Koniciwa timw90,

You're too kind - it's just an interest +killing time while growing my thinking by practice .

Anyhow, just quickies before i dive deeper yar (rushing quite a bit these days thanks to my bosses):
1. ASB is only for bumiputeras wor - U can invest into ASB meh? ASM?

2. Assuming ASB or ASM, 30K in FD - i'd suggest U split it between ASB/ASM +foreign equities.
AFTER U put aside >= 3 months' average expenses as emergency funds.
eg.
$30K less [ ($1200 mthly expenses -$400 coz this is just temp)* at least 3mths] = $27K+
thus, take $27K and divide into say
ASB
Developing Mkts like CIMBC25 (China biggest 25 listed in HK ETF), CIMBA40 (ASEAN ETF)
Developed Mkts like URTH ETF or VEA ETF or mutual fund like CIMB Principal Global Titans

The above is assuming U do have EPF yar - which, in my humble opinion acts as "bond funds", thus i didn't suggest bond funds above as investment asset allocation. BTW, if U want - U can even throw in some REITs from SGX (0% tax!) or KLSE REITs (10% tax) for dividends.

3. er.. $ in ASB as emergency funds? i'm unsure how fast U can get to that $ - if within 1 day, ok gua.
Personally, i've about 2/3 of my emergency funds in cash equivalent (flexi mortgage) +remainder in bond funds.
Why?
Coz my flexi-mortgage = immediate cashout if needed & its rates are at 4.x%,  which is quite near average long term bond funds' returns of 5%-6%.
That 1/3 in bond funds is just "hope" to beat my 4.x% and yet can get out within 4-5 working days.
er.. note - i've 1+ year's emergency buffer, thus most probably wont even touch that 1/3 (touch wood )

Just a thought 

Ah.. so des ka. U are like my Portugese colleague - access to ASB 

Those ETFs are stocks, listed on KLSE (CIMBC25 & CIMBA40) and US (URTH, VEA).
U can google about ETF to learn what are Exchange Traded Funds.
In a nutshell - ETFs are like mutual funds BUT
a. they are listed on stock exchanges, thus can be bought/sold like stocks

b. lower cost to buy - buying stocks cost about 0.5% or less of the "value" received if U buy >= RM2.xxx per transaction VS mutual funds' 1.5% to 5.x% on NAV (think ETF's price as NAV for simplification)

Note - the only downside i see is this, every purchase must be >=RM2,xxxx per transaction else the cost of brokerage is > 2%.  However, there are some brokerages like HLeB that offers cash account (ie. U must have exact or more $ than purchased) 0.1% or $8, whichever higher - something to that effect. Poke around.
For US listed ETFs, whoa.. if i do via HLeB, need to buy about USD8K per transaction to make the cost as a % worthwhile. Using OptionsXpress in SG (can open from MY without going over) is cheaper

c. lower yearly management cost - about 0.5% to 1%pa VS mutual funds' 1.5%pa to 2%pa

--------
Ok, on to opining:
d. ASB - personally, if i can buy into ASB, i'd use the ASB loans from CIMB, MBB, etc.
Heck - free $ since i make the spread. Only have to be wary for the 1st year+ payments +if i need to take loans for anything else, this ASB loan will show up in CCRIS (watch out yar - may affect your home buying or biz loans)
Thus i'd use cash into over investments

e. On the item of "market in other countries are better atm":
To me? Yes - specifically BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China) +Indonesia +Thailand
Reason: Their market's index's PE, are 10 and below VS KLSE >15 liao.
Google PE - in a nutshell, it's the "Price U pay / Earning expected to get". U want this low if U want to buy lelong value - like when Tesco or Giant have big blowout sales on milk powder max /family 5 packs

Hm.. if U've just started in your journey, don't be in a rush to jump in
IF U really want to jump in & get your feet wet, pls do so up to 50% of your available funds for investments only.
I'd suggest U google /read up (books) on ASSET ALLOCATION, VALUE AVERAGING, EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS VS MUTUAL FUNDS,  VALUE INVESTING.

Good luck with your journey - keep in mind, it's a bloody marathon, not a sprint!

oops.. my bad - which words unclear ar?
List them or part of the sentence - i can clarify. My bad, sometimes i forgot i took me several umpteen years of reading +hands-on to learn. 

Books?
GENERAL
For investing as well as life in general
http://www.amazon.com/7-Habits-Highly-Effe...1800/ref=sr_1_3?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393666898&sr=1-3&keywords=7+habits

Simplify +Savings +Investing = Turbo
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Millionaire-...rds=T+Harv+Ekar

Cow sense investing
http://www.amazon.com/Four-Pillars-Investi...ds=four+pillars

ASSET ALLOCATION
http://www.amazon.com/About-Asset-Allocati...B6T1T1X7T07DC0R
http://www.amazon.com/The-Intelligent-Asse...B6T1T1X7T07DC0R

VALUE AVERAGING
http://www.amazon.com/Value-Averaging-Stra...s/dp/0470049774

ETF
http://www.amazon.com/Exchange-Traded-Fund...-3&keywords=ETF

VALUE INVESTING
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Value-Investi...value+investing
http://www.amazon.com/Value-Investing-Dumm...value+investing

BTW, pls note, IMHO investing <> trading yar.
Trading IMHO = biz where i buy product at low price & sell higher price, actively growing wealth.
Investing IMHO = systematically buying into companies or properties and passively growing wealth.

On ASB loan - i did a calculation for my colleague and it was worthwhile.. i gotta dig it out.
Did it for her a year back.. can't remember for sure whether flat rate (like car loan) or mortgage style (reducing balance or effective rate pa) - very highly likely = mortgage.
Anyhow, it doesn't matter what style as long as when calculated as "effective rate per annum" VS ASB's returns = makes sense with a spread of at least 2%pa
Note though on my worries if U intend to borrow for buying home, biz, etc as ALL borrowings show up on your CCRIS report and your loan office may think U have too high a monthly commitment / too highly leveraged.

Just a thought