Require few clarifications before can comment:
1) Have u guys married?
2) Do u own a house in SG?
3) Are u two SG PR?
4) If yes, how long already being a SG PR?
5) Roughly how much are both of your montly income?
6) When u planning to go back Malaysia permanently? Your whole family or some will stay in SG?

Is your Malaysia house near SG?

Wahh.. quite difficult for your case.

Coz as u know, it is very difficult to rent a room in SG for a family with young infant. U need to rent the whole flat and it is not cheap. Almost half of both your income gone. Not to mentioned u need to hire a maid or put in child care center.

U can't buy BTO or resale hdb coz both of u must become PR for at least 3 years unless u convert to SG citizenship. Or u can buy condominium but it is freaking expensive.

Another option is u buy a house in Johor Bahru and both of u travel back and forth but the causeway jam is really terrible. U two need to wake up very early. U also need to find a nanny to look after your child.

The last option is u put your child in your hometown and let your parents or your in-laws to look after them. This is what most lower income do. They always travel back frequently but for your case will be very expensive.

Its good u are aware and trying to think of your future. I see some of my Malaysian colleagues here still YOLO in their mid 30's.

This post has been edited by lil_flank: May 17 2018, 02:16 PM

Having a child in your early 20's in SG will be a very challenging road.

What field are both of u working in? Is there a potential that both of u would earn more in the future? If both of u go back Sarawak, are u going to find a same field job or start a business? Will the income be sufficient?

Yes, both of u should get a SG PR if possible so u can benefit from the employer cpf payout and cpf interest. After gotten your PR, go buy an insurance rider. This insurance rider covers surgery and hospitalization. Its a small price to pay especially the medical fee in SG is so freaking expensive. After working for 3 years and gotten married, u can consider buying a resale hdb. Can deduct from your cpf. Rent out some of the rooms to ease your burden. When u reach the age of 30, see whether do u wana permanent stay in SG and have children or go back to Sarawak. If u two are planning to go back Sarawak permanently, you can sell your hdb and pay back the remaining loan of your hdb. Then give up your PR so u can withdrawl out all your cpf money. Unlike us in Peninsular Malaysia, we cannot withdrawl our cpf money until the age of 65 if i am remeber correctly. If we give up our PR, we can only withdrawl all our cpf money at the age of 55.

If either of you cannot get a PR, that means u cannot buy a hdb. So both of you try to save as much money as possible. I suggest u to use some money to learn how to invest. Its best to invest at a young age especially in the 20's. But make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage and emergency savings. Then at the age of 30, both of you can go back to your hometown with a lump sum of money. But u need to think carefully what u planning to do in Sarawak coz your pay will most likely be lower if you work in the engineering field. Unless u use the money to open a business but every business also have its risk. Wish u good luck!

To be frank, I am also in the engineering field and the pay sucks. I also cannot make use of my engineering background to open my own business. By the way, giving birth in Malaysia government hospital is freaking cheap. Three of my children are born here. Price ranges from RM35-Rm100, lol.. I am planning to go back to reunite with my family next year.



This post has been edited by lil_flank: May 18 2018, 12:37 PM

Thanks for the cpf info. Sorry, my mistake. Bto is only for those Singaporeans unless one of u convert to SG citizenship.

I invest in foreign stocks (US and Hong Kong). U can open an trading account in banks or trading firms. I basically open in iOcbc Security. For tips, i suggest u go youtube and listen to Peter Lynch videos. It will give a rough understanding of how to invest in potential stocks.

U drive or take public transport?

Wow, u can really save lot and have the spending power in Malaysia. My superior always drive his SG car in out and his house is near Taman Molek. Quite expensive.

TS, u can maybe consider buying a house in JB and take car pool. Then find a nanny to help u take of your child.

True too. There are pros and cons. I just pity those children who travel to SG to study in a daily basis.