Everything You Need To Know About EPF i-Sinar Facility

By Annmira Joseph

If you have lost your job or experienced a loss in income due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might want to consider applying for the EPF i-Sinar programme to support your finances. Here’s a quick guide to help you better understand the i-Sinar facility.

Many Malaysians have experienced job losses, salary cuts and forced unpaid leave since the implementation of the first Movement Control Order (MCO) last year. If you’re one of those who were affected and are in need of extra cash to pay off the debts and bills, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) i-Sinar programme can help you with that.

What is the EPF i-Sinar facility?

EPF i-Sinar or i-Sinar KWSP was announced as a part of the government scheme to support Malaysians who were financially hit by the pandemic, allowing eligible members to withdraw a set amount of funds from their respective accounts.

The EPF has allocated RM70 billion for the initiative, which is expected to benefit eight million members who can withdraw a maximum of RM10,000 or RM60,000, depending on their Account 1 balance. The i-Sinar facility is an extension of the i-Lestari programme which allows a monthly withdrawal of up to RM500 from Account 2, but is scheduled to end this March.

What’s the difference between i-Lestari and i-Sinar?

The i-Lestari is a withdrawal facility that is intended to help members meet their monthly financial needs during the COVID-19 pandemic period. It allows members to withdraw up to RM500 from Account 2 for a maximum 12-month period. This programme runs from April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021.

i-Sinar, on the other hand, works as an advance facility on your retirement funds. The scheme allows you to withdraw a larger amount of up to RM10,000 (depending on your Account 1 balance), which can benefit those who need large funds upfront. Eligible members will receive an interim payment of up to RM1,000 from the total amount applied on January 26, 2021.

Do you have to replace the i-Sinar withdrawal amount?

Yes, members who choose to apply for i-Sinar are required to channel 100% future EPF contributions into Account 1 until the amount withdrawn is replenished. After that, the contributions will return to the status quo: 70% and 30% to Account 1 and Account 2 respectively.

Who is eligible for i-Sinar?

i-Sinar facility is divided into two categories which are Category 1 and Category 2. Below are the details for each category:

Category 1

Members who have not contributed to the EPF for at least two consecutive months
Housewives
Members who are self-employed and work in the gig economy sector
Members who have lost their jobs
Members who were given unpaid leave
Members who have lost their source of income
Members who are still working but their base salary has been cut by 30% or more since March 2020
No supporting documents required as the approval will be verified based on EPF data
Application began on December 21, 2020
Disbursement started mid-January 2021

Category 2

Members who are still working and have experienced a reduction in overall income of 30% and above, including salary, allowances and overtime pay since March 2020
Supporting documents required:
- Salary slips before and after the income reduction, and
- A notice from employer, which states that allowances/overtime claims have been suspended or reduced
Application begins January 11, 2021
Disbursement starts the following month after approval

How much can you withdraw from EPF i-Sinar?

Account 1 savings ≤ RM100,000

You can withdraw up to RM10,000 while maintaining a balance of RM100 balance in Account 1, The payments will be staggered across six months and you can receive up to RM5,000 for the first payout.

Account 1 savings > RM100,000

If you are in this category, you can withdraw up to 10% of your savings or up to RM60,000 – whichever is lower. The payments will be staggered across six months, and you could receive a maximum of RM10,000 for your first payout.

How to apply for i-Sinar?

How to check your i-Sinar application status online?

You can check your application status via i-Sinar official website on the “Semak Status Permohonan” (Check Application Status) webpage. Just key in your IC number and mobile number, then click “Semak Status” (Check Status).

If your application has not been approved, the following page will show “Permohonan Anda Sedang Diproses” (Your application is still in process).

Understand your financial situation before applying for i-Sinar

The i-Sinar facility can be useful for those who have lost their jobs, suffered from pay cuts and do not have sufficient funds to sustain their financial lives. Keep in mind that EPF is a scheme that provides monetary benefits to salaried employees after retirement. Therefore, the savings are initially meant to be withdrawn when members have reached the age of 55.

You should only utilise the savings for urgent basic needs. Before applying, check your current financial needs and try to look for other alternatives (if there’s any). Having a proper retirement strategy is a crucial step in helping you live a less stressful future in your older days.

If you need some help in making a decision, we suggest you check out this piece we did on the pros and cons of withdrawing your EPF money under the i-Sinar facility.

Mar 4, 2021 0

Covid-19 New Norm: Boredom that eventually leads to Depression

By Annmira Joseph

Virale Illustrationen: Coronavirus in Bildern › PAGE online

“We are living in hard times.” “At least we are not in war, you should be grateful.”

These lines are often said by the people around us who have been getting the benefit off of the pandemic era. Online businesses and shopping outlets are having their highest peak in profit. No doubt we were enjoying the first few weeks ordering almost anything we found online that might help us while we were in lockdown. We began following TikTok trends like making the Dalgona Coffee and making our very own Roti Canai.

Though, was that all enough to keep us busy? Was is all enough to sum up all of our outdoor activity time? I think not.

When the news about the coronavirus disease spread all over the globe, people we were afraid, confused and mostly paranoid. One is because we do not know what the cure of the disease is and it was not like any other flu or fever where we would immediately get the symptoms. It was rather vivid because it takes up to two weeks which is 14 days to be exact until the symptoms of the disease begins to show.

So what are we to do really until we actually begin to feel sick? STAY AT HOME! We wait and obey the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that has been regulated by the World Health Organization (WHO). This means, we have to wear masks on a regular, maintain a one meter distance from other people including family members but do we really do that with family? I’m not one to judge since I, myself tend to break these regulation habitually.

Universities were no longer allowing student to enter the premises as to maintain the health and safety of those students who are already staying in campus. Some students from Sabah and Sarawak cannot immediately go back to their states as the ticket prices of airplane were rising through the roof. So they stayed back in campus hoping the rise of the Covid-19 cases around the country would eventually decrease. International students even had to stay back and if they do go back to their country there was not any guarantee that could come back immediately. The government of every country decided to close borders and there was no saying on which country was safe and which was not.

kms GIF - kms GIFs | Say more with Tenor

As we were forced to stay at home; yes I would say forced because it was not in our will whether to leave the house or not. There was not much left to do whenever I was home. Having to follow up on my online classes were such a drag. I would say I was not motivated at all to do my assignments or even attend classes. It was not like having to sit in front of the class with your lecturer teaching away and you dress up to feel like it is just another day. It was not close to any of it.

We do not wake up an hour or two earlier to attend classes like we did before in campus. Students did not need to dress up or shower now. They just had to make sure their laptop is by their bed the moment they wake up and had to turn off the camera and mute the microphone to make sure they were just there to attend classes and eventually fail. There was no sense of hope or confidence to even begin the day. We would just wake up ten minutes before classes begin and even that, still in bed wallowed in our own blankets. “BURITO TIME!”

Lecturers were not aware that we were asleep while classes would go on. They are not aware of the late night sleeps that we were not getting. They were not aware of the times we had to log on to our assignment portals to make sure everything was done and sent on time. They were also not aware that we were barely getting any sleep or a social life for that fact. We would stay cooped up in our rooms trying to finish up our work. Then on some days we would get worked up and stressed due to the work load and act rude towards our family.

It one thing staying at home and doing work and it is another when you have stayed home for a long time that almost everything you do feels suffocating. There was no way out since home was the only way in. There was no way for people to visit their friends since they were drowned by fears wherein they might get infected by the disease. So what do they do? STAY AT HOME!

But for how long? As much as we understand the importance of staying at home and making sure no one else gets hurt due to the disease, were also being kept captive in our homes and our minds as prison. There were curfews that was held upon people and as much as I don’t want to sound like a spoilt brat, it was not easy to stay at home at all times. Apart from that, everyone already the disease was not stopping any time soon and there was no cure being discovered.

People were beginning to become impatient and they did not want to follow any orders that was being implemented by the government. Lockdowns were being lifted and everyone decided that they knew more about the disease than anyone else.

As a person who was already having minor depression ever since I was younger, it was getting harder for me. I did not have the energy to get out of bed. Everyday felt like a Monday and I did not know what day or time it was. All I knew was to eat sleep and take a leak. It felt as if there was nothing else left to do and there was nowhere else left to go. It was a vacation I did not ask for and was not a pleasant one.

As a university student, the campus life was something I would really look forward to. My friends would always be there to cheer me up and company was not something that was hard to find there. Everyday felt like a new day and it was something that I would constantly look forward to. But now everything burnt to ashes! I am hoping that the vaccines will be out soon that this nightmare would be over in no time.

Mar 4, 2021 0

Everything You Need To Know About EPF i-Sinar Facility

By Annmira Joseph

What is the EPF i-Sinar facility?

What’s the difference between i-Lestari and i-Sinar?

Do you have to replace the i-Sinar withdrawal amount?

Who is eligible for i-Sinar?

i-Sinar facility is divided into two categories which are Category 1 and Category 2. Below are the details for each category:
Category 1
• Members who have not contributed to the EPF for at least two consecutive months
• Housewives
• Members who are self-employed and work in the gig economy sector
• Members who have lost their jobs
• Members who were given unpaid leave
• Members who have lost their source of income
• Members who are still working but their base salary has been cut by 30% or more since March 2020
• No supporting documents required as the approval will be verified based on EPF data
• Application began on December 21, 2020
• Disbursement started mid-January 2021
Category 2
• Members who are still working and have experienced a reduction in overall income of 30% and above, including salary, allowances and overtime pay since March 2020
• Supporting documents required:
• Salary slips before and after the income reduction, and
• A notice from employer, which states that allowances/overtime claims have been suspended or reduced
• Application begins January 11, 2021
• Disbursement starts the following month after approval

How much can you withdraw from EPF i-Sinar?

The actual amount that you can withdraw under the i-Sinar facility depends on whether you have more or below than RM100,000 savings in your Account 1. You can choose how much to withdraw in the first payout, but the subsequent payments must be at least RM1,000 per month.
a) Account 1 savings ≤ RM100,000
You can withdraw up to RM10,000 while maintaining a balance of RM100 balance in Account 1, The payments will be staggered across six months and you can receive up to RM5,000 for the first payout.

Account 1 savings > RM100,000

How to apply for i-Sinar?

How to check your i-Sinar application status online?

If your application has not been approved, the following page will show “Permohonan Anda Sedang Diproses” (Your application is still in process).

Understand your financial situation before applying for i-Sinar

If you need some help in making a decision, we suggest you check out this piece we did on the pros and cons of withdrawing your EPF money under the i-Sinar facility.

Feb 26, 2021 0

Fans, but no cheering, for delayed Olympic torch relay

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 21 February 2021 @ 2:00pm}

A man walks by a countdown clock for Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo on Tuesday. *Image by:* http://Google

TOKYO: Spectators will be allowed to line the route when the Olympic flame begins its delayed relay across Japan next month, organisers said Thursday, but cheering will be strictly banned.

The torch relay was scrapped just days before it was due to kick off last year when Japanese and Olympic officials took the unprecedented decision to postpone Tokyo 2020 over the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite persistent concerns about the safety of holding the Games this summer, organisers say the massive event can go ahead and the torch relay will kick off as planned on March 25.

It will start from a symbolic site in Fukushima, highlighting the role of Tokyo 2020 as what Japan has dubbed the “Reconstruction Olympics” — after the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster.

But the relay will be a much more sober affair than usual.

Spectators will be allowed to watch the flame pass but will be required to wear masks, avoid crowding, and only attend segments of the relay near their home.

“They must support with applause or by using distributed goods rather than by shouting or cheering,” guidelines warn, adding social distance must be maintained.

“Individual relay segments will be suspended if there is a risk of overcrowding,” the guidelines add.

Attendance at celebration venues along portions of the route will be by reservation only to limit numbers, and information on which torchbearers will run which sections of the route will be released only at the last minute to avoid crowds gathering to watch celebrity runners.

Torchbearers will be able to run without masks — news likely to be welcomed by those running in the later stages of the relay when Japan’s fierce summer heat has kicked in.

Both runners and staff involved in the relay will have to keep detailed health records in the two weeks before their participation and avoid risky activities — including eating out or going to crowded places.

Parts of Japan are currently under a virus state of emergency that is due to lift by March 7, with some areas possibly exiting the measure earlier.

But the guidelines warn that segments of the relay could be suspended if the measure is reimposed in areas where the torch relay will take place.

The Games are scheduled to open on July 23, and organisers have outlined virus guidelines they say will allow the event to be held safely.

Final decisions on some key elements remain, with IOC chief Thomas Bach saying yesterday a ruling on whether to allow foreign spectators could come in April or May.

Feb 25, 2021 0

Poor diet while pregnant can lead to childhood obesity

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 21 February 2021 @ 1:00pm}

*Pregnant mothers should observe a good diet free of processed food packed with sugar and salt. (Rawpixel pic)*

PARIS: Children born to mothers who eat a lot of processed foods packed with sugar and salt face an increased risk of obesity late in childhood, researchers said Monday.

“Children born to mothers who eat a low-quality diet – high in inflammation-associated foods – during pregnancy may be more likely to have obesity or excess body fat,” Ling-Wei Chen from University College Dublin’s School of Public Health, said in a statement.

“Mounting evidence has pointed to the first 1,000 days of life – from conception to two years old – as a critical period for preventing childhood obesity.”

Obesity in childhood often carries on into adulthood and is associated with a higher risk of type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and other health problems.

To examine how maternal diet might affect childhood obesity, Chen and colleagues analysed data collected from 16,295 mother-child pairs in Ireland, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Poland.

On average, mothers were 30 years old and had a healthy body-mass index (BMI), a standard measure for obesity calculated on the basis of weight, height and sex.

The women reported the food they ate before and during pregnancy. The researchers graded the diets on a five-point scale.

Participants with the healthiest diets – rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, nuts and legumes – were at one end of the spectrum.

Those eating a lot of red and processed meats, along with food stuffs larded with saturated fat, sugar and salt were at the other end.

More fat, less muscle

In the follow up, children’s BMI was calculated in early, mid and late childhood, roughly 10 to 11 years old.

They found that older children born to mothers who eat poorly throughout pregnancy were likely to have significantly more fat and less muscle mass.

Almost no difference, however, was seen in younger children.

“Our findings suggest that promoting an overall healthy diet, high in fruit and vegetables and low in refined carbohydrates and red and processed meats, throughout pregnancy may help prevent childhood obesity,” said lead investigator Catherine Phillips, also of the University of Dublin.

Previous research has found that low levels of muscle mass may be associated with a higher risk of combined diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

The authors cautioned that their observational study does not directly show cause and effect, nor does it explain biologically why poor maternal diet might lead to childhood obesity.

One possible explanation lies in the realm of epigenetics, which are non-genetic effects that can nonetheless be inherited, said Phillips.

Feb 25, 2021 0

Low-Carb Chicken-Vegetable Soup

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 21 February 2021 @ 12:00pm}

I wanted to make a simple chicken soup without noodles or rice that was low-carb, healthy, and delicious! Use this as a base and add your own take on spices and veggies.

Easy Low Carb Chicken Soup for Keto Diets | Low Carb Maven

Prep: 15 mins

Cook: 30 mins

Total: 45 mins

Servings: 6

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

6 cups water
2 cups chicken stock
4 medium celery stalks, sliced
3 medium carrots, sliced
½ cup chopped yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground thyme
½ teaspoon paprika
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 bay leaf
1 pound chopped cooked chicken
4 cups sliced yellow squash

Directions

Step 1 Combine water, stock, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, parsley, thyme, paprika, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf in a pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook until vegetables are soft, 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 2 Add cooked chicken and squash to the pot and simmer until squash is tender, about 10 minutes more.
Step 3 Ready to be served

Feb 25, 2021 0

America’s Newest National Park:New River Gorge !

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 15 February 2021 @ 1:10pm}

America’s Best Idea is welcoming a new park to the National Park system. New River Gorge National Park was designated as the United State’s 63rd National Park.

New River Gorge is the first National Park in the great state of West Virginia. It sits on the southeast corner of the state. Despite its name, the New River is one of the oldest rivers in the world. It has carved beautiful canyons out of the Appalachian Mountains, and is a prime spot for adventure travelers. It boasts some of the best whitewater rafting in the USA, and offers some prime climbing and hiking trails.

New River Gorge also offers plenty of wildlife, as it offers some of the most biodiverse ecosystem in the world.

Feb 15, 2021 0

If You Eat too Many Carrots, Will Your Skin Turn Orange?

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 15 February 2021 @ 1:10pm}

15 Weird Side Effects of Common Foods | Eat This Not That

People wonder, will eating too many carrots change the color of your skin? The surprising fact is eating too many carrots, or other foods high in beta-carotene, can cause a yellowish discoloration of the skin, according to the Dermatology Clinic at UAMS. This discoloration, a condition called carotenemia, is most noticeable on the palms and soles. Unlike jaundice, though, carotenemia does not cause yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Carotenemia is usually seen in young children, is not toxic and generally does not cause other health problems.

Treatment for this discoloration is a change to a low-carotene diet, but it may take several months for the skin to return to its normal color. Just don’t substitute tomatoes for your carrots. Eating too many tomatoes can cause a yellow-orange discoloration of the skin called lycopenemia, due to the accumulation of lycopene in the tissues. The treatment for lycopenemia is also dietary modification.

Feb 15, 2021 0

Is Blind Dating A Good Option?

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 15 February 2021 @ 1:00pm}

Must-Read: Listing The Pros And Cons Of Blind Dating | The Brunette Diaries

We all want to meet that special someone; we usually try to do that at work, bars and cafes, but in the end, in many cases, the people we meet are not worthy of our attention. Even though we are spending so much time online, whether we’re working, doing some shopping or browsing through those matchmaking websites, we are still not so lucky to find a person with whom we can have a proper date with. So, where does that leave us? Do we become desperate enough to go for blind dating? Do we let our friends and family introduce us to someone they believe would be a good match for us?

Is a blind dating a good option? Let’s find out. People have different opinions whether blind dating is a good idea or not, and to go with that, different experiences. Some of them have found the love of their lives and some of them wished they had never gone out on that disastrous date. Blind dating has its pros and cons, and if you decide to try it out, there are certain things you need to avoid when you actually go out with someone you have never met before in your life.

Why Can A Blind Date Be A Good Option?

I know that bling dating can be a little nerve-wracking, but in many cases, people who went on blind dates actually ended up in long-term relationships, so it cannot be all that bad, right? Based on other people’s experiences there are times when a blind date can actually be a good thing, for example, if you are extremely busy and don’t really have the time to go out and look for that special someone, it would be easier if someone would just set you up.

This way, you will meet people who are not already in your life, but have similar interests, because so many people you know either from work, or family and friends, can set you up, the possibilities can be endless. You know what they say, sometimes other people know us better than we know ourselves.

Believe it or not, you might even have a lot of fun when on a blind date, and even if this person you are going to meet isn’t exactly a good match for you, you can still have a good time and perhaps make a new friend. Why not? One of the best things that can happen when on a blind date is scoring a free meal. Imagine the possibilities, meeting a soulmate and free food – that sounds perfect to me.

Believe it or not, you can find out a lot about their personality depending on what food they order. Having in mind all of this and knowing that blind dating isn’t exactly the same as you see it in the movies, one more thing you need to know is that no harm will be done if you don’t click with the person you were on the date with. So no awkward situations – yay!

Why Can A Blind Date Be A Bad Idea?

Although good things can happen on a blind date, have in mind that not everything can work out well in the end. So, it is no surprise that many people share the opinion that a blind date can be a disaster and recommend that you completely avoid it if that is possible. It is not excluded that you will lose several hours of your life which you will want back, and with someone who wasn’t inspiring at all, had some really bad jokes and was not very pleasant. You might get the feeling that your friends don’t really know you that well, since they are the ones who have set you up.

So, always look for those warning signs, if the people who are setting you up are saying that the person you are going to meet is great, funny, cute and so on, you cannot help but wonder what is wrong with them, since they are agreeing to go on a blind date.

Although you have the option of not calling that person ever again, you may end up with a needy and clingy individual who might insist on seeing you again and be a little annoying in their wish, so be careful, polite, but in the same time firm when letting them know that you are not interested, so that you don’t end up with a person who can be a little psycho. But don’t worry, the chances of that happening are really small, maybe one in a million.

Feb 15, 2021 0

HISTORY OF RUIN BARS IN BUDAPEST

^{By Khesigga Sugumaran – 6 February 2021 @ 10:50pm}

It’s almost impossible to think of Budapest without its ruin bars, but in the long span of the city’s history, the likes of Szimpla and co are just a blip in its historic lifetime. But even in the last 15 years, Budapest’s ruin bars have evolved into an attraction that is perhaps as popular, if not more so, than the likes of Buda Castle and the Hungarian Parliament Building.

DRINKING AMONG THE RUINS

In the early 2000s, the inner part of the VII District was made up of crumbling, abandoned buildings. Once the site of the Jewish ghetto, the historic Jewish Quarter became dilapidated in the decades following World War II, after the deportation of 10,000s Jews. In 2002, the guys behind Szimpla opened up the very first venue on Kertész utca – where you’ll find the Szimpla Café today. However, the real kick happened in 2004, when Ábel Zsendovits and his friends decided to gamble on a condemned building complex on Kazinczy street, which marked the start of the legendary ruin bar we all know and love today.

Szimpla began as a small experiment, a bar set up in an abandoned buildin offering affordable drinks for the young and creative crowd in Budapest. Szimpla became a bohemian hub after the crumbling building got spruced up with local design and vintage, mismatched furniture. Its chaos and eclecticism has turned it into one of the world’s most famous bars.

THE RISE OF RECYCLED SPACES

Tűzraktár underground cultural center and ruin bar – photo: music.hu

Szimpla not only became the hottest place to party, but it also set a trend and a movement for alternative spaces. Other ruin bars opened up in the neighbourhood, with Kuplung and the now closed Mumus and epic the Tűzraktár alternative cultural space, in a former laboratory instrument factory in the IX District, but closed down due to legal problems concerning the building and the validity of its use. However, while ruin bars popped up all around the city in abandoned plots and derelict spaces, some opening for a single summer only to close the next year, the spirit of the ruin bar gained traction.

THE EVOLUTION OF THE RUIN BARS

Fogasház and Instant ruin bar – photo: antropos.hu

In the early days of the ruin bar, many feared they would get closed down – especially in the VII District, which made for potential prime real estate. However, eventually ruin bars became an iconic part of the cityscape, so much that people would come to Budapest especially to come drink in these crumbling watering holes. More bars popped up, like Instant and Fogas Ház. The ruin bar also took a commercial turn, where rather than opening up a counter-cultural space where the creative underground could come for a drink.

While places like Fogas Ház and Szimpla began life as alternative cultural centres, they eventually changed direction to cater more to the visiting party crowd, while places like Instant, with its surreal decor spanning an entire apartment block, offered a place for pure hedonism.

THE NEXT GENERATION

Mazeltov restaruant Budapest — Mazel Tov Jewish restaurant and ruin bar – photo: mazeltov.hu

While ruin bars started their life as with their grungy and gritty look, with crumbling plaster and the graffiti laden walls that went well with the mismatched furniture. Ruin bars soon took a more elegant turn, with places like Mazel Tov, following the shabby chic aesthetic right next door to Fogas Ház. Ruin bars started to move towards being an alternative super club, in the case of Doboz and the new combined space housing Instant and Fogas Ház.

Fifteen years after they appeared on the scene, ruin bars have become a core part of the city, where Szimpla will see hordes of middle age tour groups snapping pics just like they would at any of hte other sites in the city.

Feb 6, 2021 0