EPF Declares 4.50 % Dividend For 2008

Yesterday 16 March 2009, The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend of 4.50 percent for 2008, lower than the 5.8 percent in 2007.

The lower dividend rate is due to the increase in investment provisioning resulting from the sharp decline in global equity prices brought about by the worldwide financial crisis, the pension fund said in a statement here Monday.

Despite the financial meltdown, the EPF recorded the highest ever earnings of RM20 billion in gross income for 2008, an increase of 9.36 percent over the previous year's gross income of RM18.29 billion.

"While the year 2008 was challenging due to the unprecedented global financial crisis that has impacted economies worldwide, EPF's investment portfolio for the year performed better at the gross income level compared to 2007. However, due to the sharp decline in the equity markets, a large provision had to be made resulting in a marked reduction in net income," its chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said.

My comments :-

EPF main role to keep save EPF contributors money for their retirement has made the organisation keep a conservative approach in investing the EPF fund. However, you and me as EPF contributor has the right to choose whether to keep all our money with EPF or to transfer some of Account I to the Unit Trust Management Consultant (UTMC).

Ask yourself this.. when you have the option to transfer some of your EPF fund to UTMC to get more return in Unit trust fund, should I keep my money in EPF? What is the risk if I put some of my Account I money to the UTMC?

Get some tips from few expert :-

1) Can You Retire ?

2) We all need to be Millionaire

3) Opportunities in Crisis

4) How to make Unit Trust work for you

I hope this info will give you some idea how you can start building your Financial Fortress. Kindly call 012-2892366 for enquiry.

Gunakan masa terluang dengan kaedah sempurna

Rasulullah SAW bersabda yang bermaksud:

“Pergunakanlah lima sebelum datang lima perkara. Masa mudamu sebelum masa tuamu, masa kayamu sebelum masa miskinmu, masa lapangmu sebelum masa sempitmu dan masa hidupmu sebelum masa matimu.”

Sabda Rasulullah SAW yang bermaksud:

“Apabila sudah tiba waktu pagi, maka jangan tunggu sampai petang, apabila sudah tiba waktu petang maka jangan tunggu sampai waktu pagi. Oleh sebab itu, pergunakanlah waktu hidupmu untuk bekal kematianmu, dan pergunakanlah waktu sihatmu untuk waktu sakitmu.”

Public Mutual wins award for second year

Monday November 24, 2008

PUBLIC Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary Public Mutual won the “Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager” award for the second consecutive year at the 5th KLIFF Islamic Finance awards 2008 held recently.

Public Mutual chairman Tan Sri Dr Teh Hong Piow said in a statement:

“This award represents the 121st award won by Public Mutual since 1999. Winning the award not only reinforces our position in the Islamic unit trust industry but also affirms our commitment to excellence.”

As at end of September, Public Mutual managed 24 Islamic funds with total Islamic assets under management of RM8.5bil, which represented 50.7% market share of the private Islamic unit trust industry.

Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company with 67 funds under management. The total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM24.1bil as at end September.

Etiqa Named Most Outstanding Takaful Company

Award presented in conjunction with the fifth Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2008

Etiqa Takaful Berhad was named the most outstanding takaful company at the 5th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum 2008 (KLIFF 2008) Awards ceremony held on Tuesday, 18 November 2008. The award was presented by Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Finance Minister II. Dato' Aminuddin Md Desa, the newly appointed chief executive officer of Mayban Fortis Holdings Berhad accepted the award as the Director of Etiqa Takaful.

"This award reflects the culmination of efforts by the Etiqa staff who are dynamic and creative, constantly improving to ensure that Etiqa lives up to its promise of Humanizing Insurance and takaful by placing people over policies. We've executed with many initiatives to simplify things for our customers, to ensure that our customers become more familiar with takaful as well as to make the entire purchase and claims process easier for them," said Dato' Aminuddin.

Etiqa Takaful is the largest takaful company in Malaysia with 12,000 agents and a takaful shareholders fund of RM 276 million by the end of financial year 07/08. Earlier this year, Etiqa Takaful was hailed for its innovative and people-centric marketing approach, and was awarded the prestigious Best Takaful Marketing award at the International Takaful Awards held in conjunction with the International Takaful Summit 2008 in London.

The award ceremony saw 13 companies involved in Islamic Financing awarded in different categories such as Most Outstanding Institution for Contribution to Islamic Finance, Most Outstanding Shariah Board for Contribution to Islamic Finance, Most Outstanding Islamic Bank, Most Innovative Products in Sukuk and Most outstanding Business Advisory & Consulting Firm among others.

"We are pleased that our efforts in taking insurance and takaful to a personal level have bore fruit. This award will definitely push us to strive towards being the takaful player in people's hearts," he further added.

Etiqa is the single master brand for insurance and takaful businesses under Mayban Fortis Holdings Berhad, the insurance and takaful arm of Maybank Group. The brand essence of Etiqa - humanizing insurance and takaful - is supported by four brand attributes namely performance with conscience, crystal clear, hand-in-hand and rock solid.

OCTOBER INFLATION UP 7.6%

October inflation up 7.6% on-yr, down 0.4% on-month

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s inflation rate rose 7.6% in October from a year ago but it eased 0.4% from September due to the reduction in the price of petrol and diesel.

Announcing the details on Friday, the Department of Statistics said the consumer price index for October rose to 114.2 from 106.1 a year ago.

For the January to October period, the CPI increased by 5.5% to 111.2 from 105.4 in the previous corresponding period.

The department said the lower CPI in October when compared with September was the reduction in the price of petrol and diesel announced for the third time by the government effective on Oct 15.

The index for food and non-alcoholic beverages for October compared to the same month in 2007 showed a high percentage change of 12.1 per cent, while the index for non-food increased by 5.5 per cent.

For the period of January to October 2008, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages as well as non-food registered an increase of 8.5% and 4.1% respectively.

Compared to the previous month, the index for food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 0.2% while the index for non-food decreased by 0.7%.

Published: The Star Online Friday November 21, 2008 MYT 7:01:00 PM

Best Time to Invest

When do you think the best time to Invest?

Everyone knows the best time to invest is when the market is down.. my question here is, do you know when is the time when the market is at the bottom? Do not to forget a few factors that should be consider when you want to make an investment :-

1. Is this money is my extra money or from borrowing.
2. When you see a looking good opportunity out there but you are not sure whether that is a real opportunity or threat. Why I say this, simply because now there are a lot of Skim Cepat Kaya out there. No shortcut if you want to create true/real WEALTH.
3. Don't put your money if there is a possibility you may lost all your money there.
   
4. Can I allocate my time to monitor the investment?
5. When KLCI hits 1500 points, can it goes more?
   
6. When KLCI drop below 1000 points... (today KLCI already below 1000) will it drop below 800 points?
   
7. How do you apply Ringgit Cost Averaging (RCA) concept in your investment.
8. Is there any guarantee or is it capital protected?
9. Do you know your Risk Profile? How does this relate to your investment?
10. What is my goals for the investment?
11. How long do I expect for the investment?
12. Can I put my money regularly, monthly, annually or lum sump?
    
13. How do I select the best instrument that suite my need and risk profile.
14. Are Mutual fund/insurance/takaful/shares/forex/property suitable for me?
15. Is this Investment save?
16. Can my money be transfer easily to my Family/Adopted child/my parent that is different religion from me?
17. Can I invest under my company?
18. How about the tax and zakat applies to this investment?
19. Who can I TRUST?
    

Enquiry please e-mail to : m.jamil.ali@gmail.com

MASA DALAM PERNIAGAAN

Dalam menjalankan perniagaan, perancangan masa adalah elemen yang
amat penting. Dengan pengurusan masa yang bijak, usahawan dapat
melakukan lebih banyak perkara dalam waktu yang diberikan. Ianya
dikatakan setiap manusia mempunyai 24 jam yang sama dalam masa
sehari. Ianya bergantung kepada kita bagaimana kita menguruskan
waktu 24 jam kita yang membezakan kejayaan seseorang.

Berikut adalah 3 kunci merancang masa:

Kunci #1: Rancang hari anda pada malam sebelumnya
=======================================

Dalam pengurusan masa, lebih banyak anda merancang, lebih banyak
masa dapat dijimatkan. Rancang keesokan hari anda pada hari
sebelumnya. Sebelum masuk tidur, ambil sekeping kertas dan tuliskan
segala aktiviti yang anda perlu lakukan untuk esok hari.
Perancangan sebegini akan memudahkan kerja yang dilakukan keesokan
hari.

Ianya dikatakan bahawa, 10% daripada masa anda ambil untuk
merancang masa, anda akan menjimat 90% daripada masa anda dalam
menyelesaikan sesuatu pekerjaan.

Seringkali juga digalakkan merancang pada malam sebelumnya oleh
kerana ketika tidur, minda anda umpama bersedia untuk menangni hari
yang baru yang penuh dengan perancangan. Kerja akan lebih sempurna
dan tersusun dengan merancang pada hari sebelumnya.

Kunci #2: Senarai mengikut kepentingan
=============================

Salah satu cara yang sering disarankan dalam mengurus masa adalah
menyenaraikan apa yang anda perlu lakukan.

Langkah seteruisnya adalah, pada senarai tersebut, tandakan A, B, C
dan D disebelah segala aktiviti anda mengikut kepentingan. Tandakan
A pada perkara yang penting untuk anda lakukan. B pada perkara yang
kurang penting, tetapi, masih perlu di lakukan. C pada perkara yang
kurang penting, dan D pada perkara yang tidak penting langsung.

Sering kali apabila anda menyiapkan senarai mengikut kepentingan
ini, anda akan dapat lihat di manakan keutamaan anda perlu tumpukan
terlebih dahulu. Aktiviti yang di tandakan D boleh di pangkah
daripada senarai anda oleh kerana ianya tidak penting. Mungkin
sekiranya anda mempunyai masa, anda boleh lakukannya seperti
menonton TV atau bermain computer game.

Aktiviti yang ditandakan C mungkin boleh diagihkan kepada orang
lain. Ataupun, mungkin boleh dilakukan sekali gus dengan aktiviti B.

Manakala, aktiviti A pula adalah keutamaan anda di mana anda perlu
memberi tumpuan pada awal hari anda. Lakukan aktiviti-aktiviti anda
mengikut senarai kepentingan. Daripada A, sehingga C. Sekiranya ada
masa, dan pastinya dengan mengamalkan pengurusan masa di dalam
audio ini, anda akan mendapat banyak masa terluang untuk melakukan
perkara D!

Rancangkan hari anda. Hari yang tidak dirancang adalah hari yang
anda merancang untu gagal dalam menguruskan masa!

Kunci #3. Prinsip 80-20
=================

Prinsip yang dihasilkan oleh Vilfredo Pareto mengatakan bahawa 20%
daripada masa yang di ambil untuk menyiapkan sesuatu tugasan adalah
untuk 80% hasil daripada tugas tersebut. Dalam erti kata lain,
produktiviti anda akan menurun selepas 20% masa anda diambil!

Oleh itu, bagaimana caranya menggunakan prinsip ini untuk manfaat
anda?

Mudah sahaja. Apabila anda ingin melakukan sesuatu tugas,
bentangkan tugasan tersebut di hadapan anda dan fikirkan strategi
bagaimana anda perlu menangani tugas tersebut. Apabila anda sudah
bersiap sedia dengan apa yang anda perlukan, terus mulakan tugasan
tersebut. Jangan berhenti, dan teruskan sahaja sehingga anda data
menyiapkan apa yang anda termampu. Mungkin ianya mengambil 1 jam...
atau 2 jam. Apa sahaja yang anda mampu lakukan, lakukannya.

Kemudian, berhenti! Ya... berhenti dari melakukan tugasan tersebut.
Ini kerana, anda telah mengambil 20% daripada masa anda yang
benar-benar produktif dalam menyiapkan kerja tersebut. Namun, kerja
tersebut sudah 80% siap!

Apa yang anda perlu laku kini adalah, alihkan perhatian anda kepada
kerja atau tugas yang lain. Mulakan tugas baru dan tidak perlu
hiraukan tugasan tadi. Untuk tugasan baru juga, lakukan yang sama
iaitu, beri tumpuan yang khusus 20% daripada masa yang perlu
diambil, kemudian berhenti. Lakukan perkara yang sama pada tugasan
yang lain.

Dengan melakukan prinsip pareto ini, anda dapat menyiapkan 80%
daripada kerja di tangan dalam 20% masa anda sahaja. Selepas
kesemua 80% tugas anda selesai, anda boleh kembali kepada tugasan
asal untuk menyiapkan 20% sehingga selesai. Kini, keadaan anda
sudah segar daripada tugasan asal, dan produktiviti meningkat semula.


Gabungkan ketiga-tiga kunci merancang masa ini dan anda pasti
teruja dengan kecekapan anda menangani masa dalam menjalankan

perniagaan ada!