I think you'd just have to apply and see. Banks seem to be quite adept at hiring based on snap judgements. Their freshie salary can range from 3K to 10K based on the hiring manager's assessment. Having said that, only 2 or 3 out of each uni's graduating cohort get the pointy end of the range. Also CFA level 1 means no CFA qualification at all. Either you have it or you don't.

Apparently it's true. During the recent Eurofinance conference here in SG, I asked some bankers if what Today newspaper published some time back about SMU graduates getting 10K starting salaries was true. They said it was... they will not hesitate to dish out a big salary to recruit whoever they considered to be a top high potential candidate... but then after that it's not a cakewalk either for the candidate. Be prepared for 16-18 hour working days including weekends (both Saturday and Sunday). So in terms of $/hour worked... it's not such a hot deal.

Are you still a SG employee of your company's SG office (ie. you're an expat... with your local office's obligation to repat you back to SG, rather than a permanent relo/transfer)? If you are, then renewing your PR should be no problem, as the reason why you're in SG in the first place (ie. you're employed by a SG company) is still entirely valid.

If you're not, then you'd have to convince the SG govt that you're determined to return to SG after your "assignment" eg. have property and investments in SG, maintaining bank accounts/transactions, flying to SG during your home leave rather than MY etc.

I've heard them too, but never actually seen or knew anyone or knew anyone who actually knows someone who had experienced it.

If your permit hasn't been approved yet, you're no different than a tourist. So they'd expect you to keep your money where tourists usually keep theirs... wherever that is.

What date is CNY next year, btw?

I see what you mean. It's RM412.95 from Jan 14 onwards. Over RM600 including taxes and fees.

Anyway, it's well know that SIN-IPH is Firefly's cash cow route, subsidising high competition routes like SIN-KUL or low passenger load ones like those going to east coast or east Malaysia.

Doesn't depend on which company or industry. It depends on who.

If a similar company would offer you RM5K in KL, then this offer's good.

Sounds quite good actually.

You should report that to the police.

It's getting there. Just tried the new Yuyi outlet in Heeren. It's a Chinese food place that serves fried rice, fried noodles etc... they've got robot woks. A couple of employees just pour in the pre-packed ingredients and press a button and the machine does the frying.

What did you expect? For income's that basically take home disposable pay to be tax free?

I think you can activate the overseas withdrawal feature of your Malaysian Maybank ATM card at a Maybank ATM in Malaysia.

I usually find a place about 2-10 bus stops away from MRT... (add MRT stations away from office and add bus stops away from MRT until I reach within my rental budget). For me, it's too hot & humid to do a 10min walk in office wear, only to step into a crowded train. I rather take a bus right in front of my block to MRT. Up to 3, maybe 4 bus stops, you can still walk to/from the MRT in emergencies or if you want the exercise. I also have a direct bus from my block to the office in Orchard... but it takes too long (50min). This is viable if you live nearer to the office... 20-30min bus trip max.

So I make sure I stay in a block where there's a bus stop with lots of bus services right in front my block or very close by, plus it shouldn't be >10min walking distance to shops and food courts for meals during weekends. For groceries, there's always a supermarket near/next/on top of the MRT (so it's also 2-10 bus stops away).

My aim is to minimise 'exposed' walking/waiting time on the way & from work.

These days, I take taxi to/from work. In this case, it's important to find a block that's next to or very close to a busy road in order to minimise the wait for a taxi during morning peak hours.

Good info indeed. This summary might be useful too...

http://sgcgo.com/complete-guide-to-singapore-taxi-booking/

A lot more trees in SG too.

How is that is untrue?

One of my colleagues, a Filipino accounting manager earning about 12k a month including a car allowance, took 3 tries to get his PR. It might not always be about money.

Obviously I can't be referring to the absolute number of trees, isn't it? For tree cover and foliage to affect the ambient temperature, the rational reference is to the density of trees per unit of area. That's just common sense.

Which Malaysian city has more trees in the city itself compared to Singapore? In Ipoh, ever since city council went on a tree uprooting binge 10 years ago, there are no longer any real trees in the town or residential areas.

And I don't recall any Malaysian city being "surrounded" by greenery. There'sf course jungle still in Malaysia, but it's nowhere near enough any major city to play a part in it's urban environment.

You are