Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by gundamsp01

what do you think of the English proficiency here?

gundamsp01 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 09:26:35 +0800

just a thought, i wouldn't say my English is surperb but recently i found that younger gen Malaysians have weaker command of English compared to 10-20 years ago?
Just based on my experience interviewing fresh grad from local U and daily life in KL/PJ.

Are these just isolated cases or you feel that way too?

traveling to beijing questions

gundamsp01 — Sun, 08 Sep 2024 09:21:28 +0800

planning to travel to beijing since it is visa free, just wondering what are the things to note?
I am still at the stage of planning now.

Other than hotels/attractions, few points for my current draft:
1) Planning to use touch n go app as the main cashless app, and bring maybe RMB2k as emergency cash. Can i reload my touch n go cash in China using duitnow?
2) Download baidu as my main nav app for transportation guide and locations. Any other app required?
3) Planning to rent a internet data device while at KLIA. Or is there better option?
2) Want to purchase the beijing transportation pass, any idea where to get? (try to search on klook but not available, and found somewhere that it is an app but cant find where to dl?)

Appreciate if anyone can share your experience.

my update:

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is it harder to get SG job nowadays?

gundamsp01 — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 09:57:42 +0800

been trying to seek for SG job opportunities for many years since 2020 but the rate of response practically equals to none.

Initially i thought it was my resume or capabilities issue, but after a while compared with what i experienced for local (MY) experience, it doesnt seem that way, i am getting a healthy amount of head hunters request for MNC positions locally, and they are willing to further discuss even though my ask for a 20-30% increase from my current salary, around rm 20k+ now.

Anyone can share how can i improve my chance to get SG job?

Question on financial planning and management 2024

gundamsp01 — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:46:02 +0800

A new year is coming, just would like to ask all sifus here regarding financial planning and management.

Currently, i have around 1 year of net income in FD/MMF@4% per annum if i ever lose my source of income which can last me around 1.5 years (based on my current lifestyle and commitments).
And i always maintain 8k-10k cash in bank account every month after all necessities deduction

In terms of loan commitments, i have a mortgage around 330k principle @ 4.45% and 80k hire purchase @ 2.25%

So, I am thinking, instead of continue to put extra money/saving (few K every month) in FD/MMF. i think to buy US ETF (S&P 500) for long term (<10 years) and some US stock like Apple etc. on monthly basis.

would that be a good choice? If there is any better suggestion, do discuss

Any way to improve comm skill with bosses?

gundamsp01 — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 11:10:12 +0800

Been doing projects with bosses level for few months now (bosses as in C-levels, regional HoDs etc.)
The entire working group only myself as the project manager, business analyst, executor etc, whatever shit that they can throw at me. All they do, just enter meeting when necessary (not even on a scheduled basis), argue with each other, then ask me to get more info.

I always find difficulties to voice out my thoughts as their discussion points are generally more complex, while i think it on a more direct manner.
(there are times that bosses decided to do it the complex way, example: get customers feedback, get them to sign the doc, etc, but in the end still go back to the initial thought that i had, i.e.: system enhancement and control, because there will always be some loose end that cant be resolved, like customers always have right to reject, there will always be a problem there.)

You may say, why you dont voice your opinion then? I did, the same thing being said by another C-level at a later stage of the execution, but the bosses didn't listen to me the first time, but listen to the C-level at later discussion when they see the problem that i already foreseen at the start of the initiative.

And there are times that they only gave vague instruction, and ask me to iron out the details when there is no business rep. who i can work with (as i said, they are not going to work out the details with me). First and foremost i am a project manager, I feel like i already doing more for what a project manager should do, it is a helpless situation that i can't provide details when there is no business rep. who can provide details based on their SME areas, and i can't engage bosses to do the ground level draft of the proposal.

Numerous time with them flip floping on the previous decision/minutes i already wrote and distribute when they have already agreed with the minutes first released. Then after a while, they said that i understand it wrongly and don't understand their business, especially the boss who i report to, one of the C-level.

I did counter with my view with my boss who i report to, but he gets defensive and said "you seem like can't catch what we said" "i am worry about your understanding of the situation" "you listen to me", so in the end, i just switch off my mind, and say "you just tell me what i need to write in the proposal then" or "I just write what i know, then you amend it"

It is frustrating, helpless, and very demotivating. I always believe that i am the problem for being not able to catch what they were discussing, too slow, and don't have the higher level of comm skill to manage these level of stakeholders.

So, is there anyway to improve my comm skill with higher management? or if there is any courses which i can join?

relationship problem due to concert

gundamsp01 — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 08:00:27 +0800

been seeing someone recently, and going ok-ish, at least i think i did what i can do.
She is a avid fan of taylor swift. Initally, i found out earlier this year, TS is coming to SG, i asked her if she wants to go. But she said she is going with her family. Then, i sort of forgot about this.

However recently she got (very) angry with me, she said that i stopped caring about her, all the reasons revolve around TS tickets:
- Why i never thought of creating an account to increase the chance of her getting the ticket even though i react to her post on social media
- Why i never care about if she got the ticket or not

because of that, she says i stopped caring about her.

in my defense, i really didn't thought of creating an account since she didn't ask and she and her family created their accounts, and i forgot about ticket purchase day was on 5-7 July (because i didn't follow the news on this)
She said all these are lame excuse (maybe it is? i dont know)

I don't know how to comfort her, just feel like this relationship is a maze with traps, if i step on 1, i will get instant death

note: both of us are mid 30s and financially capable.

Any thoughts?

noob question about refinance

gundamsp01 — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 09:31:05 +0800

Sorry for the noob question

I have a housing loan with CIMB with more than 300k, and they charging me 4.45%, which is higher than what i am paying since 2017

Since my income already quite different since 2017. Just wondering:
1) where to get the housing rate from each bank? Do i call/walk in to each bank to ask?
2) how to initiate the process? Do i initiate the process with the bank with the lowest interest rate without informing the bank that i have my loan with?
3) What are things to note? I know there could be a new lock-in period or something like that, but since i bought this for own stay, it is ok.

idea on how to remove broken bolt/nut/connector?

gundamsp01 — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:54:05 +0800

not quite sure what to refer this as, but anyway, accident happens and the bolt/connector/nut broke and stuck inside, any idea how to remove? or shop which provide such service with reasonable price?

note: i have asked hardware stores and car service shops, everyone just didn't give me a solution with a bad attitude (anyway...)

i dont have power tool at home unfortunately

did you go for holiday this year end?

gundamsp01 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:31:16 +0800

i went to taiwan for a week recently.
it was a pleasant trip, local food is ok but nothing to shout about, price is relatively cheap, and sometimes even cheaper than malaysia. Japanese food are as usual, delicious!

people are generally nice (even more polite and humble compared to other countries i went, i.e. SG, HK, JP, PRC), though it is an aging community. And strangely, found lots of stalls and restaurants, bus drivers, mrt/lrt are being manned by young chaps (around 20+ to 30 yo from their look)

People willing to hold the elevator for others with luggage and old people, teach u which bus to take, generally the nicest people around of all the places i went (though not many, and not long stay)

had a culture shock when i landed back here, the service attitude here just let me feels like i owed them money

lastly, taimei definitely nice to look at, 8 of 10 are lenglui with short skirts

in short, my travel experience so far: TW > JP > HK > PRC

did u go anywhere for this year end? do bincangkan.

Question on travel to Taiwan now

gundamsp01 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 16:44:35 +0800

Want to plan a short trip (4 days) to Taiwan in this month.
Went to read their covid policy and got the following clause in this site:
https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/Detail/n...fWvg?typeid=158

just wondering, i need to home quarantine for 2 days and complete the self test and report to the authorities by phone before i can go out? and self monitor for 7 days? Dont think the 7 days is applicable since i am on a 4 days trip.

Sorry for the stupid question, but i just want to confirm

which working environment u prefer?

gundamsp01 — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:38:56 +0800

if u are give a choice which environment u prefer to work in?
both companies size are considered large, with large market share of customers

company A
positive reputation in the market
very good pay and attractive bonus
negative atmosphere working environment with toxic boss
lots of ugly culture and practices hidden behind closed doors

company B
negative reputation in the market
good pay and average bonus
cheerful working environment with a boss that let u do it your way
still have some ugly ways and practices behind closed doors

inb4, go to the one with many tight mini skirt amoi, oh wait...

bincangkan (100 marks)

mbb cdm issue

gundamsp01 — Sun, 24 Jul 2022 08:35:27 +0800

face this issue for the first time in my life, want to ask if anyone faced this situation before, please share ur experience

i made a deposit to my own acc at one of the maybank branch's cdm around 10pm yesterday, put in my card, select my own account, and then put in the money as usual.

When i confirmed the amt is correct, i press "yes" then suddenly my card got ejected and said can't process (wtf?)

no slip printed at all and the notes didn't get rejected, funny thing is the machine is still operating, the person behind me just do his deposit as usual

i made a call to mbb call center immediately, state the machine id, time of deposit, the amount, to which acc etc.

hopefully this can be resolved without issue as i don't have any proof with me (as i said, no slip printed)

do your parents pass their dream onto you?

gundamsp01 — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 11:21:42 +0800

Already in mid-30s but still can't fulfill my parents dream to buy them a benz (new / 2nd hand) due to affordability. And my parents reaching 70 soon...
Everytime my parents subtlely bring up others' children earning big money in foreign currency, bring their parents to luxurious trip, buy house/car for their parents, then will turn to me and ask me will i do the same.

I answered "yes, of course", they replied: "no need to force yourself, you can always burn the paper-made benz to us when we die"

Deepdown i feel with my M40 income, it is really hard, and feeling such a failure charsiew, though i am trying my best to get overseas opportunity, just things don't materialized.
I am sorry to my parents for not able to fulfill your dreams and wishes

How about you? bincangkan.

stereotyping time! Are all Indian IT like this?

gundamsp01 — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 14:13:37 +0800

PM vs Indian from India IT boss

- PM gave effort and and timeline based on current developers and team capability and capacity
- IT boss said: "no, takes too long, needs to cut it short, from original 12 months cut down to 6 months with same scope"
- PM justified by saying current team capacity is unable to deliver based on this timeline, i will raise a risk for this
- IT boss said: "No, you as PM needs to push the team! no matter OT or weekends, we focus on delivery!"
- PM replied: "requirement is not even finalized/signed off yet for sprint 1 to start, how to do sprint planning?"
- IT boss said: "We don't work rigidly behind process, as long as we get verbal confirmation from business, we start work on those, do i need to teach you?"
- PM replied: "No, sign off is to protect all parties from disagreement down the road, if we start without official signoff, it will be a risk to the project should the work we done does not comply with biz's final request!"
- IT boss said: "look here, we are practicing agile, so think in an agile way, get this done with business by today, and send me a detailed task report for mon - fri of each and every members of your team for this week and next week, i need it ok?"
- PM said: "ok" and submitted his resignation letter later

Are all India's indians who involved in IT are the same? I feel they are the same so far. Yes man in front of boss, torture the team from behind.

will you take a career break if you have saving?

gundamsp01 — Sun, 22 May 2022 09:11:02 +0800

When you experience a career burnout and mental torture at work with your boss's micro-manage and autocratic style of management, will you take a career break by resigning without a job if you have 1.5 years worth of expenses saved in cash / investment (though selling at a loss now)?

An autocratic superior (opinion needed)

gundamsp01 — Fri, 20 May 2022 22:05:24 +0800

This may sound like a fresh grad ranting post, but it is not, i never knew it would happen to me.

I left my previous company due to change in management style which didn't jive with my way of working, even though i had been a long time employee here (close to 5 years), with a certain positive reputation and a trainer.
I thought a change of environment would be good and join a decently reviewed company that was awarded as one of the best employer award.

Never knew it was the begining of the worst time in my career yet, after joining around half a month, i noticed the negative, gloomy working atmosphere of my dept, with an autocratic head. What he did?
1) he micromanages things going round in the dept, I as project manager, requested to write report every single day of what each and every developer and business analyst did in a day, and want me to prep the list of tasks of each and every day for the coming week.
2) he doesn't care about consulting other teams availability or capacity on delivering project, he get the initial requirement, he squeeze everything as he sees fit, then ask me to get agreement from technical teams without any room for them to object.
3) technical resources are squeezed tight, with most of them handling multiple projects and production issue, yet, this boss still wants projects to be delivered as per his plan, and asked the dev team to comply with the timeline even if they are going to burn the midnight oil or work on weekend.
4) we are not allowed to take leave or MC, else will get questioned.
5) we are not allowed to work from home eventhough the company practice hybrid model, and he always work from home.
5) I as project manager not able to voice out the concern of the team as he dictates everything and keep telling me to push, and says this is normal everywhere.
6) Even if i wrote down the updates of next actions with person-in-charge and the deadline, he will always find fault with my update (which in fact, all my ex employers finds my update very comprehensive everytime)

seriously...within just 2 weeks...I am having mental stress, with over 8 years experience as project manager, never once my project is not able to be delivered, and now, I am reporting to someone who doesn't have the same working culture as I am (as I am more about understanding, discussion, alignment, empathy and humane). Within this short period of time, I just feel like I can't continue to work with him anymore.
I tried to talked to the upper management, but they agree to his way of working.

In my 10+ years of career, I been with every company no less than 3 years, and this is the first time, i regretted my decision to resign from my previous company and join here, and want to resign immediately.
Maybe from the scenario above, you will see that most of it are on developer, but as someone who is managing the team, I am getting lots of pressure from this dept head.

Seriously, I am in dillemma...Just wondering if you all have any advice for me, in this case...as I am having a very serious mental stress.

How you negotiate for best offer when purchasing?

gundamsp01 — Sun, 08 May 2022 14:52:24 +0800

Recently went to buy some furnitures for my own house, bringing my parents together for viewing and comment. However, wasn't pleasant for me, even though i am the one who is paying and already expecting the quality i am getting with online research/reviews.
Since i am good with the actual unit of the furniture, i go with "Get the package info and offer/promotion given, negotiate in a casual manner, would be glad if can get better offer, else the existing one will do as well. "
But my parents are the types that push, degrade, compare, and act like the SME of the business to further pressure the seller to reduce the price.

I felt really stress and annoyed by their action, i just asked the seller to close the deal as I already know the offer from online research and others' experience with this shop. My parents just felt that i am stupid and weak and should had nego for more discount, or else, just walk away, as what they always say "if they want business, they would accomodate to what we want, why need to be afraid to voice out your price that you willing to pay?".

But anyway, what type of person you are when you buying expensive goods (example: car/house/furniture etc)?

Please rate this boss toxicity

gundamsp01 — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 22:13:07 +0800

What if due to performance issue, your boss scolded and lectured you, and in the midst of it, put in things like the following:

"When i was your age, I have achieve more than what you have today!"
"If your father is as useless, you would consider to change your father as well right?"
"If a customer put 1 million for your asset management, you do not advise him, you must do your best to get him to invest all 1 million regardless of the end result whether the customer loses or gains!"

What are the ways to secure a job overseas?

gundamsp01 — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 12:50:07 +0800

life just hit you whether is it the mental health or relationship problem.
So just would like to start a new life overseas for peace of mind.

Just wondering what are the channels available to secure a job overseas, say, SG/UK/Canada etc.?
i tried applying to alot of jobs on linkedIn, indeed, efinance, monster etc.

Yet fail (either no response or can't apply due to no working visa/permit)

So just wondering if there is any other recommendation? Do i need to go to embassy or some sort to get some documentation done first?
appreciate advice.

Difference between consultant and project manager?

gundamsp01 — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 09:55:00 +0800

Just curious what is the difference between a consultant and a project manager?
I think people have wrong expectation of a project manager (PM), as my experience as a project manager was questioned as I do not initiate/recommend an initiative or change to an initiative, or I don't question the reasoning of an initiative
So far, as pm, i manage people expectation, timeline, budget, scope. I don't really question the decision made by the business owner (as in my working environment, the whole team is tasked as a delivery lead).
Normally I am assigned to a project, understand the things to be delivered, then as long as scope, timeline, budget, expectation are managed accordingly, I do not question business reasoning/direction for the initiative (in fact, I don't even have authority to question, normally I only provide mitigation suggestion to business for any arising risk, that's it)

If my understanding is wrong, hope you all with experience can correct it.