Let's continue our discussion here. I'm trying my best to pull out information from the first thread and summarize it here for easy reference. If you wish your posts to be added, you can PM me so I can insert here. Hopefully this thread can also be used to organize gatherings, makan/drinking sessions and sports meet-ups.

FAQs

Employments:
Job opportunities are still good. Those with higher education level/experience stand a better chance and command a higher starting pay. Good command of English in resume writing or interview is a huge benefit. The following are the list of available online job sites:
1. Jobstreet
2. Contact Singapore
3. Jobs Central
4. JobsDB

The most effective but expensive method is to do it the old fashion way. Come over to Singapore, and then extend your visa to long term. During your stay in SG, flip through the recruitment newspaper and apply for your job through the company itself. This way, you're almost guaranteed to be in front of the queue from those who applied through Jobstreet. You can also attend their interviews without any delays while you're here in SG.

Various employment passes are available to enable you to work in Singapore depending on your skills and pay. Employers will help you in the application of passes. Your job is however pending on the approval of the pass. Information of types of passes are available through MOM's website. Do not worry of what passes you get. Eventually all will allow you to work in SG. Some do fuss about it due to "status" and extra benefits (i.e: credit card and contract phone applications). Just be hardworking and move up the passes or apply directly for PR few years down the road.

All you need to know about PR application and requirements are available here: http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=151&secid=150

Please take note that ex Singaporean PRs who renounced their status without serving the National Service will have their job and employment pass applications greatly degraded.

<Need more information on salary bracket and range in different industries to expand. Contributions greatly appreciated>

CPF and Taxes:
Malaysians working under employment/work passes are exempted from paying CPF. Singapore PRs have to contribute to CPF according to the rates found here: http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/C...es/ContriRa.htm

As for the complicated tax returns, i'll just provide the website so everyone can search under their own categories. http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page01.aspx?id=88

Accomodations:
HDBs everywhere! Prime and new areas should cost around SGD450-600 per room (with or without utilities). You can still find sub SGD400 per room in remote or rundown areas. If you can afford the luxury, apartments and condos are the way to go. SGD800-1200 per room is the current market price. Normally comes with swimming pool and gym facilities.

Below are some useful sites:
http://www.flatsdb.com/
http://www.hdbflat.blogspot.com/
http://singapore.roomsdb.net/
http://easyroommate.com.sg/ (looks more like a dating site )
http://www.sg-house.com/

Transportation:
No need to describe any further. Been compared and discussed too many times between SG and MY. In SG, you can be anywhere in the island just by using public transport. The all too convenient EZ link card can be used in both MRT and bus (even McD yeah!). For places out of reach, taxi is the answer. Don't worry, you won't get touted with expensive fares. They are a bunch of professionals with accurate meters. First entry onto cab is SGD2.80 or SGD3.00. The rest runs on meter plus any surcharges from tolls, airport surcharge or stopping period. If you are travelling in group of 4, taxi is the cheaper option on certain routes compared to others.

SBS bus maps: http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/iris3/nextbus.aspx
MRT maps: http://www.smrt.com.sg/trains/images/tn_networkmap_big.jpg

Malaysians can drive in cars/bikes to work in SG. For SG PRs, you have to drive singapore registered vehicles. More info here: http://www.lta.gov.sg/motoring_matters/ind...oring_guide.htm

Expenses:
This is very subjective depending on the spending power of different individuals. But here are the basic breakdowns on rough estimates:
1. Accoms SGD600 (varies)
2. Food SGD500 (varies)
3. Transport SGD60
4. Entertainment SGD300 (strip it off if wanna save)
5. Shopping $$$

Forummers in SG:
1. nick (nicvoo) - work at jurong/bt merah (till end of august) bugis/lavender (beginning sept); live in tampines
2. wen (wyy) - work at outram; live in outram/tiong bahru
3. Louis (louismhc) - work at Tampines; live in Tampines
4. Daniel (yrh0413) - work at Jurong East, live in Marine Parade Rd
5. saintcute - work at harbourfront, live in serangoon
6. nameless - work at NYP Ang Mo Kio/Tanjong Pagar, live in Commonwealth
7. jeremy (ilikehandphones) - work at clementi, live in admiralty drive
8. sukhoi37 - work at Changi/Paya Lebar, live in Pasir Ris
9. tiny - work, live in Ang Mo Kio
10. ferdinand (washabushi) - live in clementi, work at toh guan(jurong east) - washabushi@msn.com
11. gld998 - live in Tiong Baru
12. mONSTers - work at Ayer Rajah Crescent, live in Kembangan
13. smuldge - work at Toa Payoh, live in Ang Mo Kio
14. ahwai_83 - work at raffles place/robinson rd, live in toa payoh
15. Joshua_0718 - work at Toh Guan Road (Jurong East), live in Kallang
16. wu ming - work, live in jurong west
17. aicescko - work at Tanjong Pagar, live in Woodlands
18. chess_girl - live in Bishan, work place...depending on audit assigned/wedding engagement??
19. eric84cool (eric84cool@hotmail.com) - live in Jurong West, work at Tuas South
20. Chris, stay : AMK, work : Woodlands / Admiralty, hooi15661@hotmail.com


Feel free to contribute and ammend any inaccuracies. THX! Let's roll.

so freaking lazy ar all of you...

This post has been edited by eric84cool: May 23 2009, 12:36 AM

1 very cool website to share with you guys.. it's http://gothere.sg/

just key in your FROM and TO place, it will show you the cheapest, fastest and smartest transportation method....

This post has been edited by blessedvillain: May 20 2009, 08:58 PM

cool site. thanks man!

meanwhile, I read back the previous forum...there are another group from cari forum. lotsa of members and activities, anybody got the link, I want to join but then don't know how to type in mandarin

Wow, so fast V3 in a blink of an eye

wo0o0o0 v3 wat was the discussion in v2?
i jus saw chris wanna makan at chinatown haha
jus makan there not bad the food call 10 dishes + 2 beer for 4 ppl each person 17 bucks lol

Dang... V2 got locked. Missed the chance to overtake the O&G thread by only a hundred plus posts. Well done, chaps.

chinese.cari.com.my

my nick there is same as here.


lets go then w00t.

come on people, dinner at chinatown this saturday !

hahaha wats with the post count lol

hahaha sat cant make it company's movie da gonna watch nite at the museum 2

@Supreme Allied Commander, Opp Anderson JC

Bragging rights, I guess. Like having the tallest twin towers in the world,.. absolutely useless but hey, it's the tallest twin towers in the world.

Anyway, was just a little bit cheesed that no one asked the rest of the folks in the V2 thread if they wanted to move to V3 or not. That time of the month...

wu ming working at east side edi...no more west side...

chris : pocket tight la...unless u willing to treat me...next time i treat u back...hahaha

not asking u go eat expensive shit lah, we all budget budget 1, foodcourt will do lol.

congrats of V3, so fast... since the question is not answer so i quote it from V2

btw, mind to add me to the name list in the 1st post? B-Mecha, work in redhill, live in yew tee.

This post has been edited by B-Mecha: May 21 2009, 10:46 AM

Annex A to Form 4A is enough. What more can your current employer testify about you?


No need. I applied for PR 3 months after arriving in Sg... so I didn't have anything from IRAS, no previous employer etc etc. In Annex A, your current employer already states how much your current salary is. But I guess there's no harm if you want to submit your tax assessment as well.

I only submitted copies of the following with my application.

Explanatory Note Item #7
(a) passport
© work pass
(d) educational and professional certs
(f) birth cert

Same here.. I apply for PR after 1.5 month I reach Sg. I only submit 1 Pay slip, copies of passport / birth cert / work pass / degree certs / a testimonial from company and form 4A. My employer didn;t fill in Annex A.

If your are qualify for EP, most likely you will be able to get your PR.

Hello...
I'm new here.
If work in Singapore and stay in JB. Can save a lot of money ?
If stay in JB, which part is safe ?

mackiddo's doin tat can ask how much he save. he has a car by the way so u can imagine how much he saves

lol police lockup also not safe in jb hehehe

Thanks for the fast reply.
Must be joking, police lokap also not safe ?

u dont know the biggest gangsta organization in Malaysia is actually the PDRM ?

polis kata jangan...
later cyber polis come kacau kacau
find emas also kacau kacau

Ooo....update in contact list. anybody does cares or doesn't mind to update their contact if missed out and add MSN contact?

Start from ME 1st...

lol my name never listed there.

Chris, stay : AMK, work : Woodlands / Admiralty, hooi15661@hotmail.com

i think mine already there...
anyway post again...

washabushi@fer
stay clementi(moving out soon again=( )
work toh guan road jurong east
washabushi@msn.com

crap.. my PR just got approved! Now i have to forgo 14.5% of my employer CFP.... hu hu hu.... i was hopping that they would only reply me in June, so that when i get promoted (hopefully) in July, I can take my payslip and apply for another job!!!

Btw, I am going back KL tomorrow!!! Yes Yes Yes!!!

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Added on May 22, 2009, 10:38 pmchris, when u going back?? we can go mamak! hahhaha

This post has been edited by chess_gal: May 22 2009, 10:38 PM

Northern boy...

where r u going to shift?

WHAT?!SO COINCIDENCE??? I also just back to KL....CHris also from KL???

hi guys..
i'll be going off the singapore today to check out my new room in Jurong West and meeting the other house tenants...

next week, i'll need to say goodbye to KL and say hello to Singapore.

p/s:
@washabushi

Thanks for your help earlier on the accommodation suggestion.

This post has been edited by blessedvillain: May 23 2009, 06:22 AM

Welcome blessedvillian!

dont know la...
sakit perut now...
i still finding

when kaya raya edi just treat me minum air herba can edi...lolx

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Added on May 23, 2009, 9:06 ami tot u balik edi...sweat

This post has been edited by washabushi: May 23 2009, 09:06 AM

flight at 2pm.. soon soon....

im thinking to find a single room, is that possible i can get it at $400 around jurong side?

yes, it's possible...and top up a little to $450, you might get yourself a air con room. good luck hunting rooms and oh ya... start making a lot of calls to agents/owners

dont know leh, mayb next month only go back lol.

we should go eat HK chu chang fun !


well not really KL, its Kajang. Both me n Melissa.


welcome to the Kiasu-Land !

hey, can provide me the link that lead straight to the topic itself ar? Aduh I don't really good in reading mandarin la...

This post has been edited by eric84cool: May 23 2009, 11:56 AM

lol my mandarin also rusty liao
teruk......

Damn, I also in KL now hehe

Just out of curiosity, how many of you knew early on that you can go through the auto clearance gates at Sg immigration using only our Malaysian passports?

I only found out last Thursday night at Tuas immigration. Seems like I bodoh-bodoh wasted over 4 years queuing at the manual clearance counters when there was no need to. I wonder why the immigration officers never once made a remark or asked me why I didn't use the auto clearance gates instead.

seantang, u r not alone...me too... im oways d last one to get into d bus...bus driver me ady...

oh ya, need to ask u all sumting...i start working in spore 20 april (EP), can i apply PR in july? nwadays need to mk e-appointment...haiz...sien...birth cert need to translate sumore...where? how? go to supreme court for d translation ka? where's supreme court wor? subordinate court i know lar - near MOM...

This post has been edited by fbjkl: May 23 2009, 05:39 PM

http://cforum1.cari.com.my/forumdisplay.php?fid=183


stop being a nerd n come out more often, so that u can speak wif us then lol.

speak is ok its the reading lol

Thanks for the link, its awesome.

BTW guys, how do I check my CPF account information...?

hi guys,

i m fresh grad with Degree in EE and have been looking for a job for more than 3 month.
i had plan to come down s'pore and find a job since most of my application thru job website do not coy any response from s'pore employers

i wanna ask is it higher chance to get an interview over s'pore instead of m'sia? what are the document that i shall bring along for employment ? is it true our visa only valid for 1 month , after 1 month we need to reapllly it ?

and finally, how was the electrical and electronic market currently doing in s'pore? any job opening ?

Suggestion and comment are most welcome as it is urgent as i am clueless now.

You can access your CPF account if you have a Singpass. Actually Singpass will let you access quite a lot of govt portals, for eg your library record or immigration etc.

Just google for Singpass and you'll find a dedicated govt website teaching you how to apply for it.

This post has been edited by seantang: May 24 2009, 09:54 AM

E&E market in Singapore is as badly hit as Msia's or maybe worst. My bf is in this field and he was forced to take one day leave everyweek. No bonus, no promotion.

The visa you are talking about is the visitor's pass. To extent, simply just go out to JB and comes back in.

This post has been edited by chess_gal: May 24 2009, 11:56 AM

Did you graduate in Malaysia or Singapore? I had 2 friends who got first class and they could not even get any job after trying for 6 months. EE sector is definitely hit badly and according to my 2 friends Singapore jobs have higher requirement for EE fresh graduates.

YIHAAA!!I'm going to meet new friends from football..anybody interested to play with me???

www.cpf.gov.sg

thx for the info

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Added on May 24, 2009, 7:12 pmya. i m graduated in m'sia (utp). actually, my major is in instrumentation and control. At 1st ,I wanna try on O&G comp but after few month trying. cannot secure a job as a fresh grad in this O&G field as most of them prefer exp worker. So, i thought by widen by my search in EE field. It could be a higher chances.

That y, i plan to secure whatever an EE engineering job.

Do u think it is possible to come down s'pore and stay for few week while applying ? High chance to get an interview?

This post has been edited by Joelion: May 24 2009, 07:12 PM

Where you guys playing? Field or court? Futsal 5v5?

You get approved and straight contribute full rate? Normally for those case that you need to bear your employer CPF, you will start from the first rate which is 5% ( you) and 4.5%( employer).

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Added on May 24, 2009, 8:47 pmNo worry, the auto clearance using Malaysian passport is only started this year or end of 2008 if not mistaken, so you are not wasted 4 years queuing at manual clearance.

PS: you can use malaysian passport to do auto clearance only if you are singapore PR. All pass holder still need go through manual clearance or apply for access card.

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Added on May 24, 2009, 8:50 pmDO you have a singapore number for all your previous application? For me having a Singapore contact number is good enough so that they can contact you for interview more easily as they will have a mindset you are in Singapore.

This post has been edited by jimmy79: May 24 2009, 08:50 PM

EE indeed you can branch into many fields. It will be better to stay in Singapore for a few weeks so you can go immediately if there is an interview. Then again, it's best you research on the chances of getting a job there. You should know that Singapore is an extremely competitive country.

Why not try to get a job here first and then if you get another job offer in Singapore, go ahead. At least you don't waste too much of time idling.

Hi, guys
I'm going to singapore to work soon.
Wanna ask about u all about the broadband over there...
How to apply and what are the options i have??
I have totally no idea about that. Thank you

I believed they will employ Sg & Sg PR 1st before considering employing foreigner. It make worst by the recent economy recession, a really bad timing for job seekers this year.

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Added on May 24, 2009, 9:42 pmwhat do you have in mind ? Wired or wireless ? Sg have 3 telcos; Singnet, M1 and Starhub. Can try google up on their website and look at their plans. Their services is reliable, very much better than the Msia telcos and cheaper too

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Added on May 24, 2009, 9:50 pmas long as you maintain 'low' profile then it is quite safe. How much you safe depends on how you spent and how much you earn . If you are working office hours, there will be some slight traffic inconvenience at the checkpoint . I don't work office hour, so i don't get caught in the rush hour jam . So how do you plan to travel ? car ? bike ? Getting a Sg car is the best option.

This post has been edited by Mackiddo: May 24 2009, 09:50 PM

Jimmy,

I get full 14.5% from my employer (Non-PR), now i get 5% cut for the cpf contribution... sigh...

I used to travel back to JB during weekend.. If not mistaken, it's only last year, where I notice suddenly the 2 special lane reserve for Sg passport used to be quite empty was so crowded. I was wondering why so many singaporean wanna jam with us. After a few weeks, I notice some of them are using dark red color Passport (malaysia), not the orange-red color passport. The Auto gate is actually not design for Malaysian PR, so they never mention about it. haha

The only one time I am asked to use the Auto clearance gate is when I travelling by KTM train. The office ask those who is Sg citizen / PR to use the Auto gates, as the Check point manual counter is so crowded but the auto gates is empty.

---

Added on May 24, 2009, 11:10 pmthe rate is given in http://mycpf.cpf.gov.sg/Members/Gen-Info/C...es/ContriRa.htm

The contribution rate suppose to be
1st year employee 5% / employer 4%
2nd year employee 15% / employer 9%
3rd year onwards, employee 20% / employer 14.5%

But you can negotiate to ask the company to pay Full 14.5%, and you pay the 5% for 1st year and 14.5%/15% for second year.
Or you and your company both pay the full amount (3rd year rate) from 1st day.

This post has been edited by hkhk: May 24 2009, 11:10 PM

Are you talking bout the eIACS? If i'm not mistaken, it is only applicable for SPR with Malaysia passport, no?

This post has been edited by kockroach: May 25 2009, 01:19 AM

Count me in, I would like to join to.

It Would Be A Great Experience Working In Sg~
I Wish Some Point Of My Career Would Have Da Opportunity To Do So, But Da Economy Of Sg Is So Bad Now~

where u guyz staying????I haven't start playing with them yet but soon will be...they're playing nearby Clementi station and it's football game.

i staying nearby only
even i dont play i can join for tok kok session

I'm interested, count me in!!

i went singapore last week to check out the room that my agent recommended and it turns out to be really beyond my worst expectation. The HDB unit in Jurong West is supposedly a 3 rooms unit, but the owner has somehow partition it into a 5 rooms unit. Each rooms is twin sharing!! is this even allowed in singapore??

That's not the worst part....The agreement (luckily not signed yet), stated that light cooking is allowed, but when my gf ask about how "light" is light cooking, the owner says only we only allow to boil water and cook instant noodles!!!!!!

Thank God the agent managed to get back my deposit...

We went around Bukit Batok, Red Hill and Jurong West area to hunt for rooms, but the more rooms we see, the worse it gets... Some ads say aircon is provided means that standing air cooler is provided. Some single male owners insisted ONLY LADY tenant is allowed??!! that unit is filled with Vietnamese labors...

Is getting a room with decent housemates THAT HARD in spore??? My maximum budget is $700. Is this too low to get a decent place?

My new job in spore is starting next week and yet to find a place to stay. I'm OFFICIALLY screwed.

Hi All,
I'm newb in here.

may I know how tax calculation work for above scheme,
just following regular tax calculation including or excluding employer CPF?


also maybe I will be working in sgp starting next month.
I'm so clueless about salary tax, additional bonus tax, etc.
I know abit from IRAS web site about 15% and regular taxing scheme.
but a colleague of mine (non PR) states that he only pays 7.5% for income tax
maybe he got the 7.5% number from certain regular tax rate combination based on his yearly income.

but I'm curious if 7.5% is cited in other references, do you guys ever heard of 7.5% yearly income tax rate?

thanks in advance.

i dont know abt other area, but from what i know 700 can easily get a very decent master room in areas like Yishun or Woodlands.

good luck in ur room hunting.

With 700 bucks i am pretty sure you can get one decent room here but maybe ur expectation is different. Or maybe can try condo ? But seriously i wouldnt pay more than 500 bucks for a room in HDB

Change your agent. Go to first page of this thread, there are few link that can help you to find rooms in HDB. Like other say, 700 is enough for you to get a decent room.

700 for a master bedroom a bit hard...but possible

yup, i trying too, but, it just diff to get a single interview. too competitive

nowadays the job market is full of fresh grad together with retrenched worker who are superior by having few year working exp.

---

Added on May 25, 2009, 5:12 pmi do keep some contacts. thanks for ur reminder. will call them up once i'm in s'pore to check it up

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Added on May 25, 2009, 5:14 pmyeah, i wish to join u guys. miss football so much after grad. but ....................haih

This post has been edited by Joelion: May 25 2009, 05:14 PM

try to find choa chu kang or woodlands area, with 700 it is not hard to get a decent room (a bit hard for master bedroom). if the place is nice dont bother about cooking, usually house owner wont allow u to cook. my house owner doesn't even allow me to use gas stove, only a tiny electric water boiler so i can cook instant noodles.

nope, not hard at all in the area that i mentions. in fact u most probably can get by 600 to 650.

i helped my fren look for 1 not too long ago, so i know that.

This post has been edited by Chrisky: May 25 2009, 05:23 PM

aiya...
he wan clementi area jurong east area
very very mahal 1 this few place

i know lah, i juz letting anyone who might be interest know only.

Hi guys, I know this may not be the place to ask...but do you guys know whether it's possible to buy a SG prepaid number in KL?

No. you need to register the card with your ic/passport when u buy.

hi, topmankl...
(sory, i hv forgotten dat passport is needed for registration)

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Added on May 25, 2009, 6:40 pmyalor yalor...even my fren hv to sleep in d living room...SGD 500 share wif another fren...

This post has been edited by fbjkl: May 25 2009, 06:44 PM

hi chess gal...u working as ext auditor?(went to ur blog)how is the mkt condition for finance&audit position in sg?izzit good or its also being hit badly by the economic recession?thx....

Do chess girl play chess with those uncle from HDB?

heyz, i'm interested too.. but since football means need to buy boots, hahaha..
how about futsal? anyone?

If can get 10 ppl, we can play futsal at jurong west, there is a futsal court called Fico..

lol...
i think she can pawn those unker anytime...

If i want to apply for PR, can i translate my birth cert in Malaysia?
If I have to translate in Singapore, where is the place?

This post has been edited by giorgene: May 27 2009, 02:46 PM

I never translate any my document into english so do my wife, we getting our PR without any problem .

I don't think you have to translate any documents from Malaysia. After all, bahasa is one of the official languages in Singapore and not a 'foreign language'.

In fact, Singapore national language is Bahasa. Same as their national anthem.

when the time i applied EP, i provided them my cert in english version but they want malay version and then another colleague of mine provided them malay version cert, they want english version pulak!!
Are they tried to fooling around?

they don't ask for translations for my EP and PR applications.

giorgene,

i do understand ur feelings...coz nowadays oni they become bit strict + guai lan ady...last time no need de...i went to MOM 3 times leh for my EP coz my uni letter of completion dun hv d keywords (which they want )

applying PR oso need translation (my fren called d officer, they say any doc other than ENGLIST must translate) + book appointment on9... sien

This post has been edited by fbjkl: May 26 2009, 06:22 PM

My PR application went through smoothly, I did not translate my birth certificate.

But seriously getting PR in Singapore is a breeze, i booked my appointment at 10am, reached there 9.45, scanned my documents at the e-counter, then went in to sit, thinking it would be an hour or so before my turn. I took out my PSP to play, before i can even select my game, my number was called.

Sat there, chit-chat abit with the cute officer then off I go, everything less than 10 mins.

Less than 2 months, they sent me the 'welcome card'.

Yesterday I went to get my IC done in Kajang (Lost my IC >.<), Went there at 9.30am, take number (20 ppl in front of me), not many ppl but number wasnt moving.... finally got my picture taken at 12.30am and asked to balik tunggu 10 hari... >.<. 180 min/20 ppl = 9 mins per person.... okayla.. ader improvement.

haha dun compare diff culture. but now wor my fren registration at JPN so fast reach there 8.30 am before 9 am oledi kow tim.