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Yow Chuan

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1,497 Plastic Bankrupts

Posted on November 19th, 2006 in Malaysia Personal Finance |

Credit Cards

I guess the statistics are not surprising, since it’s so easy to sign yourself up with the readily-available plastic-debt companies. There’s no proper regulations when it comes to approving the credibility of to-be-plastic-owners and also, Malaysian just don’t seem to be taking bankruptcy very seriously.

Cash is still KING!

Bankruptcy cases due to credit card debts rose from 1,152 in 2003 to 1,497 last year and this has got the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry worried.

Its Consumer Affairs Division director Ismail Jantan said youths who did not know how to save and who spent on luxury items were some of the causes of the bad debts.

Some 8.4 million credit card holders owed financial institutions and corporate firms some RM167mil to date, he said at the launch of a smart consumer roadshow at the KB Mall here.

With the rising cost of living due to the increase in fuel prices and inflation, Ismail said consumers needed to know how to become smart spenders.





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  • chongsw
    If we are able to make use of the plastics in smart way, it can rewards us more. Let me list some:

    1. Autodebit monthly fee i.e. monthly insurance premium, mobile phone charge, Astro and etc
    2. Credit card internet banking. Citibank's is one of the best. I've been using it for years. No problem at all.
    3. If we charge enough to the plastics and at the same time pay full monthly, they will have the annual fee.
    4. Points will be earned from the transactions. I've exchanged a lot of vouchers and gifts.

    I have 5 credit cards. I pay zero for annual membership fee.
  • Yeah, I don't deny that plastic are useful if it's used with proper planning. To quote Spiderman: "With great power comes great responsibility."

    I myself use my one and only plastic to pay the bills. Still, most people I know has the habit of spending the money they haven't earn. While some might realize the trap early in the initial stage, but there are many who just keep digging their own graves into bankruptcy.
  • maxee
    Bro, something out of the topic.

    I really the blue blue new layput as compare the old greeny inclingtible layout...
  • roscha
    And we also have banks that change rules to suit THEIR bottom line. HSBC recently consolidated balance transfer accounts and credit card accounts and informed their customers that any payment they make will pay off the lower interest stuff first.

    Basically that means if you have RM4000 in balance transfer (which the marketing ppl convinced you to get cos the interest is lower) and RM2000 in normal retail transactions, you must clear the RM4000 first before you can finish off the RM2000. In the meantime, interest is rolling.

    Really unethical of HSBC...
  • Hmm... you can't expect too much from banks either. They are merely loan-sharks with licenses. ;-)
  • Banks are for those who have money, banks are none for poor people, my personal experince after doing personal finances for more then 10 years, I always use the banks, I never let banks using me. That's how I always get Free stuff and yes, There is such thing as Free Lunch, check out my blog www.urusinsan.net.my.

    You want to talk about education in personal finances, it's all start from the mind, those who can control their mind become RICH like me ..heheheh those who can't become bankcrupt and it's a lousy excuse blamming the bank due to our own ignorance.
  • simran
    i think plastic is useful as well as harmful in many ways
    it can relieve us and on the same time harm ourselfs
    but if u want to stop the use of plastic in a sudden all over the world it is impossible to do that
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