Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Skidd Chung

MyKasih for Petrol? End of Subsidies soon?

Skidd Chung — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 08:47:26 +0800

As we all know, MyKasih used to be for 'poor' families or non-working family units. A form of UBI (universal basic income) or assisted living income.

The system based on IC, for selected groceries has been running and has been more or less successful.

The recent expansion to every >18 citizen getting RM100 is probably a test to see if the system can be expanded to a larger set of citizens.

Edit: Not only the expansion to all citizens >18 but also the expansions of vendors that accept MyKasih.

No doubt the recent expansion has caused a lot of problems were system being down or lag, has cause inconvenience and will probably need to be sorted out.

The big data from all these transactions and data set from each citizen can be used as data points, to program a system for targeted subsidies.

I won't be surprised when IC will be used for targeted petrol subsidies soon.

Where you need to swipe or tap IC to pay for petrol, just like what MyKasih is being used for. RM50/month for petrol seems like a good starting point.

Edit: Petrol stations already act like a supermarket, should be no problems implementing MyKasih in petrol stations.

As to why would government want to do this? Targeted subsidies.

By removing broad subsidy for RON95, foreigners will not benefit from subsidy. Lessen losses of government money by theft near borders. Since we directly buy petrol with cash in our IC, and it is limited per IC. This means fuel prices can rise and fall with market, and will allow governments to have a fixed costs to subsidies.

Petrol guzzlers with or inefficient vehicles or large luxury vehicles that use a lot of fuel will not be fully subsidized. Once their IC amount runs out, they pay for the rest.

Poorer families either use public transport, motorcycles or small cars. The amount in their IC should be sufficient to lessen their burden, if they use less, then it can still be used for groceries etc.

Problems include higher costs for transporting companies or individuals who are drivers or delivery business.

Will higher delivery charges offset the costs of operating?

Problems brought up in this thread:
1: Rural people or areas petrol stations has no internet connection for machines to use MyKasih etc. - Can be solved with 4G/5G phone connection. As currently, rural people with IC should be able to use their current IC balance to purchase groceries. Petrol can also be sold as an item in a bottle, not necessarily from a petrol station.

2: Long queue like in supermarkets. - Shouldn't be a problem as supermarkets need to scan individual items and see if it is eligible. Petrol kiosk don't need to scan any items.

3: People will buy petrol and sell it at road side. - Amount in IC is limited, since it only covers subsidy reduction. So amount being sold also limited and non-consequential, there is no wastage as it is already budgeted.

4: System offline, need to pay cash at market price. - A direct subsidy is to mitigate costs increases, as broad subsidy is reduced, government isn't giving you FREE PETROL for a month. Instead they can give you RM10/month if RON95 price increases 10 sens based on data etc. The direct subsidy will offset your monthly costs on fuel. So you are always going to pay market price, but your monthly cost stay more or less same as you get direct subsidy to offset it.

GOOD TIME TO BUY USD?

Skidd Chung — Tue, 06 May 2025 19:38:39 +0800

Well today I check my FSM account, seems like good time to change to USD parking account and earn 3.75% interest.

Pretty good video about supply chain

Skidd Chung — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 22:22:55 +0800

[YOUTUBE]uDGkkqllQa8?si=5M5-7BsSezyP6fAz[/YOUTUBE]

TNB bill from RM600+ to RM400+

Skidd Chung — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:46:16 +0800

Plagued by high TNB bills every month, I considered installing solar to offset the high usage of electricity. RM600+ month sometimes touch RM700 during holidays when more people at home longer.

But maybe due to luck or research and budget concerns, decided to changed my older electrical appliances for more modern ones which has better energy efficiency (5 star).

Changed 2 aircon (from 8 year old 1HP to 5-star rated 1.5HP) and 2 ceiling fans (8 year old 4 blade to newer 5-star rated 4 blade) which are in frequent use.

The monthly bill reduction is obvious even when usage duration remain the same. And don't forget I am using higher capacity aircons.

Maybe the older aircons are already struggling to maintain temps in the room and the newer ones are still new.

But the monthly savings are a reality for now. I just wonder how long before consumption creeps up again.

So my advice is, if you are still using older model aircons and is struggling to maintain temps in your rooms, consider changing to newer models with more energy efficiency. Even daily use ceiling fans especially living rooms where it is in constant use, can make a difference.

Argentina's New Presidente

Skidd Chung — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 10:22:27 +0800

[YOUTUBE]Z37JQNrthbQ?[/YOUTUBE]

[twt]https://twitter.com/i/status/1726401416183316498[/twt]

Wagner Group Recruiting Prisoners video.

Skidd Chung — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:00:08 +0800

As most of us who read about Russia-Ukraine war, we have read about Russian private military contractor Wagner Group, have used Russian prisoners as front line troops.

Used as expendable infantry for suicide charge, contact patrol and storming trenches.

What is the motivation of the prisoners to join such groups?

This video will shed some light on the matter.

[YOUTUBE]aa6VuUd31qA[/YOUTUBE]

As you can see from the video date, this is not a new video. And Wagner has never denied recruiting prisoners for their ranks. But they denied forcing them into it, all recruits are voluntary, it's just that you can't leave unless you are either injured, dead or complete your tour of duty.

Israel tengah kecoh

Skidd Chung — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 07:01:48 +0800

[twt]https://twitter.com/GraduatedBen/status/1640108719555121152[/twt]

Let's watch: Three Body Problem

Skidd Chung — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:46:01 +0800

Was looking forward to watch this Chinese sci-fi series. Full 30 episodes available on YouTube for free, with English subtitles of course.

[YOUTUBE]YrLompD6e_k[/YOUTUBE]

North Korean Cruise Missile test

Skidd Chung — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 11:04:46 +0800

Unique video with close up shot of cruise missile flying around.

[twt]https://twitter.com/Global_Mil_Info/status/1639087557949419525?cxt=HHwWisCz9ePcmr8tAAAA[/twt]

Russia will use Yuan for International trade

Skidd Chung — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:04:38 +0800

According to Putin, 2/3 of Russia's trade with China is already in Ruble & Yuan.

Using Yuan for international trade, means they can sell weapons, oil, minerals, fertilizer or grain and accept Yuan from other countries. Since they have no use for USD.

Russia can basically buy anything from China using Yuan and willing to accept and pay in Yuan for trade with other countries.

Same for any other countries. Since China is a large trading partner with majority of countries in the world, all countries can use Yuan to buy stuff from China as well as Russia now.

Basically China is building a new trading currency since the whole world trades with them.

Time will tell if BRICS will soon use YUAN as a trading currency.

Edit: Also XI looks tired at the end of the video. inb4 Xi got stroke.

[twt]https://twitter.com/Kanthan2030/status/1638205973868482561[/twt]

Credit Suisse got BUYOUT

Skidd Chung — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 08:15:57 +0800

[YOUTUBE]r1VZ5oPmPd8[/YOUTUBE]

Imagine have to go so much length to assure people it isn't a bailout.

Expected >50% drop possibly on market opening for Credit Sus on DJIA.

NEWS: YEMEN WAR HAS ENDED

Skidd Chung — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:25:47 +0800

Not sure how true this is. But if true, will be very good for the region.

[twt]https://twitter.com/Iranobserver01/status/1635336881637584896?cxt=HHwWgMDT4deO8bEtAAAA[/twt]

NEWS: Saudi Arabia and Iran to normalise ties.

Skidd Chung — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 21:14:08 +0800

Arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia agree to revive ties, reopen embassies in China-brokered deal

Regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies in each other’s countries following China-led negotiations in Beijin, both governments announced via their state media agencies.

“As a result of the talks, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies ...within two months,” Iran’s news agency IRNA reported Friday.

Saudi Arabia’s state Saudi Press Agency confirmed the announcement in its own statement.

The Saudi statement profusely thanked Beijing for its leadership in the talks.

“In response to the noble initiative of His Excellency President Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, of China’s support for developing good neighborly relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran... The delegations from the two countries held talks during the period 6-10 March 2023 in Beijing,” the SPA statement said.

It emphasized the Chinese leader’s role in hosting and sponsoring talks between the Saudi Kingdom and Iran, a process that Riyadh described as “proceeding from their shared desire to resolve the disagreements between them through dialogue and diplomacy, and in light of their brotherly ties.”

Iran and Saudi Arabia have long accused each other of destabilizing the region and regarded one another as grave security threats, often on opposite sides of regional conflicts such as those in Yemen, Lebanon and Syria.

Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016, after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran in response to Saudi authorities executing 47 dissidents, including a leading Shia cleric.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated shortly.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/10/arch-rivals...-embassies.html

[YOUTUBE]MPCxt22ePr8[/YOUTUBE]

Some unconfirmed details of the agreement. Source

In short, regional and domestic security and stability are vital for Riyadh to be able to implement its strategic goals. As such, confidential clauses were inserted into the Beijing Agreement to assure Iran and Saudi Arabia that their security imperatives would be met. Some of these details were provided to The Cradle, courtesy of a source involved in the negotiations:

1. Both Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake not to engage in any activity that destabilizes either state, at the security, military or media levels.

2. Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund media outlets that seek to destabilize Iran, such as Iran International.

3. Saudi Arabia pledges not to fund organizations designated as terrorists by Iran, such as the People’s Mojahedin Organization (MEK), Kurdish groups based in Iraq, or militants operating out of Pakistan.

4. Iran pledges to ensure that its allied organizations do not violate Saudi territory from inside Iraqi territory. During negotiations, there were discussions about the targeting of Aramco facilities in Saudi Arabia in September 2019, and Iran’s guarantee that an allied organization would not carry out a similar strike from Iraqi lands.

5. Saudi Arabia and Iran will seek to exert all possible efforts to resolve conflicts in the region, particularly the conflict in Yemen, in order to secure a political solution that secures lasting peace in that country.

Physics Girl disabled by long covid

Skidd Chung — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 13:42:40 +0800

[YOUTUBE]vydgkCCXbTA[/YOUTUBE]

USA gonna invade Mexico soon?

Skidd Chung — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:29:33 +0800

[twt]https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1633142112031064067?s=46&t=q1lflvDkbSVDayMmnZI_TQ[/twt]

Kenya close China Square mall for being too cheap

Skidd Chung — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 17:51:30 +0800

Imagine you sell something so cheap until all the small retailers run out of business. Same like how our supermarkets and hypermarkets forced all the small aunty/uncle shops to close.

https://sc.mp/yf1a?utm_source=copy_link&utm...ampaign=3211606

How often do you eat out? (Inc. tapau, Grab)

Skidd Chung — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:38:14 +0800

So with the rising cost of meals and the recent introduction of Menu Rahmah. Let's see how often most of us actually eat out compared to just eating self prepared or home cooked foods. Can be as simple as cereal, Maggi mee etc. As Iong as it is not a purchased meal or bento.

Which among you T20 still pump RON95?

Skidd Chung — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:11:42 +0800

Let's see our pumping habits

Ukrainian Women ads

Skidd Chung — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 10:24:36 +0800

1.

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Test Poll

Skidd Chung — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 22:33:29 +0800

I want to make poll. How to make a poll?

Will delete after testing.