EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 1
Public Bank
Offices Address
Public Bank Taman
Melaka Raya
566, 567 & 568,
Jalan Merdeka,
Taman Melaka Raya,
75000 Melaka
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.
Public Bank Kota
Kinabalu
Lot G,1 & 1.1,
Menara MAA,
6 Lorong Api-Api 1,
Api-Api Centre,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Seremban
44-46, Jln Dato Lee Fong Yee,
70000 Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Pulau
Pinang
87, Lebuh Bishop,
10200 Pulau Pinang
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 2

Public Bank Prai
2684 & 2685,
Jln Chain Ferry,
Tmn Inderawasih,
13600 Prai, Pulau Pinang
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Kuantan
79-85, Jln Haji Abdul Aziz,
25000 Kuantan, Pahang
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Ipoh
133, 133A-D,
Jln Dato Lau Pak Khuan,
Ipoh Garden, 31400 Ipoh
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Alor Setar
1557, Jln Kota,
05000 Alor Setar,
Kedah
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Johor
Bahru
G1 & G2, Wisma Daiman,
64 Jln Sulam, Tmn Sentosa,
80150 Johor Bahru, Johor
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 3

Public Bank Taman
Tun Dr Ismail
66, 68 & 70,
Jln Burhanuddin Helmi,
Tmn Tun Dr Ismail,
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Klang
69 & 71, Jln Batu Nilam 1,
Bdr Bukit Tinggi,
41200 Klang, Selangor
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Cheras
1,3 & 5, Jln 4/96A,
Tmn Cheras Makmur,
56100 Kuala Lumpur.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Bangsar
36 & 38,
Jln Maarof, Bangsar,
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.

Public Bank Jalan
Ampang
Ground Floor,
Menara Public Bank,
146 Jln Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Sundays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm
Closed on second Saturday of every month.
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 4

CitiBank
Offices Address
Citibank Jalan
Ampang
Menara Citibank,
165, Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm

Citibank Puchong
26, Jalan Puteri 1/1,
Bandar Puteri,
47100 Puchong,
Selangor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

Citibank Klang
G101, Centro,
8, Jalan Batu Tiga Lama,
Kampong Bukit Kuda,
41300 Klang,
Selangor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm

Citibank Penang
42, Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah,
10050 Penang.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
Citibank Johor
City Plaza,
21 Jalan Tebrau,
80300 Johor Bahru.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 8.00 am – 8.00 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 5

CIMB
Offices Address
CIMB Bank Jalan
Sagunting
1st & 2nd Floor Central Building,
Jalan Sagunting,
88000 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan
Satok/Kulas
Lot 1.1,
Bangunan Satok,
Jalan Satok/Kulas,
93400 Kuching,
Sarawak.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan
Segget
Bangunan Umno,
51, Jalan Segget,
80000 Johor Bharu,
Johor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan
Mahsuri
32, Jalan Mahsuri,
Bandar Bayan Baru,
11950 Pulau Pinang.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 6

CIMB Bank Jalan
Tunku Ibrahim
1583, Bangunan Umno,
Jalan Tunku Ibrahim,
05000 Alor Setar,
Kedah.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan
Bank
Bangunan BCB,
Lot 32, Jalan Bank,
25000 Kuantan,
Pahang.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan Tun
Perak
6 Jalan Tun Perak
50050 Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Wisma
Consplant Subang
Jaya
West Wing Wisma Consplant
7 Jalan SS 16/1,
Subang Jaya,
47500 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 7

CIMB Bank Jalan
Dato Hamzah
Ground & 1st Floor Wisma Southern,
No 26 – 34 Jalan Dato Hamzah,
41000 Klang,
Selangor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

CIMB Bank Jalan
Dato Bandar Tunggal
Seremban
1A Wisma Dewan Perniagaan Melayu N.Sembilan,
Jalan Dato’ Bandar Tunggal,
70000 Seremban,
Negeri Sembilan.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thursdays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.45 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.15 am – 4.15 pm

National Heart Institute
Offices Address
National Heart
Institute
145, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia.
Kiosk Operation Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 8.15 am – 5.15 pm
Days: Saturdays
Time: 8.15 am – 2.00 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 8

RHB Islamic
Offices Address
RHB Islamic Batu
Pahat
Ground Floor, No.1 & 2
Jalan Flora Utama 1
Taman Flora Utama
83000 Batu Pahat
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm

RHB Islamic Bank
Jalan Pinang,
UOA Centre,
Jalan Pinang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 7.30 am – 9.00 pm

RHB
Offices Address
RHB Bank New Town,
PJ
1, 3 & 5, Jalan 52/18,
New Town Centre,
46200 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank KLCC
Lot G-34,
Ground Level Petronas Twin Towers,
Kuala Lumpur City Centre,
50088 Kuala Lumpur.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 10.00 am – 6.00 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 9

RHB Bank Kuala
Lumpur Main
Level 1, Tower Two RHB Centre,
426, Jalan Tun Razak,
50400 Kuala Lumpur.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Jalan Telok
Sisek
45, Jalan Telok Sisek,
25000 Kuantan,
Pahang.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Lebuh
Pantai
44, Lebuh Pantai,
Georgetown,
10300 Pulau Pinang.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Johor
Bahru City Square
Lot J1-22 & J2-31 Level 2,
Johor Bahru City Square,
106 & 108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook,
80000, Johor Bahru.
Johor.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Jalan Hang
Tuah
477 Plaza Melaka,
Jalan Hang Tuah,
75300 Melaka.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Jalan Gaya
81/83, Jalan Gaya,
88000 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 10

RHB Bank Jalan
Padungan
256, Jalan Padungan,
93100 Kuching,
Sarawak.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

RHB Bank Jalan Tun
Sambanthan
Lot 2, 4, 6 & 8,
Jalan Tun Sambanthan,
30000 Ipoh,
Perak.
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Fridays
Time: 9.30 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank
Offices Address
AmBank Ipoh – Jalan
Yang Kalsom
42-44 Jalan Yang Kalsom,
30250, Ipoh
Perak Darul Ridzuan
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

AmBank Kota Bharu
Tingkat Bawah dan Satu, Lot 343
Seksyen 13, Jalan Sultan Ibrahim
15000, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Sundays – Wednesdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Thursday
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 12.30 pm
Close during first Friday of every month
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 11

AmBank Kuala
Lumpur – Jalan Pudu
AmBank (M) Berhad
Ground Floor Wisma AmBank
113 Jalan Pudu,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank Petaling Jaya
- Jalan SS2/61
AmBank (M) Berhad
No 30, 32 & 34 Jalan SS2/61
47300 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank Melaka -
Jalan Munshi Abdullah
AmBank (M) Berhad
No. 154 & 156
Kompleks Munshi Abdullah
Jalan Munshi Abdullah
75100 Melaka
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank Kota
Kinabalu – Jalan
Sagunting
AmBank (M) Berhad
G1-G3, Bangunan Uni-Asia
No. 1, Jalan Sagunting
88816, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 8.45 am – 4.15 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 8.45 am – 3.45 pm
EPF Smart Kiosk
Updated: 6/1/09 12

AmBank Kuching -
Jalan Haji Taha
AmBank (M) Berhad
Lot 257, Seksyen 8, Jalan Haji Taha
93400, Kuching, Sarawak
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 8.45 am – 4.15 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 8.45 am – 3.45 pm

AmBank Johor Bahru
- Metropolis Tower
AmBank (M) Berhad
Ground & Mezzanine Floor
Metropolis Tower, Jalan Abdullah Tahir
80300 Johor Bahru
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank Penang -
MBF Tower
AmBank (M) Berhad
No. 53, MBF Tower
Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah
10050, Penang
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

AmBank Kuala
Lumpur – Jalan Yap
Kwan Seng
AmBank (M) Berhad
Level 1, Menara AmBank
No. 8, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng
50450, Kuala Lumpur
Kiosk Operating Hours
Days: Mondays – Thurdays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.30 pm
Days: Fridays
Time: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm

KUMPULAN Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) mencatat peningkatan ketara dalam Pengeluaran Pelaburan Ahli pada suku ketiga 2008 berikutan bertambahnya bilangan ahli yang layak untuk pengeluaran itu.

Pada suku ketiga 2008, sebanyak 107,564 permohonan diluluskan untuk pengeluaran berkenaan, meningkat 42.9 peratus berbanding 75,239 permohonan pada tempoh sama tahun lalu.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KWSP, Datuk Azlan Zainol, berkata menerusi pelaksanaan Simpanan Asas di bawah inisiatif strategik Bukan Hanya Simpanan, kini lebih ramai ahli terutama yang masih muda layak memohon Pengeluaran Pelaburan Ahli.

“Simpanan Asas dilaksanakan pada Februari 2008 dengan sejumlah simpanan dalam Akaun 1 ditetapkan mengikut peringkat umur bagi membolehkan ahli memperoleh simpanan minimum sekurang-kurangnya RM120, 000 apabila mencapai umur 55 tahun. — Bernama

KWSP: Pengurangan 3% secara automatik mulai Januari 2009

Pengurangan caruman bulanan pekerja dalam Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) daripada 11 kepada lapan peratus akan dilaksanakan  mulai gaji Januari 2009 sehingga Disember 2010 (selama 2 tahun).

Ini merupakan berita paling baik untuk pencarum. Jadikan pengurangan 3% itu sebagai modal Pelaburan Bulanan anda. Sebagai Contoh, jika gaji anda sebanyak RM 6000.00 sebulan, 3 % itu bersamaan RM 180.00. Dengan ini anda jadikan RM 180.00 sebagai modal pelaburan anda setiap bulan sehingga Disember 2009. Tanpa anda sedari selama dua tahun anda telah berjaya melabur sebanyak RM 4320.00.

Diharapkan anda tidak mengambil kesempatan dengan membelanjakan pengurangan 3% ini tanpa memanfaatkan untuk masa depan anda. Ini kerana dengan 3% ini jika digunakan untuk membeli barangan seharian, apa yang dapat kerana harganya mahal ditambah pula inflasi semasa mencecah 8.5%. Sedangkan 3% ini sebenarnya duit persediaan untuk masa depan kita.

Sekian,

Kamaruzaman Omar

kbo2020@gmail.com

019-2828 264

Kegawatan Ekonomi, Peluang Terbaik Anda. Mengapa ?

1) Harga saham rendah. Kalau dulu 0.25 sen seunit, sekarang kurang mungkin 0.19 sen seunit sahaja.

2) Percayalah selepas ini ekonomi akan bertambah baik. Sudah tentu harga saham yang anda beli juga akan meningkat.

3) Unit Trust merupakan pakej pelaburan Jangka Sederhana dan Jangka Panjang iaitu 3-5 tahun. Tak timbul soal kegawatan kerana ia hanya berlaku sementara iaitu hanya 1-2 tahun. Bahkan Bahkan pelaburan Unit Trust tiada masa maksimum. Bergantung kepada tujuan pelabur sama ada untuk Pencen (Retirement planning) atau Pendidikan Anak (Education Planning)

4) Public Mutual sudah lebih 30 tahun di Malaysia. Sudah beberapa kali melalui pelbagai kemelut kewangan, tetapi masih mampu menangani isu seumpama itu dan memberikan pulangan baik kepada pelabur antaranya pada tahun 1987 dan 1997. Bahkan mereka yang melabur pada tahun tersebut mendapat keuntungan yang lumayan.

5) Dana yang dilaburkan di dalam Public Mutual diuruskan oleh Pengurus dana ” Fund Manager” yang profesional. Mereka tahu di mana tempat yang paling sesuai untuk dilaburkan. Sehingga kini belum ada lagi syarikat Unit Trust lain yang dapat menyainginya.

6) Kepada mereka yang telah melabur, jangan panik. Labur ikut kaedah ” Dollar Cost Averaging” ( Pemurataan Kos Dolar ). Pelaburan anda ini bukanlah pelaburan secara langsung Di Bursa Saham.

7) Apapun sebelum melabur, pastikan anda mendapat nasihat dari Perunding Unit Trust yang profesional dan bertanggungjawab.

Untuk Nasihat Percuma :

Kamaruzaman

019-2828 264

kbo2020@gmail.com

Simple Soalan & Jawapan Tentang Unit Trust

1) Macamana pelaburan anda diniagakan ?

-Pelaburan anda akan dicampurkan dengan pelaburan orang lain dan akan dilaburkan di tempat yang telah dikenalpasti oleh Fund Manager sebagai pelaburan yang menguntungkan.

2) Berapa lama harus anda laburkan dalam unit trust?

- Tidak dihadkan tempohnya. Tetapi oleh kerana pelaburan unit trust merupakan pelaburan jangka panjang, sekurang-kurangnya 3 hingga 4 tahun.

3) Adakah pelaburan unit trust halal di sisi agama Islam ?

- Ya halal. Ia diurus berdasarkan kehendak Syariah dengan Islamic Bankung and Finance Institute Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (IBFIM) sebagai penasihat kepada dana-dana islamic tersebut.

4) Bagaimana pula dengan pelaburan melalui KWSP ?

- Seseorang itu layak melabur melalui KWSP apabila jumlah simpanan dalam akaun 1 miliknya melebihi dari simpanan asas. Apapun sila rujuk Unit Trust Consultant yang berlesen untuk maklumat lanjut.

5) Kalau anda setuju untuk melabur, dana manakah yang patut anda pilih?

- Berkaitan dana sebenarnya anda akan diberi penjelasan lanjut oleh Unit Trust Consultant yang mempromosikan kepada anda. Pentingnya jika anda melabur, anggaplah pelaburan anda bermatlamat jangka panjang iaitu 3 tahun ke atas.

6) Bagaimana jika anda pernah melabur sebelum ini, tetapi selepas itu ejen yang bertanggungjawab terhadap akaun anda tak dapat dihubungi?

- Itulah masalah utama dalam pelaburan sekarang. Sebelum membuat pelaburan, sebaiknya selidikilah ejen tersebut, kalau boleh tanya dia boleh berurusan untuk jangka masa panjang ataupun tidak. Sekiranya ejen tersebut hilang, dapatkan ejen baru yang betul-betul serius dalam bidang ini.

7) Bilakah masa yang sesuai untuk membuat pelaburan?

- Dalam pelaburan unit trust bila-bila pun sesuai kerana ia bermatlamat jangka panjang. Sebaiknya melabur dengan kaedah Pemurataan Kos Dolar ( DCA).

Bagaimana anda boleh menghubungi saya ?

- Handphone : 019-2828 264

- e-mail : kbo2020@gmail.com

Kesan naikkan zakat fitrah

Menurut Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz baru-baru ini, ekonomi serantau akan terus menghadapi tekanan inflasi berpunca daripada harga komoditi dan tenaga yang tinggi.

Bagaimanapun, dengan harga minyak dunia menunjukkan trend menurun, iaitu dari AS$148 setong pada awal Julai lalu kepada AS$115 setong pada pertengahan Ogos ini, ia memberi kesempatan kepada kerajaan untuk menyemak semula dan menurunkan harga bahan api di pasaran tempatan.

Sesungguhnya langkah tersebut pasti dapat mengurangkan beban pengguna yang sedang berdepan dengan tekanan inflasi.

Walaupun akan berlaku penurunan harga bahan api bermula 1 September ini, harga barang dan perkhidmatan di pasaran tempatan akan kekal pada harga semasa. Peniaga tidak akan mudah menurunkan harga produk masing-masing kecuali bagi harga barang dan perkhidmatan yang dikawal oleh kerajaan. Peniaga selalunya bersikap tidak adil kepada pengguna.

Kadar inflasi pada akhir Jun mencecah hampir lapan peratus, paras tertinggi yang pernah dicatatkan sejak 1981. Ini menggambarkan kos sara hidup yang ditanggung oleh pengguna semakin tinggi. Bagi tempoh Januari hingga Mei 2008, kadar inflasi adalah hanya tiga peratus.

Kadar inflasi dalam negara diukur oleh Indeks Harga Pengguna (IHP).

Mengenai IHP, ada yang berpandangan kaedah penilaiannya tidak menggambarkan kos sebenar yang perlu dibayar oleh rakyat. Ini kerana kadar inflasi dalam negara adalah lebih rendah berbanding dengan negara ASEAN lain seperti di Indonesia, Thailand, Filipina, dan Vietnam. IHP yang rendah di negara ini berpunca daripada langkah kerajaan melaksanakan dasar kawalan harga terhadap barangan keperluan pengguna menerusi pemberian subsidi.

Kerajaan, bagaimanapun, akan sentiasa melakukan pembaikan terhadap kaedah penilaian IHP untuk memastikan gambaran inflasi sebenar. Sehubungan itu, petunjuk lain seperti bayaran zakat fitrah yang diumumkan oleh pihak berkuasa agama di peringkat negeri baru-baru ini boleh dijadikan sebagai kaedah penilaian untuk mencerminkan situasi inflasi sebenar dalam ekonomi tempatan.

Kadar fitrah ialah satu gantang Baghdad yang bersamaan 2.70 kilogram (kg) beras atau senilai dengannya. Ini bererti zakat fitrah boleh dibayar dalam bentuk wang tunai berdasarkan harga semasa makanan ruji, seperti beras dalam konteks negara. Kutipan dan agihan zakat fitrah hanya dilakukan dalam bulan Ramadan.

PeningkatanSetakat ini pihak berkuasa agama di Sabah, Melaka, Pahang, Kedah dan Perlis telah mengumum dan menaikkan kadar zakat fitrah masing-masing. Kadar fitrah bagi negeri Sabah ditetapkan pada RM7.70, Pahang (RM7.30), Kedah (RM7.00), Melaka (RM6.30), dan Perlis (RM6.00 hingga RM7.00).

Kadar fitrah di Sabah mungkin yang tertinggi di negara ini selepas Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (MUIS) menetapkan kadar RM7.70 bagi setiap umat Islam di Sabah, peningkatan sebanyak RM2.50 berbanding RM5.20 yang ditetapkan tahun lalu. Dari segi peratusannya, kadar kenaikannya ialah hampir 50 peratus. Iaitu melebihi peratusan kenaikan harga petrol yang sebanyak 40 peratus. Kerajaan telah menaikkan harga petrol daripada RM1.92 kepada RM2.70 seliter pada 4 Jun lepas.

Kadar ini, menurut MUIS, adalah sesuai dengan keadaan semasa termasuk peningkatan harga minyak, barangan makanan termasuk beras serta kos pengangkutan. Kadar itu mengambil kira faktor inflasi. Dengan kadar fitrah baru, MUIS menyasarkan jumlah kutipan zakat fitrah pada tahun ini hampir RM8 juta berbanding RM5 tahun lalu.

Kenaikan kadar fitrah di Pahang, Kedah, Melaka, dan Perlis adalah juga mengambil kira faktor inflasi. Kadar baru yang ditetapkan oleh pihak berkuasa agama adalah mengikut harga pasaran beras semasa. Walaupun kadar zakat fitrah adalah tinggi di Sabah, kadar fitrah di Pahang mencatat kenaikan peratusan yang tertinggi iaitu 52 peratus, dari RM4.80 kepada RM7.30. Kedah pula adalah 40 peratus (dari RM5 ke RM7), Melaka 34 peratus (dari RM4.70 kepada RM6.30) dan Perlis antara 20 peratus hingga 40 peratus (dari RM5 kepada RM6 atau RM7).

Kadar baru itu menggambarkan inflasi sebenar dalam ekonomi tempatan.

Walaupun sasaran jumlah kutipannya meningkat, bagaimana pula dengan keupayaan membayar bagi golongan miskin dan miskin tegar? Mengikut Kajian Separuh Penggal Rancangan Malaysia Kesembilan (2006-2010) yang terbaru, kadar kemiskinan keseluruhan di Sabah ialah 16 peratus pada 2007 dan kemiskinan tegarnya ialah hampir 3.7 peratus. Di Semenanjung pula, kadar kemiskinan keseluruhan adalah 2.3 peratus dan kemiskinan tegar adalah 0.3 peratus. Pendapatan garis kemiskinan purata bagi tahun 2007 ialah RM720 di Semenanjung, RM960 di Sabah dan RM 830 di Sarawak.

Inflasi memberi kesan negatif yang besar kepada golongan miskin dan miskin tegar menerusi penghakisan kuasa membeli mereka. Jumlah peruntukan perbelanjaan mereka ke atas makanan ruji beras pula adalah tinggi. Ini amat jelas dengan perubahan kadar fitrah, dulu dengan 2.70 kg beras, pengguna membayar RM5.20 dan kini dengan jumlah kuantiti yang sama ia membayar lebih iaitu RM7.70. Ini menggambarkan kesan inflasi yang sebenar yang telah menghakis nilai pendapatan isi rumah. Perbincangan yang sama juga boleh dipanjangkan kepada negeri-negeri di Semenanjung.

Tuntutan syariatZakat fitrah diwajibkan ke atas setiap Muslim lelaki dan perempuan tanpa mengira besar dan kecil dan tanpa mengira kaya atau miskin. Ini bererti, untuk memenuhi tuntutan syariat Ramadan, setiap Muslim walaupun dalam golongan miskin dan miskin tegar dan layak menerima zakat di bawah asnaf miskin hendaklah mengeluarkan zakat fitrah untuk dirinya dan orang-orang yang berada di bawah tanggungannya seperti isteri, anak-anak dan ibu bapanya yang sudah tua.

Sekiranya ketua isi rumah miskin tegar mempunyai tanggungan yang ramai maka ini boleh menyusahkan keupayaannya untuk membayar fitrah. Ini kerana pendapatan per kapita semakin kecil bagi isi rumah tersebut. Pihak berkuasa agama perlu menyediakan mekanisme bantuan kewangan lain untuk membantu dan memudahkan ketua isi rumah miskin tegar untuk mengeluarkan zakat fitrahnya dan dalam pada itu menunaikan syariat Ramadan. Di samping isu keupayaan membayar, kadar fitrah menggambarkan inflasi sebenar dalam ekonomi tempatan

Individuals who are above 21 years of age and possess SPM qualifications are welcome to join our “Business Opportunity Program” as per date time stated below.

RECRUITMENT & CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Date: 19 August 2008
Time: 7:45pm to 9:30pm
Venue: Public Mutual Office, Damansara Perdana

Realitinya sangat berbeza seperti berikut:

1. Walaupun persaraan seperti dilihat masih jauh lagi, sebenarnya tidak.

2. Sejuta ringgit memang jumlah wang yang besar, tetapi hanya segelintir daripada kita akan memiliki simpanan sebanyak itu.

3. Selepas bersara, kebanyakan kita akan hidup selama 20 hingga 25 tahun lagi tanpa sebarang pendapatan.

4. Inflasi akan menghakis kuasa membeli simpanan anda.

5. Secara purata, seorang yang bekerja dan mempunyai simpanan persaraan sebanyak RM100,000, akan membelanjakan duit tersebut dalam tempoh 10 tahun saja.

Panik? Jangan. Mengambil berat? Ya.

Rakyat Malaysia harus memikirkan dengan serius tentang simpanan bagi persaraan masing-masing dan mengambil langkah proaktif untuk membuat perancangan mengenainya termasuk mereka berusia kurang daripada 30 tahun atau baru memulakan kerjaya.

Ketika ini, sebahagian besar pekerja sektor swasta di Malaysia bergantung sepenuhnya kepada Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) untuk persaraan mereka. KWSP adalah skim tabungan yang mewajibkan ahli menyimpan sekurang-kurangnya 11% daripada pendapatan bulanan mereka dan 12% daripada majikan mereka. Ini bermakna 23% daripada pendapatan seseorang disimpan setiap bulan dalam akaun KWSP masing-masing. Kadar caruman 23% ini hanya kadar yang diwajibkan. Ahli dan majikan atau kedua-duanya boleh menyimpan melebihi kadar tersebut.

Berdasarkan rekod KWSP, purata simpanan seorang ahli KWSP adalah RM100,000 apabila mencapai usia 54 iaitu setahun sebelum bersara. Bagaimanapun, sebahagian besar pesara didapati menghabiskan keseluruhan wang itu dalam tempoh kurang daripada 10 tahun.

Purata jangkaan hayat rakyat Malaysia pada umur 55 tahun ialah : 83 tahun untuk wanita dan 78.6 tahun untuk lelaki. Bayangkan jika seseorang itu bersara pada umur 55 tahun dan menghabiskan simpanan KWSP dalam tempoh 10 tahun. Bagaimana mereka membiayai kehidupan selama 13 hingga 18 tahun lagi?

Selain daripada jumlah simpanan yang ada ketika bersara, faktor-faktor berikut juga perlu diambil kira:

1. Inflasi dan peningkatan kos sara hidup

Jika anda seorang kanak-kanak pada 70-an dan 80-an, anda mungkin pernah mendengar ibu bapa anda mengatakan, “Bila saya mendapat gaji pertama, saya berikan semuanya kepada emak, dan emak berikan saya RM50 untuk dibelanjakan.”

Bagus sekali. Daripada muda lagi telah mula menabung tetapi persekitaran sekarang adalah berbeza. Cara hidup dan keperluannya telah berubah. Dalam lain perkataan, golongan muda hari ini perlu mengeluarkan banyak wang untuk kehidupan harian berbanding ibu bapa mereka.

2. Perubahan norma sosial

Walaupun era memberikan seluruh gaji kepada emak anda mungkin sudah berlalu, pekerja muda hari ini masih memberikan sejumlah kecil gaji mereka kepada ibu bapa mereka sebagai penghargaan.

Bagaimanapun, aliran ini akan berubah bagi generasi akan datang. Hari ini, lebih ramai orang berkahwin dan mempunyai anak pada usia yang lebih tua, sekali gus menyebabkan mereka mempunyai anak kecil untuk dibiayai termasuk bagi perbelanjaan pendidikan anak- anak walaupun mereka sudah mencecah usia persaraan.

3. Kos dan keperluan perubatan

Semakin kita tua, semakin kita memerlukan rawatan perubatan. Kos perubatan pula semakin meningkat dengan mendadak. Kita akan menghadapi kesulitan kewangan untuk membiayai rawatan perubatan terutama golongan yang tidak mempunyai insurans perubatan.

Jika semua faktor ini diambil kira, kemungkinan besar simpanan KWSP kebanyakan ahli tidak mencukupi untuk memenuhi semua keperluan persaraan mereka. Jalan penyelesaiannya ialah berusaha meningkatkan simpanan untuk persaraan mengikut kemampuan masing-masing.

Tetapi bagaimana?

Menabung! Menabung! Menabung! Sebenarnya tiada jalan mudah. Menabung sebahagian pendapatan bulanan anda dengan tujuan persaraan dan tidak membelanjakan simpanan tersebut sebelum anda bersara membolehkan anda memiliki simpanan dalam jumlah yang lebih besar untuk persaraan.

Disiplin diri sangat penting. Anda harus menetapkan sasaran simpanan setiap bulan. Bandingkan pendapatan bulanan dengan perbelanjaan perlu seperti hutang rumah dan kereta, insurans, makanan, pengangkutan dan lain- lain. Kemudian tentukan jumlah yang akan disimpan setiap bulan. Pastikan anda berdisiplin dalam soal simpanan ini. Apabila anda mendapat gaji, keluarkan jumlah yang ditetapkan dan masukkan ke dalam akaun simpanan itu.

Katakan anda tinggal dengan ibu bapa anda dan mempunyai pendapatan bersih kira-kira RM2,500 sebulan. Anda perlu membayar ansuran pinjaman kereta, bayaran skim insurans, membayar bil telefon mudah alih, memberikan sejumlah kecil kepada ibu bapa anda setiap bulan, selain membantu membayar dua atau tiga bil di rumah. Anda mungkin boleh membuat perkiraan seperti ini:

Baki gaji anda pada setiap akhir bulan adalah RM570. Daripada berbelanja wang berkenaan secara tidak berfaedah, mengapa tidak anda menyimpan sebanyak RM200 atau lebih untuk masa depan anda?

Jika anda mempertimbangkan untuk menyimpan RM200 sebulan bagi keseluruhan tempoh kerjaya anda, katakanlah selama 30 tahun, jumlah keseluruhan simpanan anda ialah RM72,000. Jika dicampur faedah ke atas simpanan tersebut, jumlah ini dengan mudah akan berganda kepada RM144,000 apabila anda bersara. Dicampur dengan simpanan KWSP sebanyak RM100,000, anda akan bersara dengan lebih selesa.

Anda juga tidak harus lupa bahawa wang yang disimpan akan bertambah dan apabila ia bertambah, anda perlu bijak untuk menabung dan di mana ia harus dilaburkan. Mempelbagaikan saluran simpanan memerlukan anda membuat keputusan yang bijak. Bertanya dan belajar mengenai manfaat menyimpan wang dalam simpanan tetap dalam institusi kewangan terkemuka atau melabur dalam saham amanah.

Anda juga boleh membeli insurans yang memberikan perlindungan sepanjang hayat, kemalangan, perubatan, endowmen, dan juga pendidikan untuk anak-anak. Jika anda memiliki insurans tersebut, anda tidak perlu mengeluarkan simpanan KWSP bagi membiayai kos perubatan yang tidak dijangka atau membayar yuran pendidikan tinggi anak-anak di kemudian hari. Ini akan memastikan simpanan KWSP untuk persaraan adalah lebih besar nilainya.

Hartanah juga satu bentuk pelaburan yang baik dan harus dipertimbangkan selepas seseorang mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi. Walaupun KWSP membenarkan ahli mengeluarkan simpanan daripada Akaun II untuk membeli rumah, adalah lebih bijak wang simpanan KWSP anda tidak dikeluarkan jika anda mampu mendapatkan pembiayaan perumahan daripada bank.

Persaraan dan perancangan kewangan memerlukan banyak pertimbangan, perancangan dan disiplin. Menabung ketika memulakan kerjaya pada usia muda akan memudahkan dan mengurang beban pada kemudian hari.

Walaupun menabung wang bukan sesuatu yang mudah terutama dengan pelbagai tarikan daripada pasaran pengguna, ia adalah kaedah yang membolehkan anda bersara dengan lebih selesa. Kepada mereka yang berhadapan dengan masalah untuk menabung, terdapat satu lagi pilihan akhir yang mudah bagi memastikan anda mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi apabila bersara iaitu bersaralah pada usia 75 tahun!

Dagangan Malaysia-China dijangka cecah RM182b

KUALA LUMPUR 15 Ogos – Dagangan dua hala antara China dan Malaysia dijangka mencecah kira-kira AS$55 bilion (RM182.6 bilion) tahun ini meskipun keadaan ekonomi semasa yang mencabar.

Presiden Dewan Perdagangan dan Perindustrian China Malaysia (ACCCIM) Tan Sri William Cheng Heng Jem berkata, sasaran itu berdasarkan dagangan dua hala antara China dan Malaysia yang meningkat 26.5 peratus pada separuh pertama tahun ini.

“Tahun lepas, dagangan dua hala antara China dan Malaysia berjumlah AS$46.4 bilion (RM154.0 bilion). Pada kebiasaannya, Guangdong menguasai kira-kira 25 peratus daripada jumlah dagangan antara China dan Malaysia,” katanya pada sidang media di sini mengenai Persidangan Perniagaan Malaysia-Guangdong China 2008.

Persidangan yang berlangsung pada 12 September ini, dianjurkan oleh ACCCIM bersama pejabat Penasihat Ekonomi dan Komersial Kedutaan China di Malaysia dan Jabatan Kerjasama Ekonomi dan Perdagangan Asing.

Heng Jem berkata, ia bertujuan mempromosikan dan menggalakkan perusahaan di Guangdong melabur di Malaysia, dan menambah persidangan itu dijangka menarik kira-kira 700 perwakilan yang mewakili dan 200 perusahaan serta pegawai kerajaan.

“Persidangan ini merupakan platform penting bagi memperkukuhkan hubungan ekonomi dan perdagangan antara Guangdong dan Malaysia,” katanya.

Heng Jem menggesa perusahaan Malaysia meneroka peluang-peluang di Guandong memandangkan terdapat potensi dalam banyak bidang, termasuk pengilangan, perkhidmatan dan pelancongan.

Guangdong dianggap sebagai pusat proses pengilangan dan eksport yang penting di China, katanya.

Ia mempunyai sembilan tonggak industri iaitu maklumat elektronik, aplikasi elektrik dan mesin, makanan dan minuman, bahan pembinaan, petrokimia, automobil, farmaseutikal, pembuatan kertas, tekstil dan pakaian.

Ditanya sama ada senario politik tempatan menjejaskan minat pelaburan China, Heng Jem berkata: “Berdasarkan penyertaan, terbukti pelabur China masih yakin terhadap kekuatan ekonomi Malaysia.”

Beliau juga berkata, kerajaan wajar mengambil langkah berkesan bagi mengawal inflasi dalam bajet yang akan dibentangkan pada 29 Ogos ini serta menggalakkan pelabur asing dan tempatan terus melabur di Malaysia.

Antara langkah yang dicadangkan bagi mengurangkan tekanan inflasi ialah membenarkan trak membawa lebihan muatan bagi mengurangkan kos pengangkutan selain menggalakkan orang ramai menggunakan elektrik di luar masa puncak.

Berdasarkan harga minyak kini pada AS$113.36 (RM376.36) setong, Cheng berkata, kerajaan wajar menyemak semula harga petrol dan diesel bagi mengurangkan beban pengilang dan pengeksport.

- Bernama

Professional Investment Management

A unit trust combines the capital of many investors to employ experienced management in purchasing securities of many companies. The management of a unit trust provides diversification of investments and supervision which few investors could individually afford. Investment management is a full time job requiring specialized knowledge and training. It involves the study of a variety of factors.

Some of the factors which have to be examined are,

1. Comparisons of all industries in the economy
2. Relative studies of companies within a promising industry
3. Personal contact with management of promising corporations
4. Evaluating the effect of international events, both monetary and political
5. Determining the results of government policies on each industry

Professional management is also interested in studying less obvious factors such as wage rates, which might affect the economy or the profitability of certain companies or corporations. It requires careful study of individual companies within the industry to determine which of the many companies offer the best prospects for the investors. It requires comparing this company with the best companies in other promising industries. Since all this factors are constantly changing, re-evaluation and study have to be continuous.

Diversification

Diversification means spreading one’s investments among many securities. It is an important method of reducing risk. It decreases the danger of damaging losses, which can occur through having all of one’s eggs in one basket.

Diversification is difficult and expensive for a small investor because the cost of purchasing numbers of shares in many companies at the same time is disproportionately high.

Unit trusts with their resources are able to make widely diversified investments available to even the smallest investor. Diversification involves the ownership of many different securities. All the securities owned by an individual investor or unit trust fund are referred to as an investment portfolio.

Liquidity

An investor can sell his units, wholly or partially, at the following trading day’s unit buying price. Units have a high liquidity, that is, they can be readily converted into cash.

It has to be remembered, however, that unit trust’s units will be redeemed at the prevailing buying price on the following day after receipt of the repurchase form. The unit price may be higher or lower than the price at which the investor started the plan. Unit trusts should be regarded as a long term, rather than short term investment.

Advantages of Compounding

Many unit trust funds provide facilities for investors to reinvest their distributions. For those who opted for distribution reinvestment, the fund will automatically credit the distributions into the account, rather than sending distribution warrants.

This process of reinvesting the income from the original investment and also of reinvesting the return on the total accumulating investments is called compounding.

As an illustration, if at 25, you invested RM100 at the beginning of every month at an interest growth of 10% per annum until age 65, your investment would have grown to RM638,000 ! The key element to compounding is time. The longer the period of time, the greater the growth.

Regularity of Investing

Many people do not have substantial sums of cash available to invest, but they can develop an investment account, investing smaller sums regularly in a unit trust.

Most unit trust funds have plans available to make it possible for smaller investors to invest relatively small amounts monthly. It is easy and inexpensive for an individual to acquire units through deposits of RM100 or more a month in a unit trust fund.

Fund Administration – The Convenient Factor

Few people have the experience, time or facility to properly set up an investment programme, much less to supervise it constantly. Unit trust managers have emerged as professional organisation devoted to solving the investment problems of people from all walks of life.

Unit trusts relieve their investors of the need to handle their own securities transactions. Investors in unit trust funds are not obliged to concern themselves with matters such as,

1. Obtaining quotations on securities being bought and sold
2. Delivery and payment for the securities involved in each transaction
3. Safekeeping of cash and securities
4. Accounting and bookkeeping procedures, etc

Investors of unit trust funds will receive semi annual and annual reports which describe

Like To Invest or Be An Agent, Please Contact :

Kamaruzaman Omar

019-2828 264

kbo2020@gmail.com

Just call/sms or e-mail to :

Kamaruzaman Omar

Bandar Sri Damansara,

Kuala Lumpur.

019-2828 264

kbo2020@gmail.com

Public Mutual Will Launching New Fund Public Islamic Select Enterprises Fund (PISEF).

This funds are open for EPF Members Investment Scheme

The Initial Offer Price of PISEF  is at RM0.25 per unit and RM1 respectively during the 21-day initial offer period of 14 August 2008 to 3 September 2008. The minimum initial investment for both funds is RM1,000 and the minimum additional investment is RM100.

Any question call/sms/e-mail me at

019-2828 264

kbo2020@gmail.com

The answer is YES, in Malaysia the unit trust investment in Shariah-compliant securities that form majority of the securities that are listed on Bursa Malaysia are suitable for Muslims. The Shariah-based Unit Trust fund is a collective investment schemes that offer investors the opportunity to invest in a diversified portfolio of Islamic capital market instrument.

These Shariah-Based Unit Trust Funds was managed by professional fund managers in accordance with Syariah requirements. Apparently was appointed to Shariah committee or Shariah Adviser.

The Criteria for Shariah-based Unit Trust are companies that are not involved in these following core activities :

• Conventional Insurance
• Manufacture or sale of non-halal products or related products
• Gambling
• Financial Services based on riba (interest)
• Entertainment activities that are non-permissible according to Shariah
• Manufacture or sale of tobacco-based products or related products
• Stockbroking or share trading in Syariah non-compliant securities
• Other activities deemed non-permissible according to Shariah

It still doesn’t looks to be confident for you ?

Many might ask about the distributions and dividends flow in this Unit Trust investment. In Islamic finance term “Gharar” ( Sesuatu Yang Tidak Pasti atau ketidaktentuan ) describing a risky or hazardous sale, where details concerning the sale item are unknown or uncertain. The Quran explicitly forbids trades that are considered to have excessive risk due to uncertainty.

Wang bonus dan dividen yang diterima daripada hasil pelaburan ASB adalah tidak diwajibkan zakat kerana pelaburan bercanggah dengan hukum syarak,

Namun pertambahan yang terhasil daripada simpanan tersebut (dividen, bonus dan lain-lain) tidak perlu dizakat kerana ia terhasil daripada urusniaga yang tidak syarie. Motif zakat adalah menyucikan harta yang halal kerana perkaitannya dengan hak golongan asnaf dan bukan menyucikan harta yang status asalnya memang tidak halal untuk dihalalkan,

Dividen dan bonus yang terhasil perlu dikeluarkan supaya ia tidak lagi berkembang (dilupuskan). Melupuskannya melalui pembayaran hutang atau pinjaman pelajaran, bermakna kita masih mengambil manfaat daripada harta yang tidak syarie,

Jadi cara terbaik adalah dengan menyalurkannya kepada pertubuhan awam atau pertubuhan berkaitan khidmat sosial yang memerlukan dana seperti pertubuhan sukarela yang bertindak dalam waktu-waktu kecemasan, bencana alam atau sebagainya (kemaslahatan awam)

For full review please select the link below.

Dividen ASB (Unit Trust) tidak diwajibkan zakat

The conclusion is all the distributions and dividends need to be withdraw for prevention it grow. The profit or interest still can be used by Muslims in the different way such as pay for debts or drains it into the Non-Governmental Organizations for  sosial needs

UNIT AMANAH SEBAGAI SUATU KERJAYA YANG HALAL DI SISI AGAMA DAN UNDANG-UNDANG

Anda akan dilatih untuk menjadi seorang usahawan yang berjaya dengan latihan yang sistematik dan mudah.

Peluang kerjaya sebagai Perunding Unit Amanah/Perunding Kewangan sangat menarik dan kompetitif serta mampu memberikan peluang pendapatan berterusan yang sangat mengalakkan di samping kebebasan masa.

Sebagai Perunding Unit Amanah/Perunding Kewangan anda mempunyai pasaran yang sangat luas di mana wang EPF berjumlah RM200 bilion boleh dilaburkan di dalam skim ini. Umat Islam juga masih baru dalam industri ini, jadi wang umat Islam adalah peluang pasaran tunai anda. Pasaran di kalangan orang melayu sendiri sangat luas dan masih belum diterokai sepenuhnya.

Anda adalah layak menjadi Perunding Unit Amanah/Perunding Kewangan dengan hanya perlu memiliki sijil SPM dan menduduki peperiksaan (CUTE) yang mudah sahaja.

Syarikat Public Mutual (Anak syarikat Public Bank) pula menyediakan ‘commission structure’ yang sangat menarik dan sentiasa menyediakan latihan dan peralatan yang ‘up to date’ kepada Perunding-Perundingnya.

=== Adakah ini sebahagian impian anda ? ====
1) Ingin mendapat pendapatan yang TIADA LIMIT
2) Ingin bekerja bebas (Independent), tiada boss. ANDA ADALAH BOSS DIRI
ANDA SENDIRI.
3) Ingin bekerja mengikut MASA ANDA SENDIRI
4) Ingin bekerja secara FULL TIME atau PART TIME. Pilih sendiri
5) Ingin berniaga sendiri tetapi TIADA MODAL.
6) Ingin tinggal di kampung sendiri tidak mahu berpindah

PALING PENTING IANYA BERLANDASKAN SYARIAH DAN TERTAKLUK DI BAWAH AKTA SURUHANJAYA SEKURITI SEKSYEN 18 UNDANG-UNDANG MALAYSIA

Langkah-langkah menjadi agent unit trust ialah :
1. Isi borang yang akan diberikan oleh saya kepada anda

2. Sediakan dokumen yang berikut:
a) 2 salinan IC
b) 1 salinan sijil SPM atau ke atas
c) 1 salinan buku public bank (muka kedua tercatat nama dan nombor akaun)
d) 6 keping gambar passport
e) Yuran RM247.00 (akan dikembalikan selepas layak dalam masa 6 bulan)

3. Kembalikan borang yang telah dilengkapkan kepada kami.
4.Bersedia dan ambil peperiksaan Cute
5. Jika LULUS anda akan diberikan Agent code oleh Public Mutual dan anda sudah layak menjadi Perunding Unit Trust.

Apapun kalau berminat hubungi :

Kamal

019-2828 264

kbo2020@gmail.com

janaduitunittrust

Unit Trust In Malaysia: Consultant & Investor › Sunting — WordPress.

PNB: Pasaran sahammasih menarik

KUALA LUMPUR 1 Ogos – Pasaran saham tempatan masih lagi menarik meskipun berada dalam aliran menurun, kata Presiden dan Ketua Eksekutif Kumpulan Permodalan Nasional Bhd. (PNB), Tan Sri Che Othman hari ini.

Pelabur bagaimanapun mesti menggunakan kebijaksanaan mereka dan bersedia pada setiap masa untuk menghadapi serta melalui kitaran keadaan pasaran, kata beliau ketika ditanya pandangannya tentang prestasi pasaran semasa saham tempatan.

Beliau menjelaskan, PNB mampu mengharungi keadaan semasa pasaran saham yang rendah kerana telah membuat persediaan untuk menghadapinya.

Di antara persediaannya adalah menstruktur semula pelaburan dan melakukannya secara lebih kerap, kata Hamad Kama Piah.

”Sebagai contoh, cara kami mewujudkan nilai Kumpulan Sime Darby. Ketika kami melakukannya (penggabungan) Sime Darby, Golden Hope dan Guthrie, jumlah nilai ketiga-tiga syarikat itu hanya RM24 bilion.

”Namun semasa melancarkan dan menyenaraikan semula kedudukannya, nilai sudah meningkat kepada lebih RM60 bilion,” kata Hamad Kama Piah kepada pemberita selepas melancarkan pejabat Majlis Perancangan Kewangan Malaysia (MFPC) di Menara Tun Razak, Jalan Raja Laut, di sini hari ini.

Hamad Kama Piah juga yakin bursa saham tempatan masih berada pada paras yang kukuh dengan penanda aras Indeks Komposit Kuala Lumpur (IKKL) melepasi 1,100 mata.

Beberapa kaunter di Bursa Malaysia masih mengekalkan nilai yang baik dan mempunyai asas yang kukuh, katanya.

”Saya sering berkata bahawa ada peluang dalam pasaran kita. Ada beberapa kaunter yang asasnya kukuh tetapi nilainya mungkin rendah sedikit (boleh dilaburkan),” kata beliau.

Terdapat juga kaunter yang nilainya tidak menentu, dan dalam kes ini, ‘kita mesti tunggu dan mungkin bukan masanya untuk membeli’, kata Hamad Kama Piah lagi.

- Bernama

the Star Sunday May 27, 2007

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

With people living longer, marrying and having children later and not saving enough, facing retirement is a challenge. While there is growing awareness about the need to plan, less than 5% are prepared for retirement and fail to take into consideration inflation rates and rising medical costs.

IN 1981, when Azman graduated, he got a job in KL which paid him RM1,800 a month. He bought an imported Mazda at RM17,000 and months later he put down money on a RM78,000 single-storey terrace house.

Today, 25 years later, Azman’s daughter has just finished university. Her starting pay is RM1,800, just like her father’s two and a half decades ago.

Long road ahead: With the life expectancy of men at 72 and women at 76, most people have a good 20 years to live after retirement.

But unlike her father’s time, imported cars cost over RM100,000 today. So Latifah has opted to buy a Proton for RM45,000 (more than double what her dad paid for his first car).

While her father could afford to buy a house early in his career, Latifah can’t. Houses in KL these days cost at least RM200,000, so she has to work for a few years first before she can own one.

Compared to 25 years ago, the prices of goods, food, petrol and electricity have all gone up. Understandably, it’s an uphill task for Latifah to save on her RM1,800 salary, since the purchasing power of her salary is much lower than her father’s back in the 1980s.

It is a fact that wages have not moved in tandem with the rise of the cost of living and inflation. That trend is expected to continue.

And if people do not start planning early for their retirement, they are going to find themselves in a spot after they turn 55.

Today, three meals cost you RM20 but in 20 years time – with an inflation rate of 6% a year – you will need RM64 per day for the three meals, estimates financial consultant Hazel Ong Archibald of CIMB Wealth Advisors (see Chart 1). The government puts inflation rate at 3.2% to 4.8% but Ong says in urban areas, that figure is about 6%.

So while the RM500,000 in your EPF or bank account at retirement might look good on paper, she says, if you do not invest that money to make it grow at a rate higher than the inflation rate, 20 years later, it would be worth only RM145,053 in purchasing power!

While there is more awareness about retirement planning these days, particularly in the urban areas, in reality this does not often translate into preparedness.

Why?

“Because it is more pleasurable to spend than to save,” opines Ong.

People understand – at head level – the need to plan and save, she says, but at heart level, emotions rule and instant gratification wins the battle.

“I wanted to persuade a friend to save for the future but she kept saying she had no money but then later I saw she could sign up RM3,000 and RM5,000 for some slimming packages!”

Reality hits when people find that they cannot afford to retire because they had not seriously put aside the money early on in life.

Ng: ‘Less than 5% are prepared for retirement’

“Less than 5% are prepared for retirement,” estimates Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) president Ng Lian Lau.

He says those in their 20s think they are too young to think about retirement, while those in their 30s and 40s tend to believe they are doing enough because they have their EPF savings, and those who are 55 feel it is just too late for them.

And the truth is at 55, most people cannot afford to retire.

“People are living longer, life expectancy for women is 76 years. For men it’s 72. With this kind of longevity, people have got more than 20 years after retirement. 60 would be a more ideal retirement age,” he says.

People are marrying later too, points out Ong.

Which means they are having children later in life. If a person has a kid at the age of 35 and retires at 55, the odds are that his child at 20 would probably still be at university or college and his education require financing.

On average, the Malaysian household spent 5.7% on education last year. With the cost of education rising by 6% each year, this is expected to climb steadily.

While parents might buy an education insurance plan for their children, Ong has found that 90% of the time the amount is insufficient. More often than not, parents are willing to give up “everything”, including their own retirement fund for the kids. Which leaves them in a vulnerable position in their old age, unless of course their children provide for them.

As for life insurance, only 40% of Malaysians are covered. Ng says this is a small number compared to 100% in Singapore, 80% in the United States and 400% in Japan (where one person has four policies on average).

Ong: ‘Inflation rate in urban areas is 6%’

And even if one has a life policy as well as savings from the EPF, people should still worry about retirement. This is because without a new source of income, that money would run out. This is especially so if one runs into health problems which is common when people grow older.

“Medical inflation is easily 15% each year. And this could really eat into the savings,” warns Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd CEO Tan Kar Hor.

Tan likens the medical bill as a “hole” which if not plugged would leak away one’s entire retirement and savings.

“It’s only a question of how the big the hole is,” he says.

So parliamentary secretary to the Finance Ministry Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya’s announcement on Thursday that amendments to the Employees Provident Fund Act would allow contributors to withdraw money to buy insurance for critical illness for themselves and their family is welcome news. The amendment Bill was passed in Dewan Negara that same day.

So how much would one need for retirement?

Experts say this depends on the individual and his lifestyle. And how much he is willing to reduce consumption – to eat out less often, buy fewer things, live in a smaller house, drive less, drive a smaller car and travel less.

The rule of the thumb, says Ng, is managing on 60% of your last drawn pay.

For Ong, it’s 70% of one’s current lifestyle. If a family in Kuala Lumpur with two kids and two cars needs RM5,000 today, at retirement, expenses should go down to RM3,500.

Even based on this calculation, one would need RM747,000 if one were to live for 25 years after retirement, and RM806,200 for the next 30 years, factoring in the inflation and interest rates.

Going by statistics revealed in EPF’s 2005 annual report, about 90% of EPF contributors have less than RM100,000 in their accounts. So sole dependence on one’s EPF savings as a safety net is not good enough.

Assuming that one can live on RM1,000 a month, to survive for 25 years, one would still need a substantial RM300,000 and for 35 years, RM420,000.

Bank Negara’s Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) CEO Mohamed Akwal Sultan reckons a person should not start purchasing big assets like property or a house late in life as the danger is that once they have retired they may not be able to meet the instalment payment on it.

“When you are in your late 40s, you should be winding down and not committing to high expenses to buy big things,” he says.

AKPK has dealt with a number of cases where retirees have had banks auction off their houses because they could not meet the monthly loan payment.

There is also the problem of credit card temptation. Ng notes a worrying trend that more and more younger people are becoming bankrupt as they are spending “tomorrow’s money”. Which basically means these people are not saving or building their retirement nest.

Ideally, Ong says, people should start saving from the time of conception; that way would be able to enjoy the magic of the compounding effect (see Chart 2).

Prudential’s Tan says a noticeable trend is that while the younger generation is prepared to invest in new financial instruments, the older generation gravitates towards fixed deposits.

“That is very risky because you would not be able to accumulate enough because the interest rates can’t meet the inflationary rate and your money is getting smaller,” he says.

He believes given the current life span, it would do retirees good to be more aggressive in their investment.

“In investing, you should not be looking at the date of retirement but rather the date of potential death which is probably still another 21 years away after retirement,” he says.

He recommends that people only keep about six months of their monthly expenses in the savings and FDs and put the rest in investment products that generate more income than the inflation rate.

Ng believes a good private pension would help people in their retirement years. In developed countries, money put into savings for retirement is not taxable, neither is the profit from that investment.

“When you retire, you can’t take the money out in a lump sum either or you’d have to pay tax on it. This will force you to withdraw your money on a regular monthly basis for retirement because that’s tax free,” he adds.

Singapore has such a scheme, the voluntary Supplementary Retirement Scheme, which complements the Central Provident Fund (CPF). Such a scheme has not taken off in Malaysia for a number of reasons, says Ng.

It would be a loss of revenue to the Government because people would not be paying taxes on money put aside for retirement. It would benefit only the rich and middle income group as the poor might not be able to afford it, he adds.

“Perhaps it hasn’t taken off too because the Malaysian economy is pretty dependent on consumer spending. And the Government wants you to spend,” he adds.

Ng says there should also be an asset liquidation law in the country. It is puzzling that there are all sorts of incentives for asset accumulation, he says, but none for liquidation.

An example of asset liquidation would be to reverse mortgage your house to the bank in return for a guaranteed monthly income until you die.

The asset would at the end of the day belong to the bank or insurance company. But in the meantime, the person has the right to continue to live in the house until death and get a monthly income too.

“If they outlive the value of the house, the bank loses,” he says.

As our population ages and life expectancy increases, more thought must be given by both individuals and the Government on how to develop a culture of planning and saving for one’s retirement.

Kamaruzaman Omar
019-2828 264
kbo2020@gmail.com

PELUANG pelaburan dalam unit amanah Islam timbul bukan semata-mata untuk mewujudkan pilihan kepada unit amanah konvensional, tetapi ia sememangnya diperlukan bagi memenuhi kepentingan pelabur-pelabur Islam. Pengenalannya turut menarik minat sebahagian besar pelabur bukan Islam kerana pulangan yang dihasilkan adalah sebanding dan kadang-kala lebih dari unit-unit konvensional.

Prosidur dan cara operasi dana-dana amanah Islam adalah lebih-kurang sama dengan cara konvensional. Yang membezakannya ialah kewujudan panel syariah bagi memantau dan memastikan unit amanah Islam yang ditawarkan adalah diurus dan ditadbir berlandaskan hukum syariah. Individu berkelayakan yang terpilih menduduki panel Syariah dalam setiap syarikat pengurus akan bekerjasama dengan Majlis Penasihat Syariah (SAC) dan Suruhanjaya Sekuriti (SC) dalam mempastikan dana-dana Islam mempraktikkan keperluan syariah dalam setiap sudut operasi dan pelaburan yang dijalankan. Dana-dana Islam ini hanya akan melabur dalam portfolio ‘halal’ dan sekuriti-sekuriti yang diterbitkan berlandas prinsip Islam.

Dana Islam yang melabur dalam portfolio saham halal contohnya, tidak akan melabur dalam kaunter-kaunter saham di mana syarikat tersebut terlibat dengan aktiviti, produk atau perkhidmatan seperti perbankan, insurans dan perkhidmatan kewangan konvensional, perjudian, memproses/memasarkan minuman keras dan makanan-makanan yang tidak halal (seperti yang mengandungi daging babi).

Khidmat panel syariah penting dalam industri untuk menjaga kepentingan pelabur. Secara ringkasnya, panel syariah adalah bertanggungjawab dan berkewajipan ke atas perkara-perkara seperti berikut:-

* Bertanggungjawab memberi nasihat kepada para pengurus berkenaan urusan pentadbiran dana Islam, perihal struktur dan operasi, serta dalam proses pelaburan yang dijalankan.

* Memastikan perjalanan dana-dana Islam mematuhi segala ketetapan dan peraturan yang diputuskan oleh SC berkenaan hal-hal unit amanah dan syariah.

* Merujuk kepada SC, yang kemudiannya merujuk kepada Majlis Penasihat Syariah, untuk mendapatkan khidmat nasihat sekiranya terdapat ketidakpastian dalam aspek khas urusan unit amanah Islam.

* Meneliti laporan pematuhan (compliance report) yang disediakan oleh pejabat pengurus, laporan transaksi selepas atau sebelum disahkan oleh pemegang amanah dan lain-lain laporan yang berkaitan, dengan tujuan setiap prinsip syariah telah dipatuhi.

* Menyediakan satu laporan pengesahan sama ada satu-satu dana itu telah diurus mengikut syariah, untuk disertakan sebagai satu laporan interim atau tahunan.

* Menyemak dan memberi nasihat terhadap bahan-bahan yang akan digunakan dalam mempromosikan dana syariah.

* Menghadirkan diri dalam mesyuarat-mesyuarat yang diadakan dari masa ke semasa oleh SC atau mana-mana pihak berkuasa, berkenaan perkara-perkara yang berkaitan dana amanah dan syariah.

* Menjawab keraguan pelabur berkenaan hal-hal syariah, yang bersangkutan dengan unit amanah yang ditawarkan.

Kewujudan panel syariah mempastikan dana-dana Islam yang dilancarkan bukan terbit atas nama sahaja. Peranan dimainkan meningkatkan keyakinan pelabur bahawa operasi dan cara pelaburan dana amanah Islam yang ditawarkan tidak akan menyimpang hukum syariah Islam.

I’ve read Robert Kiyosaki’s book Retire Young Retire Rich, a present from Jaslinah to my wife during our JABS seminar. A very good book for those who would like to quit from the makan gaji and move on into entrepreneurship. Whether you want to become a Unit Trust Consultant, Insurance/Takaful Agent or other Network Marketing business, it does not matter. What is important is the experience that you will go through doing your own business. The good thing about joining the business above is that they will give you the time as long as you wish and the capital required to join is usually very low and sometime it is even FREE like our unit trust company. Therefore the risks are minimal or close to ZERO.

The difference between earned income and passive income is that:

Earned Income

active income which mean you have to be present doing the job
you work you get pay. No work no pay
you get paid only once
Passive Income

income that you will get even when you are not there
no work still get paid
you work hard in the beginning and get paid over and over
If you are given a chance assuming everything being equal. Let say you are fresh graduate. You have been given RM2000 per month enough for your food etc for 12 months. If you go for earned income, you work for corporate with RM2000 per month. At the end of month 12, your income will be RM2000 per month.

Now if you choose to build your passive income, let say you join unit trust industry. Your first 3 month income is about RM2000. This is still the earned income. But for the next three months your income will be RM2000 (your active income) plus with RM500 (your passive income based on your own sales as well as your downline sales). To cut short the process your passive income will grow exponentially over the time. Therefore ultimately the percentage of your passive income will surpass your active income to the extent of 90:10 ratio. That is why you see many of senior unit trust consultants or senior takaful agents or senior MLMers are not in desperate to find new clients as well as new agents.

Imagine the CEO salary of RM70,000, if they quit or retired, they won’t get that RM70,000 over and over. But for unit trust consulants that have created many group agency managers, they will still received the money from the group sales even if they only produce minimum quota requirement. So that is a huge difference. Furthermore, the income can be inherited to your beneficiaries.

Thus, we encourage you all to start thinking of building your own PASSIVE income rather than other people passive income. You must aware that we are moving from industrial age to information age very rapidly. So does our thinking. If our thinking is still in the industrial age and don’t want to change, we will be lacking far behind. This era is the era of entrepreneur or home-based business, where you see many people started to build their own business from the back of their house or domitory.

Any Enquiries, Please call / sms / e-mail
Kamal
019-2828 264
kbo2020@gmail.com

Be An Agent

Be your own boss! Be a Unit Trust Consultant.

You will enjoy the top 10 benefits as a Unit Trust Consultant as follows:

Unlimited income

One of the best commision structures in the industry

Passive income and flexible working hours

Overseas trips, public recognitions and awards

Sales contests, incentives and campaign

Professional sales and advanced IT tools support

Integrated training and coaching series

Be your own boss and lead your own sales agency opportunity

Incentives and subsidies for agency building and for Chartered Financial Planning (CFP) Exam

Fast track career promotions, bonuses, insurance coverage and much more…

Kamaruzaman Omar
019-2828 264
kbo2020@gmail.com

the Star Sunday June 10, 2007

GROW YOUR MONEY

Numerous readers sent in their feedback and queries after Sunday Star ran the front page story ‘Can you retire?’ on May 27. After the ‘wake-up’ call for early planning of one’s retirement, we now run a six-part series written by the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia to provide more in-depth pointers on the subject. In the first part this week, we look at how you must first find your ‘number’ based on your annual expenses, estimated years left after retirement and inflation rate, among others. WHEN people who are savvy about retirement planning get together, a common question they ask is: “What’s your number?”

Unless the encounter takes place in a nightclub, it usually isn’t a series of telephone digits being asked for but rather the amount of money that person will need to fund a comfortable retirement.

It’s an important question. So important, in fact, that we at the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM) want to help proactive adults receive usable answers.

So, in this article, the first in a series of six on retirement planning, we’ll help you get a handle on your own “number”.

FPAM president U Chen Hock notes: “Personal responsibility is at the heart of sound financial planning for individuals.”

According to Securities Commission-licensed financial planner Rajen Devadason, “Too many Malaysians are rushing headlong towards a retirement funding train wreck! We must take charge of our financial destinies – now.”

Remember Devadason’s admonition as we consider that superb cornerstone of Malaysian retirement funding: the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Our EPF has ensured that more than 11.4 million members have at least some savings for their old age. It has done an outstanding job.

Nonetheless, we estimate the average 55-year-old Malaysian in the middle of 2007 has an EPF balance of about RM110,000, which is usually sufficient to fund just the first three to five years of full retirement.

It isn’t surprising then that many members of the FPAM have discovered – through countless interactions with regular Malaysians – that many who “retire” at 55 or 56 actually don’t! They can’t afford to.

(We have 42 charter and corporate members, and 10,000 individual members of whom 3,800 are licensed to carry the respected CFP or Certified Financial Planner mark.)

Even those who have never gone through a structured calculation of their “number” often intuitively sense they don’t have enough set aside to create a totally adequate “personal pension” for themselves.

Interestingly, civil servants covered by a government pension usually end up in better shape during retirement than their private sector peers who usually enjoyed higher salaries.

Those with a government pension might not live lavishly but they are assured of a steady stream of cash each month. That dependable stream cushions the harsh realities of ceaselessly rising expenses.

So this is the FPAM’s message to all Malaysians: Everyone, especially a person without a government pension, needs to exercise delayed gratification and create a “personal pension” through intelligent saving and investing.

When creating an investment portfolio to meet retirement needs, there are two different approaches: capital preservation and capital liquidation.

The first assumes the sum built up through decades of sacrifice is so large the person’s retirement can be funded solely from the yield generated. This will leave the full capital sum untouched and to be left as a legacy to children or favourite causes.

According to Wong Boon Choy, treasurer and founding member of FPAM, the second approach, capital liquidation, is more practical.

Wong, an SC-licensed financial planner and CEO of unit trust management company MAAKL Mutual, states: “Most people would be so overwhelmed by the huge amount needed to put together a capital preservation-based retirement fund that they would give up and say it’s a pointless exercise!” That’s why his favoured approach is capital liquidation.

Each person has a different expectation of retirement. More and more Malaysians are realising that the official retirement ages of 55 and 56 are impractically low.

The Malaysian Government, however, appears to be in a dilemma. If it raises the official retirement age too quickly, the net effect will be increased unemployment among those entering the workforce after school or university.

FPAM president U, who is also general manager of HSBC Bank Malaysia’s Personal Financial Services, observes, “The most successful managers of their own finances tend to be individuals who proactively learn sound guidelines for retirement planning or who choose to work with qualified financial planners.”

For those looking for such qualified professionals, the CFP Directory at our website (www.fpam.org.my) is a useful place to begin your search.

But before seeking professional help, you might want to familiarise yourself with the key steps needed to arrive at a sound capital liquidation-based retirement fund sum, also known as your “number”.

1: Figure out how much you would spend per month if you retired today.

2: Multiply that figure by 12 to get a reasonable estimate of annual retirement expenses.

3: Decide when you’re going to retire: how many years do you have left to plan, save and invest?

4: How long will you live in retirement? (We suggest you err on the high side!)

5: Decide upon appropriate inflation rates, both during your planning stage and during your actual retirement. (You should use a higher rate during retirement because of anticipated escalating medical expenses.)

6: Figure out the rates of return you believe are achievable both during your planning phase and your retirement years. A competent financial planner will guide you to use a lower figure for the latter stage of life, when active earnings cease and your capacity for risk falls.

7: Decide on how much you can afford to set aside as an initial investment to begin your plan, and how much you can channel towards this key financial goal on a regular basis.

The actual “number” calculated will vary from person to person. Devadason observes: “Thankfully, most of us have our EPF funds to provide that vital first layer of retirement expenses. But, by itself, it won’t be enough!”

In his day-to-day work as a retirement specialist for urban professionals, he says his calculated “number” for a client usually falls within the RM500,000 to RM5mil range, depending on lifestyle, inflation and return expectations.

Thus, it’s imperative that as many Malaysians as possible are made aware of the importance of retirement planning.

We suggest, therefore, that you share this article – and each of the next five – with family and friends you genuinely care for.

House, car and stocks
Your article seems to be a boost for the investment or insurance funds industry. While highlighting the impact of time value of money in a chart (Michael and Terrance), there is a misleading statement – “Assuming that one can live on RM1,000 a month, to survive for 25 years, one would still need a substantial RM300,000 and for 35 years, RM420,000.”

An idea that I would recommend is to buy the largest home (landed property in perennial growth centres like Klang Valley) you can afford comfortably and the most modest car you can live with, and keep them both as long as you can.

These are two of the largest investments to most people. The home will appreciate and keep up with inflation while the car will depreciate and cost a lot to maintain too.

Property in Malaysia is relatively inexpensive while cars are not, and urbanisation in Malaysia is low compared to neighbouring countries, so there is continual demand for homes, especially in the Klang Valley, as rural folks relocate to where jobs are. You enjoy your home 22 hours a day and your car two hours a day.

You don’t enjoy as much with stock certificates. But do keep some stocks (equities) since they historically give the best returns, especially in Malaysia, where there is no capital gain taxes.

WM

Cost of living doubled
Referring to your article “Counting on the nest egg”, published on May 27, I truly agree with the author that the Malaysian pension system is inadequate for most retirees in the country. As a Telecom specialist, I spend most of my time living abroad and have the opportunity to travel to different countries from poor ones like Morocco to rich ones such as Germany. I returned to Malaysia for a week’s vacation early this month and decided to drive to Penang for its delicious hawker food.

I was shocked to learn that my favourite char kway teow with extra prawns cost RM8 (without extra prawn RM4). The hotel room (same hotel, same room type) cost me RM450, instead of RM250. This is almost a 100% increase in prices compared to five years ago when I was there and yet, many still earn the same starting salary when I graduated from university nine years ago.

On top of that, car, housing, and petrol prices in Malaysia are completely outrageous compared with that in Europe (google the price and compare them to Malaysia’s). Remember, you can’t compare living standards by converting the currency – they earn in euro and spend in euro, we earn in ringgit and spend in ringgit.

Edwin Goh

Better safe than sorry
I AM a 57-year-old retiree. It is with great interest that I read your article on the need for people to save and to invest whatever funds they have to provide for a nest egg during retirement. There is no doubt about that. However, with regard to investment, it is sometimes frightening when the investment turns against you and instead of getting more value for money, one loses part of the principle sum. Although fixed deposits give you a lower return, it is much more secure, considering that one has between 20 and 35 years to live after retiring.

At retirement age, I feel we should not take any investment risks but instead go for calculated guaranteed returns such as fixed deposit and work out a plan to stretch the ringgit. At this age, we cannot take risks because when the investment turns against us, there is no way we can replace the loss

the Star Sunday June 3, 2007

READERS responded positively to Sunday Star’s front page story “Can you retire?” last week. Many sent in their feedback and described the “wake up” call for early planning for one’s retirement as a “community service”.

Many also felt more should be done by various parties, including the Government, to ensure that retirement does not become a burden on retirees. See readers’ views in accompanying story.

There were also queries on how one can effectively plan for one’s retirement. In response to such queries and for a more in-depth look at how people can invest their money at different stages of their lives, Sunday Star will feature a six-part series on financial management with retirement in mind.

The series, which begins next Sunday, will be written by the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia and seeks to cover the following areas:

How much money do I need when I retire?: The most frequently asked question and the most difficult to answer as it involves many factors and differs from individuals to individuals. We will look at some of the main considerations one needs to take into account.

When should I start my retirement planning: It is never too early to do so. We will introduce the magic of compounding, the capacity to take on more risk when one is younger and therefore avail oneself of opportunities with higher rewards.

Retirement planning is not for those about to retire.

Different folks, different plans: We will provide generic solutions to a few cases based on where people are in the life cycle eg. Young, single, working adults, married adults with young families, middle aged adults with college-going or working children.

DIY or work with Investment Advisers: We will examine the pros and cons of working out a retirement plan yourself or engaging a professional adviser, and in the case of the latter what are the questions to ask.

So are you ready for retirement: Besides the key issue of adequate financial resources, we will also look at other significant issues that impact a retiree’s well being, including health, social support, and continuing interest in the world around them.

Don’t forget estate planning: Retirees need to be reminded of the need and importance for proper estate planning so that their hard earned, accumulated wealth can be utilised optimally in the best possible manner to benefit their loved ones or causes.

About the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM)

FPAM was established in 1999 with the purpose of seeing to the proper development of the financial planning profession and industry. It introduced and administers the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) certification programme with the aim of ensuring that the industry is served by professional, properly certified and ethical financial advisers.

The CFP qualification is recognised by both the Securities Commission and Bank Negara for licensing purpose.

FPAM currently has 42 Charter and Corporate members and about 10,000 individual members, of which about 3,800 are fully Certified members.

Its Charter and Corporate members are drawn from a wide cross section of the financial sector. They include many of the major foreign and local banks, unit trust companies, life insurance companies, trustee firms, security houses and financial planning firms.

Its individual members are drawn from the ranks of these firms and also include those who are accountants, lawyers, members of the academia and the commercial sector.

FPAM is an affiliate of the Financial Planning Standards Board (www.fpsb.org), an international body that owns and oversees the development of the Certified Financial Planner mark and certification programme worldwide.

The Securities Industry Act 1983 requires any person who acts or represents himself as a financial planner to be licensed by the Securities Commission.

the Star Sunday May 27, 2007

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

“IF WE were to start EPF all over again, I think we should go for regular monthly payments like the pension scheme or phased withdrawals rather than having retirees take out their money in one lump sum,” says Rusma Ibrahim, the EPF deputy chief executive officer (organisational development and strategic planning).

Rusma: ‘The retirement age should be around 58 or 60’

Right now, 99.9% of the contributors withdraw their EPF savings in a lump sum once they reach 55.

And it is up to the contributors to manage that money. But sadly, EPF has found that contributors tend to go through that money rather quickly.

Their first survey shows that 70% of retirees use up all their EPF money within three years after retiring. A second survey done in 2004 shows them doing better – they managed to stretch their money up to 10 years.

But that might not be good enough given the fact that people tend to live a lot longer these days. In Malaysia, life expectancy for women is 76 years and for men 72 years, which means that after retirement they have to support another 20 years of living.

And on average, contributors have RM106,000 in their EPF account when they retire; and for a number of people the EPF is their only form of savings.

“If one reaches 55, the probability is he could live until 80 even up to 83. But you can’t stretch that RM100,000 for 30 years. It’s not possible,” says Rusma.

While the private sector is deemed to offer better salaries and perks and a lump sum in the EPF, ironically it is the civil servants who tend to have it better after retirement.

Their monthly pension, which is half their last drawn pay, assures them at least of a continuous source of income regardless of how long they live.

“A good pension scheme is one where there must be regular payment. The quantum will differ but at least you are guaranteed of something,” says Rusma.

An annuity-like scheme for EPF where retirees get monthly payments, she adds, would have “insured” people against the longevity risk “but we didn’t start off that way.”

But the EPF, she points out, is only one source of savings. Ideally, there should be a multi-pillar system where one can rely on other sources for retirement income.

“This is something there has been discussions on. The Government can provide the policy but the market has to respond by coming up with private pension or annuity schemes for those who can afford it,” she adds.

Another way is to continue working for as long as possible. Rusma believes 55 is much too early to retire given the fact that people are still active and productive at that age.

“Going by the life expectancy, the retirement age should be around 58 or 60. It would make a lot of difference accumulating savings for another five years.

“Even in developed countries, people are talking about how to make people remain in employment for as long as possible,” she adds.

In Malaysia, because of the extended family support system, parents tend to think that “worse comes to worse” their children will take care of them and tend not to look at retirement as a problem.

“But like it or not, this support system is breaking down because of lifestyle changes. People are getting married later and having fewer kids. The children may be working in the city and parents are back in kampung and this physical distance contributes to the problem,” she says.

Rusma points out that planning when to get married and when to have children too are part and parcel of financial planning as these impact on one’s retirement.

“Ideally, when you retire, you should have settled your liabilities. If you had planned properly, your house and car should have been paid up and your children should have finished their education and should have started working, otherwise they would be a burden on you.”

And with inflation and medical costs going up, Rusma cautions, holidays after retirement have to be sacrificed.

“That’s only for the well to do. That’s the reality. Of course all of us have dreams. I have that dream too to go off to South Africa after retirement. But can I afford it? That’s the reality.”

So her advice is for people to continue working as long as they can be productive, to stay healthy and to start saving from young to take care of the future

Urus Wang Anda: Wanita perlu simpanan persaraan lebih banyak
Oleh Azli Ayob
azliayob@bharian.com.my

KEUTAMAAN: Golongan wanita bekerja perlu sedar mengenai kos sara hidup selepas bersara.

Kajian dapati golongan hawa kurang melabur, terlalu kerap bertukar kerja

UMUMNYA wanita mempunyai jangka hayat yang lebih lama berbanding lelaki. Secara purata wanita akan hidup selama 22 tahun selepas persaraan berbanding 19 tahun bagi lelaki.

Ini bermakna golongan wanita perlu mempunyai simpanan persaraan yang lebih banyak daripada lelaki.

Namun, kealpaan mengenai keperluan menyimpan untuk persaraan atau hanya mula menyimpan untuk persaraan ketika sudah menghampiri usia bersara, kebanyakan wanita mengalami kesulitan wang apabila sudah tidak bekerja.

Mengikut satu kajian di Amerika Syarikat (AS), golongan wanita berkenaan hanya mula menyimpan bagi tujuan kegunaan persaraan di saat-saat akhir.

Selain itu, wanita juga sering bertukar kerja yang boleh menyebabkan pendapatan mereka tidak menentu dan kehilangan pendapatan ketika mencari kerja baru.

BERMANFAAT: Wanita wajar meneliti peluang ditawarkan pelaburan saham amanah.

Justeru, untuk mengelak perkara sama, wanita yang secara umumnya mempunyai pendapatan lebih kecil daripada lelaki atau mengalami proses kenaikan pangkat yang lebih lambat berbanding daripada lelaki, perlu membuat persediaan awal bagi persaraan.

Perancang kewangan pada kebiasaannya mencadangkan wanita supaya menyimpan dua peratus lebih banyak daripada lelaki pada setiap tahun untuk tempoh 30 tahun mereka bekerja.

Ini bagi membolehkan mereka apabila bersara kelak dapat mengekalkan gaya hidup sama seperti dilalui ketika mendapat bayaran gaji setiap bulan semasa mereka bekerja.

Simpanan lebih tinggi daripada lelaki itu juga perlu bagi memastikan mereka mempunyai kemampuan mencukupi bagi membayar kos perubatan dan keperluan hidup lain yang semakin tinggi.

Kajian Hewitt Associates, sebuah firma pengurusan sumber manusia antarabangsa, mendapati terdapat beberapa kelemahan di kalangan wanita hari ini.

Kajian mendapati mereka mula menyimpan bagi persaraan agak lewat, kurang melabur dan terlalu kerap berhenti kerja atas alasan keluarga. Ini menyebabkan mereka kehilangan pendapatan berjumlah beribu-ribu ringgit, selain kehilangan peluang kenaikan pangkat atau mendapat manfaat lain daripada majikan.

Meskipun kajian Hewitt itu membabitkan wanita di AS, tetapi keadaannya adalah hampir sama seperti di negara ini dan boleh dijadikan panduan serta kesedaran mengenai keperluan menyimpan bagi persaraan.

Kajian berkenaan membabitkan hampir dua juta wanita yang sedang bekerja di 72 syarikat utama di negara berkenaan.

Penulis kajian itu, Alison Borland, berkata tabiat menyimpan wanita didapati tidak banyak berubah jika dibanding dengan beberapa tahun lalu.

Secara keseluruhan, empat daripada lima lelaki dan wanita tidak mempunyai simpanan mencukupi untuk mengekalkan gaya hidup sama apabila mereka sudah tidak bekerja.

Hewitt menganggarkan selepas bersara setiap pekerja perlu menggantikan 126 peratus daripada gaji mereka jika mahu mengekalkan gaya hidup dan keselesaan yang sama seperti mereka kecapi sekarang.

Ini bermakna mereka perlu mempunyai wang belanja yang lebih tinggi ketika bersara disebabkan kos perubatan dan sara hidup lain adalah lebih tinggi apabila mereka bersara kelak.

Bagaimanapun, disebabkan wanita mempunyai jangka hayat yang lebih lama daripada lelaki, wanita perlu memikirkan untuk menyimpan lebih banyak dan mula menyimpan untuk persaraan lebih awal daripada lelaki.

Malah, kehidupan mereka juga akan menjadi lebih selesa apabila tidak lagi mempunyai hutang yang perlu dilunaskan.

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