Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by MasBoleh!

What is your fav ice creams?

MasBoleh! — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:53:32 +0800

Lai, let's discuss something light apart from all the nice topics like F1 and also political related topics.

What is your favorites ice creams? Can be those that can be find in Jaya Grocer, AEON etc.

Maybe got some hidden gem that I am not aware of

How OCD people find their partners?

MasBoleh! — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:49:52 +0800

With all the heavy topics recently, I figured maybe open a more light topic just for discussion for fun.

I noticed there are 2 types of people when it comes to eating at hawker centres. One is don’t put their arms on the table, the other one is don’t care and put their arms on the table.

I wonder if those that don’t put arms on the table, will they also find another partner that is similar? Or they don’t mind their partner put their arms on the table?

Subsequently, what about people with ocd? How are they able to find another partner that is not ocd yet can tolerate? Because I figured finding another partner is already hard, let alone an ocd partner especially ocd itself is different between people.

Sg Pahang dries up, exposing path to river island

MasBoleh! — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:08:39 +0800

KUALA LUMPUR: The dried-up riverbed of Sungai Pahang has allowed villagers to walk or ride motorcycles to an island in the middle of the river, which is covered with trees and was previously accessible only by boat.

A New Straits Times check found villagers bringing water buffaloes across the dry riverbed to the island to graze on grass.

On the other side of the island, the river channel at Kampung Paya Pasir remains flowing downstream despite the ongoing heatwave.

Villager Mohd Azman Ismail, 54, described the dry spell as one of the worst in recent years, saying the river was drying up at an alarming rate.

"The heat has been extraordinary compared with previous years, and the river began to dry up in April this year. The situation worsened this month and I guess it will remain the same until the year-end rainy season. It last rained about two months ago.

"It has become common over the past few years for the river to dry up during the hot season, but this year, more sections of the river, stretching several kilometres, have dried up," he said.

Azman said caged fish breeders operating along the river were forced to sell their ikan patin (silver catfish) in April after the water became increasingly shallow, leaving them unable to resume operations.

"Due to the dried-up river, breeders are unable to resume their business. The other section of the river has not dried up as it is deeper due to sand dredging activities.

"Maybe the authorities should consider allowing sand mining activities at Kampung Pesagi to help deepen the shallow section of the river. Once the section near the village is deepened, it will allow water to flow," he said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has reported that the country could experience hotter days and longer dry spells than usual as El Nino strengthens.

The dried-up riverbed of Sungai Pahang has allowed villagers to walk or ride motorcycles to an island in the middle of the river, which is covered with trees and was previously accessible only by boat. Pic by Muhammad Delima Atan

Other than IKEA, where to buy standing lamp

MasBoleh! — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 20:41:21 +0800

Hi all,

Would like to seek for your kind recommendation on where I can buy standing lamp other than IKEA in KL?

I prefer physical shop because I don’t think fragile things like standing lamp shall be shipped to my house (if I buy from shopee) as the chances of the product been damaged is extremely high.

Thank you.

Rain rave not our culture fine.

MasBoleh! — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:32:44 +0800

QUOTE

3) PESTA air. You see people are against it based on FB comment etc. Because it does not reflect Malaysia culture of Adab Ketimuran.

Yes, I saw many Malays condemning this festival because it is not the culture of Malaysia. Fine.

Then the current RXZ event in Terengganu, I see some malays scolding and condemning but I don’t see any of them saying this is not Malaysia culture too. Why double standard in this?

Rain rave no one died, RXZ before the event started also got unfortunate accidents keep happening. Imaging how many gonna keep dying if RXZ event been organised every years?

For me, it is not about the type of events. It is about how it impact the society negatively. If it is merely for entertainment and no one die, not having much impact to Malaysian. Aren’t we suppose to be ok with this?

You say it encourage maksiat. Yet so many Malaysian walking around holding hands etc. if people wanna maksiat or do drugs they will have billions of reasons and venues to do so. Having rain rave or other entertainment festivals won’t make any changes. I hope that people can be more acceptable and makes Malaysia better in attracting global audiences, so that they are much willing to invest in Malaysia and the penjaja can reap off the spillover benefits.

Sekian terima kasih

My humble plead to fellow Malaysians

MasBoleh! — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:23:52 +0800

With the recent major losses in PH due to a big comeback of blue wave.

I still hope that Malaysian can make the right decision in picking a government and a leader that are capable of dealing with the geopolitic and global financial crisis that shall expect to continuously affect not just Malaysia but whole world for as long as Trump term has not complete.

Malaysia has see the rise of FDI. Our ringgit has also one of the best performing currency in the region. We see our resilience our economy are and how Malaysia able to remain neutral one dealing with threats from both giants of the east and west.

At this difficult time, we have to ensure Malaysia remain stable, able to continuously attracting FDI as well as economical competitive globally. Malaysia cannot afford another lost decade by missing all the economic reformation opportunity. So let’s pick the right government so that we can continue to weather the global typhoon.

Sekian terima kasih

What happened between DAP with OKM?

MasBoleh! — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:50:22 +0800

I understand Ong Kian Ming may be the lost generation, be in DAP but don’t has the opportunity to get higher positions.

However he think by sleeping with Khairy and becomes his lapdog, he will get the recognition from UMNO? Whatever he is now is merely a political tools for BN.

The Agony of the Rocket

MasBoleh! — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:34:58 +0800

Saw this article in FB. Find it quite well written, so I decided to share it here.

QUOTE

The defeat in Johor was crushing. The internet is filled with ridicule. Many people are saying it's time to send the Rocket (DAP) back to the opposition.

Today, I will play the role of DAP's defender and tell you the truth—so that you understand the predicament the Rocket faces.

When Pakatan Harapan first formed the government, DAP had its manifesto and white papers. We had a grand vision for Malaysia's future. We brainstormed countless ideas.

We were excited. We confidently promised the voters that we would change the old system and turn Malaysia into an advanced, open, and transparent nation.

When we first entered Putrajaya, we were filled with passion to transform this country.

However, every reform we proposed was smeared by our opponents as "selling out Malay rights." Meanwhile, our coalition leader, PKR, was steadily losing Malay support.

In the 2022 General Election, after Bersatu left the coalition, PKR's seats plunged from 48 in the previous election to just 31—a 34% decline.

Malaysia's racial divide runs too deep to be resolved overnight. Whenever we introduce fair and progressive policies, we're accused of sacrificing Malay rights. But if we adopt more conservative policies, we're accused of betraying the Chinese community.

When we formed the government for the second time, we had to ally with UMNO to establish a unity government.

We knew this would seriously hurt DAP. But for the greater good of the nation, we chose to take a step back.

Only after returning to Putrajaya did we realise how severely the COVID-19 pandemic had damaged the country's finances. We had no choice but to increase revenue and reduce expenditure if we wanted to save the country. Otherwise, we would simply keep raising the national debt ceiling until the nation collapsed.

That is why we had to focus on taxation and fuel subsidy reforms to plug the fiscal hole.

Those deficits were created by the previous governments, which spent recklessly during the pandemic. We are bearing the blame while cleaning up the mess they left behind.

Take the Yongzheng Emperor, for example. He was unpopular because he practised fiscal discipline. People spread countless stories to demonise him—such as the "Blood Drops" assassins, Lü Siniang, and even the rumour that he altered the late emperor's will by changing the Chinese character "十四" (fourteenth prince) into "于四" (fourth prince). That shows just how much resentment existed at the time.

Yet later historians vindicated him. It was precisely because he strengthened the state's finances that the Qing dynasty endured for decades afterwards and eventually entered the prosperous Qianlong era.

The question is: do we have a clear mandate to carry out sweeping reforms?

No.

We govern as part of a coalition. We simply do not have full authority to reform everything.

Fiscal tightening is painful, but it is necessary. It is like scraping poison from the bone to heal the body.

Would the previous governments have dared to cut spending?

No.

They only knew how to spend lavishly to buy public support. Only a Pakatan Harapan government has the courage to implement painful fiscal reforms.

That is also why, during the Israel-Iran conflict, we managed to curb fuel smuggling and save the country a significant amount of money.

Do you think we don't know that data centres create relatively few jobs?

Of course we know.

But because of the Sheraton Move, we missed the opportunity to attract higher-quality semiconductor manufacturing investments. We could only accept whatever foreign investment was still available.

Had we not attracted those investments, do you think our foreign exchange reserves and the ringgit would have remained as stable as they are?

People accuse us of breaking our promise to shut down Lynas.

Easy for you to say.

Lynas is not just another factory. It is one of the world's most important rare earth processing companies outside China, and a critical supplier for Japan and the United States.

After China restricted rare earth exports, do you understand how strategically important Lynas became to American and Japanese defence industries?

If we shut Lynas down, could we bear the geopolitical consequences? Have you not seen how the United States sanctions countries that undermine its strategic interests?

DAP can realistically win only about 40 to 42 parliamentary seats.

If Pakatan Harapan wants to remain in government, it must make breakthroughs in Malay-majority constituencies.

Statistics indicate that by 2050, ethnic Chinese will make up only around 15% of Malaysia's population.

In other words, if we want to govern over the long term, winning Malay support is the only sustainable path.

To do that, Pakatan's leader has had to abandon some of the open and transparent policies that opponents constantly attack and instead adopt a more conservative approach.

Do you think we don't know this damages our own support base?

We know.

All we can do is endure—and continue defending "Huashu" (a nickname for Anwar Ibrahim) in public.

Sometimes, while defending him, I can barely keep a straight face because I genuinely can't find a reasonable explanation. I can only muddle through somehow.

We also hoped that Anwar's PKR could make breakthroughs among Malay voters and compensate for the Chinese votes we were losing.

Three years.

Three whole years.

Do you know what these three years have been like for me?

In Sabah, I suffered eight defeats and became the laughing stock of MCA supporters.

Now in Johor, I've suffered another four defeats and once again become their target of ridicule.

Do you think that feels good?

If not for our perseverance, Pakatan Harapan would have fallen apart long ago.

Our party leadership has repeatedly told Anwar to think more about DAP's position.

Yet before the election, in his effort to win Malay support, he declared that we had never opposed conservative policies.

That single statement cost us four state assembly seats.

We defended PKR and gave them room to fight their battle.

In return, we were stabbed in the back.

PKR has become a rotten tree.

Anyone with eyes can see it.

Poor public service, talented people leaving, open factional fighting—it's a complete mess. Even many Malays have grown disillusioned.

Can such a partner really lead Pakatan Harapan into the future?

That is why, before this ship sinks completely, we must look for another way forward.

Perikatan Nasional is also trapped in internal conflict. After Hamzah Zainudin's departure, Bersatu is already in decline.

At present, the only force strong enough to form a powerful alliance with us is UMNO.

That is why we visited UMNO headquarters and extended an olive branch.

But younger UMNO leaders such as Akmal and Onn Hafiz oppose working with us. They have openly rejected the idea, and even the UMNO president cannot fully control them.

That leaves us at a deadlock.

UMNO is simply too petty.

Back then we criticised them because we stood on different sides.

Times have changed. They should let bygones be bygones.

Malaysia's future will ultimately be decided by the Malays themselves.

We are simply adapting to political realities so that DAP can continue to survive and grow.

We understand your ridicule.

But you do not understand our suffering.

Politics involves too many competing interests.

How can anyone change everything simply because they want to?

The Chongzhen Emperor of the Ming dynasty and the Jiaqing Emperor of the Qing dynasty were both diligent and frugal. They genuinely hoped to revive declining empires.

But problems that had accumulated over generations could not be reversed so easily.

With entrenched aristocrats and vested interests everywhere, reform is never as simple as people imagine.

Besides, we are not Yongzheng.

Our role is more like Zhang Juzheng.

Do you know what happened to Zhang Juzheng?

After he died in 1582, all his honours were stripped away. His son Zhang Jingxiu was forced to commit suicide, his eldest son Zhang Maoxiu was exiled, members of his family were left starving under house arrest, and all of his property was confiscated.

Shang Yang's fate was even worse.

He was executed by being torn apart by chariots.

Why?

Because that is the fate of reformers.

The moment you threaten the interests of the powerful, you are destined for a tragic ending.

That is why, when it comes to figures like Azam Baki, there is little we can do.

We have no intention of being politically destroyed and having everything confiscated the moment we leave office.

Whether Malaysia reforms or not ultimately depends on what the Malay electorate wants.

Our loneliness.

Our burden.

The feeling of moving forward while weighed down by political reality.

You do not know any of it.

All you know is to punish us with your votes and mock us.

Who truly understands the suffering of the Rocket?

As I say these words, tears begin to roll down my face despite myself.

Ways to sell back a new under utilised

MasBoleh! — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:33:00 +0800

I bought a new washing machine and use it to run a few cycles and seriously dislike it and regretted purchasing it.

Now I wish to sell it off and buy another WM. What are the ways to do it?

I bought it at Harvey Norman, can sell it back to Harvey Norman?

otherwise, is there a platform for me to sell my WM other than Carousell? If any sifu here has similar experience or ideas, please share with me.

Thank you

Tint marble table with ppf

MasBoleh! — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:57:52 +0800

I got saw some ads about tinting marble table with ppf recently and my friend also told me since my marble table is new, can tint the ppf then can last very long. Otherwise will have scratches or stain issue.

I wonder is it really necessarily? Anyone here done the tint too? What’s your experience and opinion?

Thank you

New joiners find it tough as financial advisers

MasBoleh! — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 13:46:04 +0800

Strained friendships, rejection, harassment: New joiners find it tough going as financial advisers

Flexible hours, autonomy in shaping their careers and high earning potential are attracting fresh graduates to the industry but public stigma, strained relationships and constant rejection are testing their resolve.

Insurance roadshow at Paya Lebar Square shopping mall on May 2, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Nadhirah Mansor)

Despite knowing that his degree could land him a relatively well-paying job after graduation, data scientist graduate Kyler How found himself hesitant to look for a nine-to-five role.

Realising that he would spend years working for someone else as he slowly climbed the corporate ladder made him feel trapped.

But with little capital to start something of his own, the 25-year-old knew he had few career choices that would offer him autonomy, flexibility and a generous pay cheque.

He decided not to apply for any desk-bound jobs and instead went for a financial advisory (FA) internship.

Financial adviser Kyler How, 25, at Punggol on Nov 6, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

"Financial advisory ticks quite a few boxes for me: It's future-proof, offers good money, allows me to be self-employed, and serves as a stepping stone for bigger endeavours," he said of making the choice to join the industry this year, eventually securing a full-time position in July.

In Singapore, financial advisers are generally self-employed, though they typically operate under one firm that oversees compliance and training.

A steady stream of young professionals and fresh graduates like Mr How have been joining the industry over the last few years and making up a significant proportion of insurance firms' workforce.

Insurance company Prudential said that 35 per cent of its 5,400 financial representatives are aged 28 and below, and the number of new joiners aged 20 to 28 rose by 50 per cent between 2022 and 2024.

Data from other insurance companies suggests that young professionals continue to form a significant portion of new joiners in the financial advisory industry.

AIA has observed that 60 per cent of its new joiners are aged 21 to 30, a proportion that has been consistent over the past three years.

"The upward trend of young adults aged 21 to 30 entering the financial advisory industry over the past five years is an industry-wide observation," said Mr Alvin Fu, chief distribution officer at AIA Singapore.

Another firm, Income Insurance, reported a similar trend with their percentage of new financial advisers under the age of 30 at around 58 per cent from 2020 to 2024.

"We're seeing a clear mindset shift among this generation where many are no longer motivated by traditional office structures or fixed nine-to-six jobs," said Mr Tan Hong Tau, chief executive of Manulife Financial Advisers (Manulife FA), who declined to provide details on the proportion of the company's new joiners aged 30 and below.

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, AUTONOMY, POTENTIAL EARNINGS

For many young professionals, the decision to become a financial adviser was not driven by a single factor.

Among the common reasons cited however were flexible timings, the autonomy to shape their career in their own way and the earning potential.

Ms Slyvia Ng, 27, who switched from marketing to a career she has now held for over a year, said: "For me, it was largely about the money, but also the freedom and flexibility. I wanted to be able to plan my schedule and decide how I wanted to run my business."

AIA said that its consultants earned an average annual income of about S$94,500 (US$72,479) in 2024 across all ages and experience levels.

Earnings vary widely depending on factors such as individual performance and client base and new consultants typically take more than two years to reach this average annual income, it added.

High performers can also be promoted to the rank of financial services manager where they take on a larger job scope including mentoring other consultants after around two years, earning roughly S$200,000 annually.

For Mr How, it was the flexibility of time that appealed to him especially after he saw how his mentor had diversified his income stream beyond financial advisory by owning other businesses. He encouraged others to do the same and treat their FA work as a second income stream.

He found that many advisers around him also run their own businesses or pursue personal interests such as fitness coaching alongside their FA work.

Mr Rom Lee, chief agency officer (CAO) Prudential Singapore said that financial advisers enjoy a greater degree of flexibility and job independence compared with other roles, allowing them to "choose how they spend their time" as well as fulfil their entrepreneurial ambitions.

The challenging job market is another reason young workers are turning to the industry.

Mr How recalled hearing from peers about relentless job application rejections and poor work-life balance, which made self-employment seem like a promising path.

For some, like Ms Charmain Chong, 23, personal experiences played a significant role too. Her first encounter with the concept of insurance was at the age of 19, when her mother suffered a stroke.

Financial adviser Charmain Chong, 23. More young adults are becoming financial advisers despite the stigma and realities of the job. (Photo: CNA/Raj Nadarajan)

"We didn't really know what insurance was about, but the agent sat me down and ran me through what my mum was covered for, which gave me reassurance," she recalled.

The experience left a lasting impression, even before she had to decide whether to continue down the electrical engineering route she had started in polytechnic.

After graduation, Ms Chong found herself at a crossroads. She was unsure about continuing in engineering, which she saw as a male-dominated field and potentially limiting without further studies. She also worried about having to face the challenge of a mid-career switch later on.

Curious about alternative paths, she decided to try out a personal assistant role at a financial advisory firm.

Around the same time, further family health crises – her second aunt's stroke, her grandfather's third cancer diagnosis, and her grandmother's first – reinforced her interest in the industry.

Four years later in 2023, she officially began her career as a financial adviser.

"All of this built the momentum for me to enter this line," she said.

"Now, I have a very strong conviction that I'm here to serve and help my clients."

While some enter financial advisory as a deliberate choice shaped by personal experiences, others stumble into it through recruitment pitches and the promise of financial know-how.

Across university group chats, glossy recruitment messages often advertise internships promising opportunities to learn about financial planning and personal growth.

Ryan, who declined to give his full name as he is still working in the finance industry, was a first-year business student at a local university when he saw one of these advertisements on Telegram, which proved too intriguing to ignore.

The post highlighted the chance to gain financial literacy and wealth management skills – competencies that seemed directly relevant to his course of study.

"I honestly didn't realise it was an FA role at first, I just wanted to be more financially literate," said the 25-year-old.

As part of the programme, he completed several Capital Markets and Financial Advisory Services (CMFAS) examinations, eventually earning his licence and stepping into the role of a FA for seven months while still a student.

LOST FRIENDSHIPS, IRATE CLIENTS

From the outside, young FAs often appear to lead glamorous lives – their social media feeds showcasing award ceremonies, networking events, and big-ticket milestones such as new cars or condominium units.

Financial advisers CNA TODAY spoke to however said that the work often carries pressures and challenges hidden beneath its polished exterior.

One of the first hurdles is public distrust, largely fuelled by a handful of "black sheep" with questionable sales practices.

The Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC) reported that the number of claims handled by the centre involving licensed financial advisers and insurance brokers rose from 25 in 2023 to 80 this year, as at the end of October.

Of the total cases FIDReC handled up to October this year, about 13 per cent involved market conduct issues such as misselling or misrepresentation, though these were not limited to financial advisory cases.

Like many in the field, Ms Ng has had to contend with the fallout from others' missteps – agents who missell products to clients unfamiliar with the plans, especially seniors.

"As a result, some elderly might even shout at you when you approach them, and just because you represent the same firm, you end up bearing the repercussions of other agents' mistakes," Ms Ng said.

Public distrust aside, there's also the need to have a thick skin to deal with the high rate of rejection.

Ms Chee Kai Xin, 23, currently a university student FA, knows this struggle well.

When she first joined the industry in 2024, she avoided approaching her "warm market" – her direct network of friends and family – and opted instead for roadshows.

The experience was gruelling: For three months, she struggled to earn even S$1,000 a month, covering the cost of renting a booth out of her own pocket.

"It was so stressful that I cried every morning when I had to go for the roadshow," Ms Chee recalled.

"The cold market is tough, you need a long time to build trust. Can you imagine talking to a random stranger and having to tell them your income?"

The pressure was enough for her to quit initially. But with encouragement from a classmate who was also a student adviser, she rejoined the field, determined to try again.

Miss Chee Kai Xin, 23, currently a university student FA, at her office in Toa Payoh on Nov 6, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Ooi Boon Keong)

While financial advisory work is often portrayed as a path to easy earnings, the reality is far more demanding than just having a few conversations with clients over coffee.

"In a corporate job, you're usually fine as long as you don't mess up. Here, we need to perform well to even earn," said Ms Chee.

She added that closing a deal can take about a month on average, with more complex cases, such as family planning, sometimes stretching over a year.

Ms Ng echoed the sentiment.

"A lot more goes into this than people realise. You need to let clients build trust at their own pace, which can take a long time – sometimes even a year," she said.

Meanwhile, Ryan, who was lured to the industry by recruitment advertisements, found that day-to-day work differed from expectations of the lavish lifestyle promised during introductory sessions.

"Within the culture, we were often encouraged to post weekend updates of ourselves at our laptops to show we were grinding – practices that, to some extent, felt performative to me," he said.

He said that despite the messaging that the industry was there to help clients, it turned out to be more sales-focused than he had expected.

New FAs often set targets with their directors, and in one instance, Ryan recalled being asked to call 100 personal contacts while a supervisor watched.

After seven months, he decided to leave as he didn't feel he was truly helping anyone.

"I just didn't enjoy what I was doing or how it was making me feel," he said.

Long hours and high sales target aside, there's the added issue of harassment for female FAs who have to frequently interact with clients one-on-one.

Ms Ng noted that some of her female colleagues receive unsolicited messages every day from prospects, often using inappropriate terms of endearment such as "babe".

"It's unfortunately very common for female advisers to face this, but I always try to stand up for myself," she said.

And finally, there is the challenge that can cut deepest: seeing friendships fray under the weight of career-related misconceptions.

Ms Chee described how some friends were hesitant to admit they were uncomfortable with her new role as a financial adviser.

While a few eventually became open to having an honest conversation about her job, others gradually stopped texting her.

For Ryan, the impact was even more personal – moments when he genuinely wanted to catch up with friends were sometimes misread as attempts to prospect them.

"By the third friendship I lost, I was done (with this job)."

COMMON FOR YOUNG ADVISERS TO LEAVE EARLY

Given the challenging nature of the job, the high joining rate for young graduates is offset by young FAs leaving the industry burnt out and disillusioned.

Insurers GE and Manulife told CNA TODAY that they did not track retention rates by age groups while Income declined to disclose their retention rate. Meanwhile, AIA said that their first-year retention rate was 85 per cent.

Prudential Singapore's Mr Lee said the first two years are crucial for new joiners to decide if the role is right for them and it can be "common for young FAs to leave early".

"Generally, retention among younger FAs is relatively lower than other profiles, as many are still exploring career options before settling on a path," said Ms Jesslyn Tan, chief executive of Great Eastern Financial Advisers (GEFA).

But for those who stay, the conviction is unwavering.

Ms Ng reflected that even when deals didn't close after months of prospecting, the support of loyal clients kept her going. She recalled roadshow moments where clients bought drinks and pizza as encouragement.

Ms Chee said that, despite its challenges, she enjoys the career for its growth opportunities, the people she interacts with, and the income it provides.

"I see myself doing this for life, and I hope people can give us a chance," said Ms Chong.

SoS

End practice of charging full interest

MasBoleh! — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 22:27:38 +0800

Malaysia passes bill to end practice of charging full interest on early hire purchase loan settlements

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8): The Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday approved the Hire Purchase (Amendment) Bill 2025, which abolishes the use of the flat rate and the Rule of 78 for fixed-rate hire-purchase loans.

The Rule of 78 calculates a loan’s total interest based on the original principal amount, which means borrowers do not enjoy any interest savings even if they settle their loans earlier than scheduled.
Under the amendment bill, the effective interest rate (EIR) and reducing balance method will replace the Rule of 78 to ensure greater transparency in loan calculations.

The EIR represents the actual financing cost of a hire-purchase agreement. For fixed-term agreements, it reflects the true cost of financing, while for variable-term agreements, it is calculated using a reference rate as a benchmark.
The bill also revises the ceiling for EIRs on fixed-rate hire-purchase loans and requires lenders to disclose the EIR to consumers during marketing and before signing any agreement.

Under the revised structure, fixed-rate loans with a tenure of up to five years will be capped at 17% per annum, while those exceeding five years will be capped at 16% per annum. The rate for variable loans remains unchanged at 17% per annum.

A hire-purchase agreement is a contract between an asset owner, typically a bank, and a hirer who intends to purchase goods. Payments are made in instalments, and ownership is transferred to the hirer only after all instalments are fully settled.

Currently, the Hire Purchase Act 1967 (Act 212) covers all consumer goods purchased for personal, family or household use, including motor vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, taxis, hire cars, buses, and light goods vehicles with a maximum permitted load not exceeding 2,540kg.

Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the proposed changes aim to make the act more comprehensive, relevant and aligned with the evolving financial landscape, while enhancing transparency and consumer protection.

He added that the amendment also complements the Consumer Credit Act 2025, which was passed by both the upper and lower houses earlier this year.

“The proposed amendments do not stand alone but are part of the government’s broader reform strategy to improve Malaysia’s consumer credit ecosystem and services,” Armizan said when tabling the bill for second reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

“The main goal is to create a fairer and more transparent consumer credit environment, thereby strengthening protection for all credit users in the country.”
In addition to removing the flat rate and the Rule of 78, the bill also proposes allowing the use of digital technology in hire-purchase agreements and updating references to the base lending rate to align with Bank Negara Malaysia’s updated Reference Rate Framework.

Hire-purchase providers will be given a grace period of 18 months from the date of gazette notification to upgrade their systems before offering financing under the new reducing balance method.

The bill was passed by voice vote, after 20 members of Parliament took part in the debate.

MPs urge for shorter grace period

While most lawmakers voiced support for the amendment bill, several urged the ministry to shorten the 18-month transition period and expedite its implementation.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong proposed that the grace period be reduced to between six and 12 months, arguing that financial institutions already have established computer systems for housing loans that use the reducing balance method.

“This is a simple technical adjustment. There’s no need to take 18 months — shortening the period would allow existing borrowers to benefit from the amendments sooner,” he said.
Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, meanwhile, asked whether financial institutions would still be allowed to apply the Rule of 78 during the transition period. He also sought clarification on how consumers would be informed about the calculation method used in the financing products offered to them during that time.

In response, Armizan said the 18-month grace period was agreed upon after engagement sessions with stakeholders.
“We take note of the suggestions and will give them due consideration. Discussions will be held with stakeholders, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Ministry of Finance to explore the possibility of bringing forward the rollout date,” he said.

sauce

Questions about Cooker Hood, Gas Hob and

MasBoleh! — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 20:00:01 +0800

Hi, i would like to know what is the benefit of expensive gas hob compared to entry level?

I am thinking if one of the burner spoiled due to clogged or anything, can we just repair it? or we have to change the whole gas hob?

If cant repair and have to change, then isn't it better to buy entry level gas hob?

Gas hob itself is the size standard? because let's say I needed to change, then i need to buy a same size one for my cabinet.

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Secondly, Livinox's LCH-COPPERDC-GM @ RM 2099, is it a good buy? The salesman told me it is quieter motor, but i saw the clip holding onto the side glass is made of plastic, so that got me worry.

I am also looking at Oven, which is Livinox LBO-LINOX 6F-75SS @ RM 1499, is this recommended? I am looking for a simple built-in oven that has timer, and can bake cake, make cookies, grill chicken/steak/beef and hopefully easy to clean. Prefer mechanical as I prioritized the durability too. Is this a good oven?

Speaking of grilling steak, chicken, beef etc, I notice some got rotisserie feature which means only top grilling instead of top and bottom grilling. So which one is better? Top grilling only sufficient?

I try to stick gas hob, cooker hoods and built-in oven under RM 3.3k budget.

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I am also confused with all these gas hobs base material, got stainless steel, got tempered glass, got schott glass (is this a gimmick?) , got stone somemore.

Which one is good one? They said stainless steel will be hot after cook, temper glass won't be hot but prone to pecah. Meaning stone is the only choice right?

Royal Selangor history and introduction

MasBoleh! — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 19:20:51 +0800

[YOUTUBE]afOU-RhHuBY[/YOUTUBE]

I always thought Royal Selangor belongs to the royal family, mana tahu it is a family business owned by the Yong family.

The famous diamond brand for

MasBoleh! — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 13:50:52 +0800

I just recalled long time ago, we have a very famous water filter brand called Diamond. Almost all households in Malaysia has it. Now I never see that brand anymore and I google searched and found nothing. What happened to them?

Because I see so many other brands flourishing like coway, cuckoo, LG and SK Magic

Good Job Malaysia, kicking SG out from the top 10

MasBoleh! — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:13:40 +0800

Good job Malaysia! Within 10 years, we managed to kick SG out from the list and now we are top 4 country in the world that has the most skyscrapers.

Return to Ukraine's 2014 borders 'unrealistic’

MasBoleh! — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 07:43:32 +0800

[YOUTUBE]H7XRdLPI4dw[/YOUTUBE]

Police: Viral clip of pythons released in

MasBoleh! — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:48:32 +0800

[YOUTUBE]590q5l-l31Q[/YOUTUBE]

SUBANG JAYA: Police today confirmed that the case involving a viral clip showing two men and a woman releasing three pythons into a drain in Putra Heights actually took place in the middle of last month.

Subang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat said a report was lodged on the viral clip at the Putra Heights police station at 10.15am on Feb 3.

In the report, Wan Azlan said the complainant said the clip was shared in WhatsApp messaging application.

The clip showed two men and a woman releasing three pythons into a drain in Jalan Persiaran Putra Permai, Putra Heights.

"According to investigations by the Putra Heights police station chief, the incident occured in the middle of last month.

"The case has been referred to the Wildlife and National Parks Department for further action," he said in a statement.

sos

MKBHD no give face to Samsung on

MasBoleh! — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:30:43 +0800

[YOUTUBE]a4NJNdHqs_I[/YOUTUBE]

BMW Launches i4 eDrive35 M Sport In Malaysia

MasBoleh! — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 16:19:16 +0800

BMW Malaysia officially launched its new M Sport lineup for 2025 earlier today. Within that list is the i4 eDrive35 M Sport.

The BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport is the automotive brand’s latest EV, sporting many of the brand’s iconic features. And yes, that includes the kidney grille design. Ultimately, it’s a four-door coupe that, as its name suggests, has been given the M Sport treatment.

Specs-wise, the BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport features a powertrain and electric motor capable of delivering an output of 210kW or 286HP, 400Nm of torque, which translates to a 0-100km/h acceleration of six seconds. A full charge gives the EV a range of up to 500km.

BMW says the i4 eDrive35 M Sport can be charged at fast-charging stations via direct current (DC) at a rate of 180kW or to put that in another way, 80% capacity in just 32 minutes. For a quick 10-minute charge, you get between 144 and 182km of travel. Alternatively, the EV can also be charged via AC and supports up to 11kW, but charging the vehicle in this mode will take approximately seven hours.

The BMW i4 eDrive35 M Sport starts from RM294,800 but if you opt in for the brand’s Service Inclusive package, that’ll set you back RM315,600.

The EV will also be available in two new colour options, Cape York Green and Fire Red, along with currently existing colours Alpine White, Mineral White, Black Sapphire, M Portimao Blue, and M Brooklyn Grey.

LYN