Yup that's the unfair part when it concerns Malaysians.

If you leave Singapore permanently (no PR or work permit), they should return your CPF. I reckon it's unfair they make it a condition that you have to leave Malaysia as well (??? what does this mean, give up Malaysian citizenship?)

Why should Malaysians be forced to keep their CPF money in Singapore when they leave Singapore, but other nationalities are not?

But it's not all gloom and doom. You can always withdraw your CPF and buy a private condo in Singapore. Over the long term, they'll appreciate like crazy as the island's population grows. And one thing the CPF has over our EPF... the CPF is not running on fumes (cashflow). Unlike the EPF, the CPF has not spent all our money supporting GLCs and funding the govt's cronies and it will not collapse if one day, its cash inflows becomes less than its cash outflows.

This post has been edited by seantang: Feb 24 2007, 01:25 PM

I would suggest, you guys who want from information about SG working conditions and the so call regulations, please just look up Yahoo.com.sg website and search for SG Gov pages under SG only. There are tonnes of information available on line, even applying passport online and pay lesser, with leaset queue time etc ... so be more diligent, search for it. I can't give any site off hands.. but things like these I hope may help:

MOM - ministry of manpower (formerly minstry of labour)
CPF - ww.cpf.gov.sg
Iras - can't remember income tax
MOE - minstry of education

Best thing if you can find a website, can't remember what, where you can fine many of the SG Gov websites there. Any common words you can think of, just search under SG and possible to find what you want to know about SG.. that's my opinion. Imagine this, you can even find individual schools website under MOE website...

As for study grants... not true PR only get it, I have students who are studying in Poly getting grants and they are not even PR. only different is, the amount is not the same between Poly & U. You are not really bonded upon completion of the course. You are only requried to remain in SG to work for 3 years, free to choose your company. Not only MYsians, my other colleagues, former students are PR now, but from China. .

As for living expense, unless you are a big spender, you don't need to worry about the cost, many MYsian I've known, including those working as shop assistant are coping with the life in SG. Eat at coffeeshop, depending on where you live, you can even find a bowl of prawn noodle or chicken rice for $2.. over at my place, the food court charges $2.50 for fisball noodle. In city centre and Orchard road, the price will be around $4-5, could be $3.50, depending on where. Anyway, if you compare to KL, I definitely think its still cheaper in terms of COST of LIVING. Imagine, earning RM1500 in KL and paying some RM5-6 for a bowl of noodle and that to earning SG$1500 and paying $4-5? Cost of living can be cheaper.. although I won't say very, but at least you can lower your cost of living in SG.

I used to shop in KL every year end, and surprisingly, sometimes, I do find MEGA sales items after discount are still more than what I can get in SG. Of course, these are exceptional case. But put it striaght, there are the constant sales from end of May to July (Great SG sales), not forgetting many shopping centres offering sales all year round, especially those at EXPO sales even though its clearing stock.. you still can find good buys. However, not all are clearing stock as I had managed to get some very good buy, much cheaper than the Sheng Siong in SG, well known for its so call CHEAP price for most items.

My MYsian friends staying here told me, cost of living is too high in MY, some even buy stuff from SG bring back to JB rahter shop in JB. So don't worry about cost of living, I believe what you need is courage and confidnet to go over

Never paid RM5-6 for a bowl of noodles. Your friends are getting cheated. Singapore cheaper than Malaysia? Stop making me laugh.

I'm keen to work in S'pore
any spare jobs for me in IT related field
my contract going to expire soon... and i'm looking for better job

Try JobDB Singapore

yeah, indeed u r making me laugh.....

I am working in Singapore and these are what I found so far (Please compare digit to digit because you are earning SGD as well):

- Most of the living expenses are cheaper (as others said, you can get 2~3 dollars meal easily; groceries might be 70% of the Malaysia price - RM1.00 vs SGD 0.70; clothings are cheaper even after conversion most of the times - G2000 pants for 20SGD)
- Rental is more expensive (1,000 - 1,400 for 3 bedrooms HDB flat)
- House/Land properties are most probably more expensive than in Malaysia cities area.
- Cars are cheapers (Honda Accord is sold at <80k including COE)
- Public transport around $0.66 minimum, maximum up to $1.60?
- Broadband, 6.5MBPs plan at $70+ monthly.
- Mobile plan, $25.20 for free 160 minutes + 100 SMS. Free IDD to Malaysia (local rate)
- Public utilities bills are more expensive, forgot about the tariff.

These are about money. But lifestyle wise, I would say very much depends on the personality.

This post has been edited by szeping: Feb 24 2007, 09:32 PM

work in spore need apply any document ar??

Work Permit
S Pass
Employment Pass

Any of those.

sorry which kampung or i shud say forest r u from?

............

Whether SG is cheaper than MY, all you need is go over to work and you will see. things is cheap if you convert SG into MY when you shop in MY. Yes, but over the past 5 years shopping in MY Mall.. I am only saying as I can only compare Malls as in SG, e.g Hypermat, carrefour, Giant... You think MY stuff is cheaper? My MY relatives came stay in one of the famous expensive hotel.. his other relative commented SG things VERY EXP and I told him it is not if you stay here, earn $ here and shop here. You will have more buying power as in MY. Guess what happen on the last day before they check out fo the Hotel. It was a last minute thing and because the hotel is connected to a shopping centre, he happened walk into htis shop and found something he paid some RM300 t-shirt in KL. It beats me, what kind of t-shirt that EX .. I am not sure why they want to spend that kind of $.. rich?? My in-law told me, he bought 10pcs of the same t-shirt at $90 only and the quality is better, with more choice, just that he wanted that same piece, same design and colour. Well, you might say, its one of kind of thing.... May be because its branded, you may find it cheaper in SG than in MY, which is true for branded stuff... (generally, market niche and maturity makes alot of different)

I had been comparing prices of the few hypermart in MY against SG mart. I could not compare it with local store. Besides, many items can be cheaper during promotion at the various mart. My comparision was only based on items that I am familiar with. Except for last years, I had hardly buy anything at all since I started shopping in MY several years ago, except for holiday and something which I can't find in SG at that time. Generally, prices are cheaper by ~10-15% could be more depending on supplier. But only if you convert SG into RM, yes...

I am not comparing which items is cheaper here. Perhaps you have mistaken my intention. I only said the living cost is more EXP in MY than SG. Certainly, you can define for yourself the living standard in SG as compared to MY... Apology, not mean to put down anyone here.

My relatives in Batu Pahat brought me to a coffe shop.. (rather dirty by SG standard) for breakfast during one of the visit when I was back in MY, he told me that bowl of meat noodle was VERY EXP, and I asked why, because it was only RM3. Cheaper compare to SG (7 years ago). Food court (SG) selling $3.00~3.50 (average). He said, foodcourt rental charges average minimum S$5000, Batu Pahat coffeeshop charges RM500, bowl of meat noodle charges RM3 and SG also charges $3, comparing the rental, who is more EXP. SG rental is EXP, that's why charge that price, but in BP, charge same price when rental only RM500. Cost of living is EXP.

I had been eating at most the shopping centre except for Jalan Lor just for myself, shopping wise, how could normal Mysian afford with that kind of salary with prices like that.

This post has been edited by bbmars: Feb 25 2007, 10:04 PM

how 2 apply those??apply in msia or spore??

If you earn S$, then the food in Singapore is still cheaper than if you earn RM and stay in Malaysia. Look at the price of our roti canai, ice chinese tea, chicken rice etc.

Price increase because of petrol price, toll etc. What an excuse, as if majority Malaysian salary got increase.

Precisely my point, its the cost of living not which ever is cheaper. Imagine I wa in UK some years ago, everything was EXP to me. BUt after settling down for some months, I realise not everything is EXP over there. I can even find some items cheaper than what I can get in SG, and those items are either from China or India. Imagine a cashier working in their POUNDLAND, our so called $2 shop. You can easily get a pieces of chicken with fries for 1 pound.. Their pound is "BIGGER" in value then our dollar. Many things I can get it at less than 1 or between 2-3pound which is a lot. however, how often do you spend that kind of $$ unless you are big spend and enjoy life so much. Cetainly not for me as I was there to study... where to find so much $ to drop?

but can survivie 400pound/month. with some bit of loose cahs to spare.

how much is the apartment rental in sg?
where to find online?

---

Added on February 28, 2007, 6:44 pmhow much is the EE salary range for 3 exp in design?(software n hard)

This post has been edited by Humping^Panda: Feb 28 2007, 06:44 PM

i'm planning to work in sg soon. just want some opinion from those who have work there....do u guys stay in hometown and make frequent trips for interview? or went there rent a room and job hunting like mad?......what should i do if i wanna go to sg thru jb? i'm from kuching and it is my first time searching for work outside my hometown and a seriously consider going for it if i land a job at sg

I really suggest looking into the local newspaper for positions in Singapore. If Singapore companies want to hire Malaysians, they will advertise in Malaysia. If you go to Singapore, and register yourself for the job agencies, look at newspaper everyday and such, it is even harder and more expensive. And judging from some of my friends experience when they came to Singapore to look for job. it is not easy or cheap.

Singapore newspapers job recruitment pages always indicate they are only looking for Singaporeans or Singapore PRs. Rarely do I come across a job ad in the Singapore newspaper that say "Malaysians are welcome to apply."

So if you really want to work in Singapore, register for yourself in JobsDB, Jobstreet, thestaronline, and etc. and indicate you are looking for positions in Singapore. Check your local newspaper everyday for positions in Singapore, Saturday 'The Star' paper is in my opinion the best. When a company advertises in Malaysia, they are specifically looking for Malaysians and are prepared for you, things like workpermits, S-pass, medical exams (AIDS test), are all considered already when they advertised in Malaysia.

Interviews are also normally conducted in Malaysia in major cities, maybe medical exam or sometimes 2nd interview is conducted in Singapore, and if it is a big company, they will re-compensate you for your travels.

So far out of 8 people I know that came to Singapore to look for job while staying with me, (minimum 3 days, maximum 1 month), only 1 person found a job. And he quit 2 years later because it was a 'cina-pek' company.

So think through your expenses before making a decision. If you 'die die' want to come to Singapore anyway, then it is better if you can stay somewhere for free like a relative's house or a friends place. Makan minum, if possible also if the house you are staying in provide you. If must eat outside everyday, prepare for at least SGD3 per meal. Transportation also must be considered. If friend or relative can fetch you around, even better.

i planning to work at spore on april....tell me more pls..i mean working life n the ppl around there

thanks billycomeback it really helps......a few more question though... ....if i were to go in to sg thru jb there is a immigration office right?......what should i do when planning to enter sg and finding work there? like work permit or something like that?