card launch, AmBank is organising a year-long “Four Seasons” campaign that rewards one AmBank UnionPay cardholder to an overseas trip every quarter, with the destination selected based on the season the winner is selected (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter).

The Four Seasons campaign will see opportunities for cardholders to win exclusive overseas travel packages for each season starting from Spring, when they spend using the card from 1 October to 31 December 2019. This will then be followed by travel packages for Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Head on to the
official AmBank website
 for more information about the new AmBank UnionPay Platinum credit card.

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Pang Tun Yau

Pang Tun Yau

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

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OCBC credit card holders enjoy up to 20 months interest-free shopping

Getting something expensive, but don’t want to be burdened by a huge credit card bill at the end of the month? OCBC credit card holders can now
repay their purchases over 5, 10 or 20 months under the bank’s Easy Payment Plan.

The great thing about the plan is that there’s no interest as long as you’re punctual with your repayments. You’ll only have to pay a one-time handling fee of 2%, 3% and 5% respectively for the 5, 10 and 20 month repayment tenures. There’s no exit penalty for early settlement, either.

The minimum spend needed to convert your purchase into the instalment plan is RM1,000.

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Affin Bank Updates List Of E-Wallet Partners For Affin Duo Cashback Benefits

From 21 April 2021 onwards, Affin Bank will be removing its Affin Duo cashback benefits for several e-wallets, including Fasspay, Presto Pay, and Razer Gold/Pay. In return, it will be adding a new name to its list of eligible e-wallets: Zapp.

With this revision, cardholders of the Affin Visa Cash Back card will no longer be entitled to cashback rewards for transactions that are carried on Fasspay, Instapay eWallet, Instapay Card, Presto Pay, Razer Gold/Pay, TaPay, and weChat Pay.

The Affin Visa Cash Back Card is one of two cards that are paired together to form Affin Duo, and it offers 3% cashback on e-wallet, auto-billing, and online transactions. With regard to e-wallet transactions, the Affin Visa Cash Back Card currently provides cashback for a total of 18 e-wallets, with
one revision to the list of eligible e-wallets
 already carried out back in November 2020 since its
launch in August last year
.

Following the implementation of this latest revision on 21 April 2021, the number of eligible e-wallets will soon reduce to 12 e-wallets, namely:

BigPay

Boost

Gkash eWallet

GrabPay

KiplePay/KiplePark

Lazada Wallet

Mcash

Setel

ShopeePay

Touch ‘n Go Prepaid Card

Touch ‘n Go eWallet

Zapp

Even so, the Affin Visa Cash Back Card is still considered to be fairly generous with the number of e-wallets that are permitted to tap into its cashback benefits – which in turn, makes it (and the Affin Duo)
some of the most favourable credit cards
 in the market.

You can check out the Affin Duo cards (
Visa Cash Back Card
 and
Affin Mastercard Rewards Card
) for more information.

(Source:
Affin Bank
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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KESAS, SMART Tunnel Also Begin Accepting Credit, Debit Cards For Toll Payments

(Image: New Straits Times/Aizuddin Saad)

The Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS) and SMART Tunnel have now also officially started their trial of the open payment system for toll payments. With this, motorists will be able to pay their toll fares at selected booths using credit and debit cards.

Those who travel along both these highways can now opt to use MyDebit, Visa, and Mastercard debit and credit cards to make payments instead of relying solely on Touch ‘n Go (TNG)-related options. Note, though, that the card terminals for the open payment system are currently only installed at selected lanes of these highways – since it is still in the testing phase at the moment – so do keep an eye out for the signages indicating these lanes if you’d like to give them a try.

💡 How does it work? 💡
Simply tap your MyDebit, Visa or Mastercard and drive!
Try it today!
#MyDebitJe

pic.twitter.com/wXLTJeMOf8

— KESAS Traffic (@kesastrafik)
August 21, 2023

Sistem Pembayaran Terbuka (SPT) kini dalam tempoh percubaan di Lebuhraya SMART! Jom cuba mod pembayaran tol baharu hari ini!
Guna
#MyDebitJe
(Visa dan Mastercard juga diterima)
@kltrafficupdate

pic.twitter.com/DVXMFt01AF
— Smart Expressway (@Smarttunnel)
August 18, 2023

Aside from KESAS and the SMART Tunnel, other highways and expressways that have already begun testing the implementation of the open payment system include the
Maju Expressway (MEX)
, the
Western Kuala Lumpur Traffic Dispersal Scheme (SPRINT Expressway), and the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP)
. In total,
12 highways
 are set to participate in this initiative and trial the system by September; other highways that are also expected to join in the effort soon include the Duta-Ulu Klang Expressway (DUKE), New Pantai Expressway (NPE), and the Sungai Besi Expressway (BESRAYA).

Once fully implemented, the open payment system will cover as many as 31 toll plazas and 81 lanes.

(Sources: Litrak [
1
,
2
])

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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Red HongYi Organises Memebank Exhibition In KL, Set To Begin On 20 January 2022

Malaysian artist Red Hong Yi – who made her entry into the non-fungible token (NFT) market with the launch of the Meme Banknotes series back in mid-2021 – is now hosting a Memebank exhibition here in Kuala Lumpur. Taking place between 20 to 23 January 2022, you can experience the exhibition either in person or virtually.

Those who plan to enjoy the Memebank exhibition virtually can access the
Memebank Virtual Exhibition
 anytime, anywhere (24/7) starting from 20 January 2022 (the site is currently still under construction, and should go live tomorrow). Meanwhile, if you prefer to visit in person, the physical exhibition will open its doors a day later on 21 to 23 January (10am to 6pm) at Bookmark@APW, Bangsar. Admittance is free, although entry is only by reservation.

Without doubt, the key highlights of the Memebank exhibition are the meme banknotes that Red Hong Yi had created and sold in the past year. The Meme Banknotes series kicked off in July 2021 with Red Hong Yi’s first piece,
titled “Doge to the Moon”
 – which drew inspiration from the popular Doge meme and the Chinese Yuan currency, and sold for approximately RM328,000 on the Binance NFT Marketplace.

Since then, the artist has created and put
five other Meme Banknotes
 up for auction, based off the Malaysian Ringgit, Singapore Dollar, Japanese Yen, British Pound, and US Dollar. All of these banknotes will be put up for display at the exhibition.

Aside from that, individuals who visit the exhibition in person will also get an up-close and personal view of the banknote printing process. According to the official website, Memebank “employees” will be conducting banknote printing during the exhibition, and visitors will have the chance to witness and learn more about the process of inking. This is on top of other attractions and services that you can check out at the event, including the Premier Lounges and the Memebank Platinum credit card.

To make things even more exciting, there are also exclusive merchandises that you can purchase during your visit. If you’re a fan of Red Hong Yi’s artwork and a collector, mini versions of all six Memebank banknotes will be made available for sale at the exhibition. Exclusive angpao packets, too, will be sold in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.

Those who wish to set an appointment for their visit to the Memebank exhibition can easily
do so over here
. Do note that capacity is limited to abide by Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) guidelines, so make sure to book your timeslots fast!

(Source:
Memebank
)

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Alex Cheong Pui Yin

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

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3 Benefits You May Be Missing out without a Petrol Credit Card

The assortment of
credit cards
 in the Malaysian market is actually pretty amazing. They offer incredible benefits to card holders across different spending habits and help them get more for their money.

Petrol credit cards happen to be a bunch that is included in this beneficial equation and boy, you could be missing out on some serious benefits if you don’t have the right one in your stack of plastics. Here’s what they look like.

1) Cashback on Not Just Petrol

Cashback on petrol goes without saying for most petrol credit cards. One of the more notable picks in the market is the
Public Bank Petron Visa Gold
 that allows you to earn up to 5% cashback at any Petron station across the country with a monthly cap of RM50.

What’s fantastic is that you’re not just limited to getting cashback on petrol, you could even use it for a whole bunch of other stuff like grocery shopping at Petron stations too. If you can’t seem to maximise the cashback on just petrol, simply walk into its mart and shop away.

That’s not all because you’ll be able to enjoy unlimited cashback of 0.5% on all retail spending. Also, the Public Bank Petron Visa Gold along with other cards from the bank are offering a whopping 50% cashback on Friday dining with a RM50 cap until 30 April 2016 – all this for no annual fee. Somebody pinch me already!

2) Racking Up Glorious Rewards Points

If you’re not a fan of getting cashback rebated into your monthly credit card statement, you can have complete control over what you choose to use your TreatsPoints for instead with the
Petronas Maybank Visa Gold
. This could be the perfect plastic for the reward points hungry.

This card gives holders the privilege of earning 8x TreatsPoints for every Ringgit spent at PETRONAS over the weekends and score the same ratio for grocery shopping every Saturday and Sunday too. On weekdays, you still get an impressive 5x TreatsPoints for every Ringgit spent at PETRONAS.

Apart from using your TreatsPoints to redeem from the wide range of items on the catalogue such as home appliances, lifestyle items, beauty and fashion products; you can exchange them for free petrol over at any PETRONAS station. If you have extra points to spare, you could even redeem air miles to travel the world. Now, that’s what we call control.

3) Other Features and Freebies

Apart from cashback of up to 8% with a monthly cap of RM64, the
Shell Citibank Gold Credit Card
 also comes with handy comprehensive healthcare packages to take care of your well-being. Something really comforting especially if you don’t have a medical card or critical illness insurance policy.

Card holders will get 20% discount for established Executive Screening Packages excluding pricey specialists’ consultation charges. If the going gets tough, the card also provides a 15% discount to its holder when admitted to a hospital provided the room rate is RM120 and above. All you have to do is make sure your hospital is amongst the list of 25 participating health institutions and put the bill on your Shell Citibank Gold Credit Card.

Apart from these heart-warming perks, we at RinggitPlus will throw in freebies when your application for any of the above credit cards is approved during their designated campaign periods and subsequently activated.

You’ll receive a Samsung Galaxy V with the
Shell Citibank Gold Credit Card
; a Lebensstil Pyramid Kettle with the
Public Bank Petron Visa Gold
; and an RM200 Lazada e-voucher with the
Petronas Maybank Visa Gold
. Convinced yet?

It’s Time You Get a Slice of the Pie!

Evidently, petrol credit cards have more perks to offer than within the parameters of fueling up. It could certainly take a tonne of load off in the areas expressed up top.

If you have been thinking of getting a petrol credit card with a combination of perks like in the above,
let us help pick one that works best for you
 and your needs. As always, do spare some time to read the terms and conditions.

Please get updated with our
petrol price tracker
.

Do you have a specific type of credit card category that has helped you significantly? Tell us about it in the comments section below – we’d love to hear from you!

*All figures accurate at time of writing. Changes subject to banks’ discretion.

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Austin Victor

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Are You Managing Your Online Banking Statements Properly?

You may be tempted to skip printing important papers and simply store everything online or on electronic devices, but before you do –hear us out. You’ll be doing yourself a favour by holding on to vital hardcopies, and here is why.

Threat of viruses and system failure

If you’ve ever had the bad fortune to tangle with the
‘blue screen of death’
, you’ll know just why it’s not safe to store all your important documents on your computer’s hard drive alone. A virus or system malfunction could potentially destroy all the crucial documents you have saved.

Even if you stored your documents on an external drive, data can still be lost if your drive gets damaged and that can happen all too easily. Even improper removal can corrupt and erase the drive’s entire content.

Danger of hacking

Hackers are increasingly sophisticated, hatching new and more disruptive cyber-attacks. In fact, just this April;
CIO-Asia
 reported that
CyberSecurity Malaysia
 issued a national warning on ‘ransomware’.

This type of malware allows hackers to lock access to your computer, holding it ransom until you pay up. And even then, the release of your computer and files are not guaranteed, leaving your important docs to be potentially lost forever.

Risks with cloud storage and online backups

You might choose to store your documents in the cloud, but while ultra-convenient, is still prone to its own set of risks. For one, if your password is stolen, someone else can take control of your files and temporarily deny access to you. What’s worse is that if you use a free service, support to retrieve any lost or damaged files may not be extended.

Similar jams apply to online backups with the added issue of size restrictions in that, only a portion of your drive is allowed to be copied. Thus, you may not get back all files in case of server issues.

What kind of documents should you print?

First off, certain documents relating to your tax file should be kept for 7 years, as per
LHDN regulation
 and this would (obviously) include your return form itself as well as the official payment acknowledgment. In addition, you should keep support documents like:

insurance policies

premium statements

medical receipts

payslips

worksheets you’ve used to tabulate your receipts and income for tax

bill payments

fund transfers

loan payments

credit card statements

Bonus tip:
 If you are concerned about printing costs, you can easily reduce ink usage by setting your printer to ‘Draft Mode’.

The case for holding on to hardcopies of important documents is further supported by one simple fact; you’ll always have access to them! You need not worry about having precious files be tampered or wiped away for good if you just organize them and store properly.

Need to buy a quality printer or other big-ticket items now? Then check out our
credit card comparison page
 to enjoy some rewarding returns instead of just using cash.

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Desiree Nair

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Malaysia Unemployment Rate Continues To Ease, At 4.7% In July

The unemployment rate in Malaysia has continued on its downward trend, lowering by 0.2%
from June
 to settle at 4.7% in July. The number of unemployed persons during the same period has decreased by 28,200 people to 745,100 in total.

The ongoing decrease of the unemployment rate is a welcome trend given the previous spikes during the months of
March
,
April
, and finally the record high of
5.3% in May
. However, when compared year-on-year, the number of unemployed persons in July 2020 has still increased by 220,300 persons when compared to July 2019.

The number of own-account workers, which are considered the group most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, has decreased by 36,900 month-on-month to 2.38 million persons in July 2020. This group, which comprises mostly of daily wage earners working in markets, freelancers, and smallholders, has been on the continuous decline since April 2020.

On the upside, most economic sectors have posted an increase in employed persons since June 2020 when the recovery movement control (RMCO) took effect. This increase is mostly significant in the services sector, mainly in accommodation, food and beverages, and transport and storage activities. There was also a slight increase in art, entertainment, and recreational activities.

The total labour force increased by 55,000 persons to 15.82 million persons compared to June 2020, buoyed by more sectors including tourism, education, entertainment, and recreation being allowed to operate. Nonetheless, the labour force participation rate (LFPR) in July remained at 68.1%.

“As the pandemic continues to change the economic landscape, the business models continued to be reinvented; subsequently causing shift in job trends,” the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) noted in its report. “In relation to this, the government initiatives on strategic investments may become a catalyst of innovation to encourage the use of technology in cross-sectoral businesses.”

(Source:
DOSM
)

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Jacie Tan

Jacie Tan

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