7 Common Misconceptions Malaysians Have About Money

Millennials are in pretty bad financial shape. According to a study by the Asian Institute of Finance (AIF), 38% of Gen Ys in the report shared that they have personal loans and 47% engaged in expensive credit card borrowings, while only 28% felt confident in their financial literacy.

With this figure, we can’t help but wonder if it’s our culture or (lack of) education that may have led this group of young adults to where they are today. Though we believe that everyone should take responsibility for their decisions and actions, there are financial misconceptions that continue to exist among Malaysians today and it is affecting the whole community.

7 Financial Misconceptions That Are Badly Affecting Malaysians

1. Owing Money Is Bad

Since a young age, we have heard our parents and elders repeatedly tell us that owing people money is the worst state you can put yourself in. The worst part is this keeps many Malaysians away from legit and credible financial institutions or banks.

Here’s the thing, there are so many personal loans, balance transfer plans, zero-interest instalment and cash advance options in the market today that allow consumers to resolve their financial issues or achieve certain goals at low-interest rates.

The misconception that owing money equals a bad situation is still commonly found in the suburban and rural areas, who by default are less aware and have less access to information of ways to handle debt. To be frank, auto loans, mortgage, personal loans and credit cards can be used to our advantage if we understand how to use them in the right ways.

These are the most important questions that Malaysians should be asking when it comes to debt:

2. Owning a Credit Card is Bad

Owning a credit card is often misinterpreted as someone who loves to splurge their money and live on pay check to pay check. Similar to the previous misconception, owning a credit card is considered bad when the user does not know how to optimise the card features and when it is used in an uncontrollable fashion, which leads him/her into piles of debt.

The truth is, a credit card can be extremely useful when you can enjoy a zero interest rate instalment for a high lump sum purchase, save money on your daily expenses through cashback, or even enjoy exclusive promotions offered by the banks.

Another benefit of owning a credit card is you have a higher chance for loan approvals in the future if you own a credit card and pay the outstanding every month.

3. A Bank Is The Best Place To Grow Your Money

While it is somewhat true that the bank is one of the options to manage your cash flow, there are many valid alternatives out there that offer higher returns than the interest rates on fixed deposits or savings accounts offered by the banks.

You can choose to invest your money in unit trust, stocks market, bonds or start a business of your own that may bring a higher return than what banks are offering.

By creating a balanced portfolio, you don’t have to take out all of your money to invest but keeping it all in the bank is not going to grow your money any faster than inflation too. Hence, you should allocate a portion of your monthly income in investment alternatives with the stable return, than others in stocks market or unit trust, depending on your preference.

4. You Should Prioritise Finding Passive Income

While it is important to have passive income (which is income that rolls in every month without you working for it), you should be paying even more attention to your main income, whether you are employed, a business owner or freelancer. Many Malaysians have been focusing a little too much on getting passive income which leads to backfiring results in the country today such as fast income scams or getting fired from their main job due to lack of performance.

If you are smart enough, you should focus more on your main job and find ways to improve your income from your jobs such as getting adequate qualifications or a part-time job for side income. We are not saying that passive income is irrelevant, but prioritising your main income should be the way to protect yourself financially.

While making sure you are doing it right in the main job, it makes sense for you to start looking at ways to grow the money you saved from your income through savings or investment.

5. Higher Spending Equals A Better Quality Life

Millennials are falling for the social and luxurious lifestyle, which can be lethal to themselves in the near future. By falsely believing that higher spending equals to a better quality life is scarily common among Malaysians, especially in the cities.

We are not pointing fingers at anyone, however, we believe that parents play an important role in educating their children about financial literacy and its relation to moral values. For instance, educate your children to compare the market for the best goods or services in terms of value, get the most bang for your buck, instead of spending recklessly based on impulsive shopping behaviours.

There are Malaysians who believe that spending thousands of ringgit on outfits and brands will somehow make them look like high-income net-worth individuals. Yet, this shallow culture has negatively impacted our community by embracing the superficial and materialistic mindset among the younger, and more vulnerable, ones.

Also, this puts you at risk at buying overpriced goods if you believe that a higher price equals better quality. You might fall into the trap and paying too much.

6. You Should Earn RMxx by a Certain Age

While it is generally a good thing to set a target of earning a certain amount by a certain age, many Malaysians are too focused on this and end up judging others including their loved ones based on their income. This behaviour also perpetuates the superficial and materialistic society we are living in today.

(Don’t think necessary to explain, quite repetitive)Apart from age, it is important to know that there are many factors that affect your income such as your education background, experience, skillset, endorsements, and most importantly, your attitude at work. In fact, age plays a small role in determining one’s career enhancement if he/she has got what it takes to be a leader, manager, or a decision maker.

So for those who are insecure about themselves when it comes to age and income, we strongly advise you to be the best at what you are good at and do not let anyone’s negative judgement affect you!

7. Be A Cheapskate

Saving money is a virtue, but that does not mean you have to be the most cheapskate person in town just to save extra pennies. When it comes to money, the only thing that matters is value. There are many things in life that offer great value even if it is not obvious such as a medical insurance or a getaway.

Imagine if you live with a restrained budget over ten years without any form of entertainment or even a slight taste of deluxe pleasures, you are probably not treating yourself or your loved ones right.

We hope this brings a new viewpoint from you towards money. Let us know if you have more misconceptions about money to share!

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The Difference between Gold, Platinum and Premium Credit Cards

Ever stare at a credit card catalogue and wonder what the differences were between Gold, Platinum and Premium credit cards? Its' actually not as complicated as you may think!

Gold and platinum and, above them, premium credit cards have long been financial shorthand for products offered to consumers with high financial status - that is, large incomes and excellent credit ratings.

But what are the main differences that separate these cards?

Income Requirement

In Malaysia, the absolute minimum income you need in order to own a credit card is RM24,000 p.a. (that’s RM2,000 per month) and this usually applies to classic and gold credit cards. The minimum income requirement to own a platinum card in Malaysia is RM60,000 p.a.

Going a step further, there are also 'premium' credit cards which have steep income requirements (often RM100,000 p.a. or more) and exclusive 'invite-only' credit cards which normally need you to have a certain amount of your assets under management (AUM) with the bank.

Credit Limit

Under the new credit card guidelines introduced by Bank Negara Malaysia on 18 March 2011, the maximum credit limit that can be extended to you cannot exceed more than 2 times your monthly income. So, if you just meet the income requirement for your credit card, then a platinum credit card is going to have a higher credit limit compared to a gold card.

Annual Fee

In general, the more "exclusive” cards are often accompanied by steeper annual fees.

Platinum cards usually have a higher annual fee compared to their gold counterparts. For example, the Hong Leong Wise Platinum has an annual fee of RM300 compared to the Hong Leong Wise Gold’s RM160.

There is some good news though – a fair amount of cards in the market don’t even impose an annual fee, and if they do it can usually be waived simply by swiping your credit card 12 times a year.

Rewards and Benefits

Perhaps the main difference between these cards is the additional rewards and benefits provided. Premium credit cards are often unique and tend to offer better cashback, higher reward point multipliers and more attractive benefits compared to platinum and gold cards – but then again, you would have to be earning a lot of money to own one!

The Citi Prestige Card is a good example. Cardholders can accumulate Citi Rewards Points which never expire. On top of that, loyal cardholders will be given tiered rewards of up to 40% cashback on annual spending based on the number of years they have been a customer. Fantastic benefits! - did we mention that the minimum income required to own this card is RM200,000 p.a.?

Platinum cards are usually quite similar to their gold counterparts, offering maybe an extra benefit or two.

For example, the Hong Leong Platinum Visa Card comes with a personal accident insurance of up to RM1.7 million; with the gold card you get RM750,000, and RM350,000 with the classic card. Overseas coverage is offered for the platinum card but not for both the gold and classic cards.

Is it really worth getting a platinum or premium card?

Yes it is. Like we said previously, most credit cards in the market often waive their annual fee or even have no annual fee at all. Aside from the yearly RM50 service tax, that's pretty much the only cost you'll incur - so why not enjoy the extra benefits and flashy new design

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Why Credit Cards Are A Type of Loan

Credit cards can be used to your advantage, provided that you use it wisely. You need to understand how a credit card works in order to get the most from it.

Did you know that 47% of Gen Ys in Malaysia have high credit card debt? A report by Asian Institute of Finance also stated that 70% of Gen Y who owns credit cards only paid the minimum monthly payment, while 45% do not pay off their credit card debt on time. That’s not it, 40% Gen Y in Malaysia also admitted to spending more than they can afford.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, we’ll explain more on credit cards better understanding will help you to enjoy the advantages of using one. Read on to understand why a credit card is a type of loan so you don’t get into financial trouble by misusing it.

A Credit Card is NOT Free Cash

When you pay for a restaurant meal using a dining credit card, your credit card company is actually lending you the funds needed to pay for your bill. You have to then pay back your credit card company within the 30-day statement.

Do also understand that your credit limit is not free cash. The most important distinction between cash and credit cards is that cash can be considered an asset, while a credit card is a possible liability. Cash is an asset because it can add towards your net worth. Having money won’t disadvantage you, except that if you have more you have to pay for higher taxes.

However, a credit card is actually a type of loan that can facilitate your payments. If you are unable to pay off your credit card bill in full before the 30-day statement ends, you are actually taking on a loan. But, this is a loan with a very high interest rate. In Malaysia, the maximum interest rate on credit cards is 18% per annum!

When you take on a loan, it means you are in debt, and remember that debt subtracts from your net worth. This is why credit cards can be a liability if not managed properly.

But, You Can Choose to Not Use It as A Loan

Even though a credit card can be considered a liability, and is actually a type of loan, here is how to use it wisely.

• Make sure you pay off the full amount spent on your credit card every month. Do not carry forward a balance and always pay more than minimum.
• Do not use it to withdraw cash from the ATMs. Using it to get a cash advance, will cause you to be charged with high-interest Banks usually charge the maximum of 18% on any ATM withdrawals because it’s immediate cash-in-hand that you owe the bank.
• Understand the effect of compound interest. Compounding interest means that interest is charged on top of any interest that you owe. To understand more about how compound interest works, read here.
• Pay your credit card bills on time, within the 20 days interest free period.
• If you cannot pay for it in cash, you cannot afford it. Only swipe for things that you can repay in full.
• Don’t use a card to make ends meet.

If you are not careful, you can find yourself struggling just to keep up with the minimum payments on your credit card every month. If you are in a situation where you need a loan, it will be better for you to apply for a personal loan, or opt for a balance transfer. This is because the lower interest rates a personal loan offers, and the longer interest-free period from a balance transfer, can help you pay back the loan in a timely and manageable manner.

Maximise the Rewards When You Spend with Your Credit Card

The most attractive thing about using credit cards are the many rewards, privileges and benefits it gives you. From air miles and reward points to exclusive discounts and cash rebates, there are many ways credit cards help you save money, or it can give you more value for your spending. But this only works if you use your credit cards responsibly and wisely, and maintain a zero balance across all your cards. You’ll see how credit cards can be better than cash.

When used correctly, credit cards are beneficial and rewarding. Your credit cards offer convenience, allowing you to make purchases without needing a ton of cash on you. With interest-free periods of 20 days, credit cards can also be safely used to provide short-term liquidity, but you must be disciplined to pay your credit card bill timely.

Aside from that, with a credit card you also get the advantage of using the easy payment plan (EPP). Essentially, it is a feature that gives you flexibility to use your credit card to make payment for a substantial amount, then repay it in instalments within a certain period.

The duration for the instalments will depend on the financial institutions or credit card issuers. However it usually ranges from 3 months to 24 months. EPPs are useful for larger purchases such as electrical items and furniture. However, there are certain things you need to know to take advantage of this feature. To know more, click here.

Perhaps the most attractive reason to use credit cards are the privileges and perks they provide. Therefore, your main reason for using credit cards should be to benefit from the rewards and the convenience it provides, do not look at it as having “extra” money to spend.  Remember to always pay off your credit card bills on time and in full instead of just making the minimum monthly payments.

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How to Pay for Tolls at Cashless Toll Plazas Across Malaysia

Beginning Monday, 14 August 2017, all 177 toll plazas in Malaysia will no longer accept cash as payment. Also known as Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), this is an effort to reduce congestion on highways and toll plazas nationwide.

 Currently, only 158 toll plazas accept cashless payments and are fully electronic. Did you know:

• Cash payments (manual) take 15 seconds
• Touch ‘n Go payment takes 6 seconds
• SmartTAG payment takes 3 seconds.

“By using ETC, there is a decrease of 15%-20% in traffic congestion, and this reduces stress and anger of motorists on the road,” said Dr Noor Azmi, Malaysia Highway Authority (MHA) chairman.

To help you prepare for the move to cashless tolls and highways, here are the ways you can pay for the toll in Malaysia.

PLUSMiles Touch ‘n Go cards

PLUSMiles program is a customer loyalty programme developed by Projek Lebuhraya Usahasama Berhad (PLUS Berhad). Essentially, PLUSMiles Touch ‘n Go cards are to reward highway users who use the card for toll payments. The PLUSMiles Touch ‘n Go card can be used at all highways, as well as at other service providers, similar to a normal Touch ‘n Go card.

Basic requirements to become a member are:

• All 18 years old and above customers who reside in Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand
• Registration is compulsory
• All vehicle classes
• Entitlement for 5% PLUSMiles Toll Rebate and Points Rewards are only applicable to Private Vehicle Class 1 only

The benefits when using PLUSMiles Touch ‘n Go card are:

• 5% toll rebate
• points rewards
• discount and other privileges

Users of PLUSMiles will be entitled to the 5% toll rebate when their toll usage exceeds RM100 monthly at PLUS highways. However, this will exclude the Bukit Kayu Hitam Toll Plaza, Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Toll Plaza, Tanjung Kupang Toll Plaza and Penang Bridge. You can also enjoy special discounts and offers from selected PLUSMiles participating merchants. Current offers available for PLUSMiles can be viewed at www.plusmiles.com.my.

Touch ‘n Go cards

Touch ‘n Go is perhaps the most utilized electronic payment option for tolls in Malaysia. It is a prepaid smart card that uses contactless technology. The information contained in this card can be read and written via magnetic induction using specific radio frequency and smartcard software. There are different types of Touch ‘n Go cards as per below:

• Basic Touch ‘n Go Card: This is the basic card and costs RM10.60 including GST. You will need to top-up to reload your card with value.

• Touch ‘n Go Zing: This card has an auto-reload function. It is linked with the user’s credit or debit card account which will debited with the auto reload value. It is available for all VISA, MasterCard, AMEX and debit card holders of participating banks which are:
  • CIMB Zing Card
  • Maybankard Touch ‘n Go Zing
  • Hong Leong Bank Berhad (Debit)
  • Hong Leong Bank Berhad (Credit)
  • Bank Simpanan Nasional Berhad
  • Affin Bank Touch ‘n Go MasterCard Gold
  • Affin Bank Touch ‘n Go MasterCard Classic
  • AEON Credit Malaysia Berhad
• Tesco Clubcard: Card holders can enjoy Tesco Clubcard and TnG It can also be used as a prepaid smartcard at selected Tesco stores and other Touch ‘n Go participating outlets.

• Watsons VIP Card: A 2-in-1 card that provides reward points for Watson VIP members in addition to the benefits you are entitled to with Touch ‘n

• Touch ‘n Go Photocard: Personalize this card face design with your own chosen photo or graphic. The card is priced at RM21.20, and is sold at Touch ‘n Go Customer Experience Centre Bangsar South, NU Sentral Hub and Wisma Nufri Johor Bahru Hub.

Touch ‘n Go cards can be purchased at:

• Touch ‘n Go Hubs
• Touch ‘n Go SPOTs at selected petrol stations
• Touch ‘n Go Sales Counters located at highways such as PLUS, ELITE, Ampang KL Elevated Highway, Penang Bridge, Besraya, SILK, Linkedua, New Pantai Expressway, Metramac and Shapadu.
• Selected PETRONAS Stations, LRT Stations and third party agents.

You can also click here for an interactive map find a location nearest to you to purchase a Touch ‘n Go card. To reload your Touch ‘n Go card, click here for locations without any reload fees, and here to see reload locations with fees. As for the reload fees, it is RM0.53 sen per each reload at reload locations that charge a reload fee.

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Which Is The Best Mobile Plan In Malaysia?

It’s pretty obvious that Malaysians love their smartphones when they are willing to spend RM6.8 billion on the gadget!

In fact, it has become almost an addiction, where according to a Nielsen report, 55% of Malaysians get anxious when their smartphones are not near them. The need to have a mobile device that keeps us connected all the time has pervaded the Malaysian lifestyle enough that it comes to no surprise that there is a high demand for the best deals in terms of calls and data plans.

But which mobile plan really give you the best deal to fuel your love for your smartphones? There’s a lot of talk and preference individually, but here’s the breakdown of what you need to know when choosing the right mobile plan.

1. Internet data

Most mobile plans nowadays come with a certain amount of data, but if you are short of data, or you have way too much unused data at the end of every month, it’s time to review your plan. You could be paying more than you need to by subscribing to a plan that is not suitable for your usage.

If you have fallen for a cheap advertised price of a mobile plan only to discover that you will end up paying much more, then it’s important for you to really compare what you are getting for each gigabyte of data.

According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in their Handphone Users Survey 2014, 71.4% of handphone users admitted they are obsessed with their phone.

One in two Malaysians are smartphone users now,  making mobile data increasingly important to mobile users in the country.

If you have fallen for a cheap advertised price of a mobile plan only to discover that you will end up paying much more, then it’s important for you to really compare what you are getting for each gigabyte of data.

How much is the average price per GB?

Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
RM4.22	RM5.05	RM4.47	Unlimited

Maxis continues to win when it comes to the best value on average price per GB, being from one of the most expensive telcos before to now having the most affordable plan when it comes to data. But if you’re looking at average price per GB for specific plans, Celcom First Platinum offers up to 30GB on weekdays and another 30GB on weekends. That’s 60GB per month and RM2.50 average price per GB! This is perfect if you are always on your phone, streaming your favourite shows or gaming all day long.

But there’s an obvious winner here…

The winner

Upon unveiling the Unlimited Hero P78 plan, U Mobile wins in this category as they offer unlimited data, so you don’t have to worry about not having enough data! However, if you are thinking of using your smartphone as a hotspot for other devices, there is a caveat. You’re only allowed up to 10GB as a hotspot for free.

2. Calls & texts

Once upon a time, we use our phones to make calls and to send SMSes. Though these may not be the most used functions today, it is still important to ensure that they won’t drive your phone bill up.

It’s pretty common for telcos to offer unlimited calls and text nowadays, but some still don’t. If you like to talk on the phone for hours, then you have to pay attention. The thing with telcos is, they will never include their weak spots on those promotional leaflets and banners, and hence, it is up to us to weed out the details.

Which plan offers unlimited calls?

Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
All MaxisONE plans	FIRST Gold, Gold  Plus & Platinum plans	Digi Postpaid 80,  Digi Postpaid 110	All U Mobile P series

Which plan offers unlimited SMS?

Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
All MaxisONE  plans	FIRST Platinum plan	None	None

For this one, only Maxis and Celcom have plans that offer unlimited calls and texts. But for Celcom, the First Platinum Plan is the only one to offer both unlimited calls and text, whereas all of Maxis ONE plans come with unlimited calls and texts.

Other plans from Celcom do offer unlimited WhatsApp and WeChat data, two popular texting apps that utilise data which can be a better alternative. There’s also U Mobile offering unlimited data with the P78 which makes it possible to text more via their unlimited data. But if you need that unlimited text option due to work or other reasons, then Maxis has got your back no matter what.

The winner

Maxis ONE plans win this category as ALL their plans have unlimited calls and text. The only thing that will change your package price is the data you need. But if unlimited calls and texts isn’t what you’re looking for, then you can opt for cheaper plans with more data.

3. Carry forward unused data

What happens if you don’t use up all the data quota? Previously, the unused data was forfeited and you start on a clean slate the next month.

But, why waste what you have already paid for? Two telcos allow you to bring forward unused Internet to the following month. What this feature does is carry forward a certain amount of unused data to the following month, so technically, your data won’t be wasted.

Which plan offers carry forward of unused data?

Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
None	FIRST Blue plan	All postpaid  plans	None

Digi’s plans come with a rollover cap data that ranges between 500MB to 9GB, depending on the plan. It may not be a lot if you have a lot of unused data, but it’s better than having all of your unused data forfeited every month. For the First Blue Plan by Celcom, they only offer up to 1GB for the rollover.

These are cool features to have especially if your data usage varies month to month. Maxis and U Mobile do not offer these at the moment.

The winner

Digi wins in this category as all their plans come with a rollover feature, though the amount of data varies per plan. Plans like Digi Postpaid 68 and above have a rollover quota of 2GB and above, which is a lot more than the First Blue Plan by Celcom with only 1GB.

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4. Share lines

One of the best ways to lower your household mobile phone bills is to opt for mobile share lines. However, to ensure you truly maximise your plan, you will have to do the maths.

First of all, consider how much data you and your family need, and then look for the cheapest plan for the amount of data you need. Some plans do not allow sharing of principal’s data. This will make getting a principal line with high data plan pretty useless.

Here’s a comparison of data sharing among all the telcos:

How much does line sharing cost?

	Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
Price per  share line	RM48	RM30	RM10	RM20
Data sharing  with principal  line	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Additional data  per share line	10GB (5GB weekdays  & 5GB  weekends)	2GB	10GB	None
Restrictions	Only for Maxis  ONE plans	FIRST Blue,  Gold & Platinum  plans	Only for Digi  Postpaid 80 plan.  Other plans vary  for the price and  additional data.	Only for  P70 and P98  plans
Maximum number  of supplementary  lines	5	5	6	3
Cost per line  with 1 supplementary  line	Maxis ONE 128  (RM128 + RM48)/2 = RM176/2 = RM88	FIRST Gold RM80 (RM80 + RM30)/2 = RM55	Digi Postpaid 80 (RM80 + RM10)/2 = RM45	U Mobile P70 (RM50 + RM20)/2 = RM45

* Depends on the principal plan. The lower plans have lower maximum supplementary lines number. 
**Digi is currently running a promotion where for a limited time users can select three supplementary-line options.

Both Digi Postpaid 80 and U Mobile P70 offer the lowest cost per line for two shared lines, but which is the real winner?

The winner

Digi wins this category because they allow up to six supplementary lines. So if you need more than three share lines, Digi would save you more. While U Mobile has an affordable price as well, they don’t offer extra data unless you pay RM50, where you’re given an extra 3GB per line. This will then make it less affordable and there’s no extra data to enjoy in the long run.

5. Data roaming

With cheaper airfares, it’s not surprising to find yourself travelling to another country every other month, if not week. Though airfare may be affordable, if you are not careful, your mobile bill can kill you with frightening roaming charges.

Data roaming has become increasingly common and most telcos understand the needs to offer affordable and easy to use data roaming plan.

How much is data roaming?

	Maxis MaxisONE World	Celcom 1 Day Internet Pass	Digi Roam10	U Mobile Roam Onz
Price per day	RM38	RM38	RM10*	FREE
Number of  countries	8	Worldwide	41	12
Data quota	Available data in  DataPool	500MB to  Unlimited*	50MB	5GB or 8GB**

* Data quota depend on the country of roaming.

*It can go as low as RM5 depending on the country.

** Vary according to the plan that you get

The winner

U Mobile definitely stands out as there are no additional costs when you’re in 12 of the countries listed for the data roaming plan. For countries not listed, U Mobile charges RM10 to RM36 per day, depending on the country. Either way, they’re still the cheapest compared to other telcos, making them the clear winner in terms of affordability.
But if you’re looking in terms of widest coverage, Celcom wins as they offer worldwide coverage, though the amount of data offered isn’t much.

6. Additional nice-to-have features

There are many things you can do on your smartphone – stream movies, listen to music, GPS and many more. These things consume data, and to help you save data, so you can use it for other more important things (like upload your 500th photo on Instagram), telcos come up with some pretty interesting add-ons.

Here are some of the interesting add-ons that make your telco so much sweeter to you:

What are the add-ons?

Maxis	Celcom	Digi	U Mobile
3 months of unlimited access to iflix and more	Unlimited data for social apps	Free 100GB photos & videos storage on Capture (without data)	Unlimited use of WAZE
1 year premium subscription to iflix for just RM1
30-day complimentary trial for Viu, Hopster, HeroTalkies and Eros Now	FREE subscription to Yonder Music and/or iflix for 12 months	Free iflix for 60 days	Unlimited streaming of music for 21 partners
60-day complimentary trial for tonton and Lebara
1-month free trial to Netflix			Unlimited data for social networks Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
RM1 deals where you can choose from 2 4G devices and 2 months
FREE Share Line, 1 year of unlimited entertainment, or a new smartphone.

# Required to be registered via Maxis. 
#* Applicable for U Mobile Hero P70, i90 and i130 plans
**Promotion extended till December 31, 2017. 

Maxis has plenty to offer with many options and add-ons that are either free trials of services for 30 days or up to 3 months or are RM1 deals, none of which are free or last long during your subscription. Celcom offers unlimited data for social apps, which can be useful. But…

The winner

But the real winner goes to U Mobile for offering unlimited usage for many apps commonly used by Malaysians, which includes Waze, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify and more, especially for the P98 plan.

7. Quality of service

This has always been quite subjective among the mobile users, as some are pretty happy with what’s being offered by telcos, while others expressed regret and disappointment when they ported out of a telco to another.

However, numbers don’t lie.

According to OpenSignal, a source on coverage and performance of mobile operators worldwide, Maxis leads the way in 4G coverage. In a three-month test period run by OpenSignal, Maxis 4G users were able to connect to its LTE network 70% of the time.

This is much better than its competitors in the country, but also gives it an edge over majority of the operators worldwide.

The winner

However, when it comes to speed, it’s a draw for Maxis, Digi and U Mobile with average LTE download speeds between 12 and 14 Mbps. According to the findings, Celcom comes up last in speed, coverage and latency, though it performs much better in the Klang Valley.

To help you determine if the telco will perform well at your home or work area, you can always use OpenSignal to test. This can be done before you decide to terminate and switch to another telco to avoid disappointment.

And the winner is…

Based on the detailed comparison above, the winner that offers the cheapest per gigabyte rate, with other perks is U Mobile. It is the only provider that offers free roaming with their Roam Onz package, making it the perfect provider for frequent travelers. However, do check if your destination is within the 12 countries listed.

Choosing the right mobile plan should be more than just the price. If you are living or working in area that has weak signals for that particular mobile provider, having the cheapest plan with the highest data will not do you any good as well.

If you really need a lot of data, then U Mobile is the clear winner, however, it does not come with the additional add-ons such as Internet rollover of unused data.

Even though Maxis upgraded its plan significantly, it is still expensive compared to its peer. Perhaps, if you really believe Maxis offers the best coverage and speed where you are, paying a premium for quality is worth it.

With a lot of more competition and attractive options available, Malaysian mobile users can truly compare and make good choices when it comes to mobile plan subscription.

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