CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform
With the 'Plan Life Ahead, Now!' (PLAN) platform, which is available on the CPF app and website, members can project their retirement savings and payout, calculate their home purchase budget, and assess the affordability of health insurance premiums.
Members using the platform will see a personalised dashboard, with content and resources tailored to their current life stage.
The platform was rolled out on Jul 5 during CPF's 70th anniversary commemorative book launch event.
CPF Board CEO Melissa Khoo said PLAN is being rolled out to empower members to take charge of their financial health.
With the retirement payout planner, members can map out their payout goals, and explore ways to leverage CPF to achieve their goals, such as through top-ups.
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The home purchase planner shows CPF members their home purchase budget, loan options and how their housing decisions can impact their retirement payouts.
With the health insurance planner, members can compare premiums and key features across different Integrated Shield Plans and make informed decisions about their healthcare coverage, CPF said.
The platform also provides educational resources on financial planning, and a financial fitness questionnaire that allows users to assess their overall financial health beyond CPF matters.
Developed in collaboration with national financial education programme MoneySense, it asks questions such as: 'How much savings do you have available in case of an emergency?', and provides relevant tips.
In her speech, Khoo said CPF has a deep sense of purpose in being a cornerstone of Singapore's social security system, adding that the fund will continue to innovate as part of a commitment to its members.
She said: 'As retirement aspirations become more diverse and with healthier longevity, I believe these values will continue to steer us in meeting future needs.'
To commemorate its 70th anniversary, CPF Board on Jul 5 launched the 'Save & Sound: 70 Years of CPF' book which chronicles the organisation's journey through the years.
PLAN with CPF features a personalised dashboard for CPF members to explore retirement payout, home purchase and health insurance planners, among other functions. PHOTO: CPF BOARD
It includes behind-the-scenes perspectives from current and former Ministers, leaders and staff of CPF Board, and stories from people of how CPF impacted their lives.
The book is not for sale. A digital copy is available at cpf.gov.sg/cpf70.
Members of the public can visit an exhibition about CPF's history at Our Tampines Hub till Jul 10, where they can also try 'PLAN with CPF'. Talks on housing, healthcare and retirement will be available on Jul 5 and 6. THE STRAITS TIMES
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New Paper
18-07-2025
- New Paper
Authorities helping 29 Jollibean workers recover unpaid salaries
Soya milk chain Jollibean has agreed to pay the salaries it owed 22 employees in instalments and the Ministry of Manpower is investigating the company for offences under the Employment Act. The Employment Claims Tribunals (ECT) has also ordered the employer to pay salaries to three employees while another four cases are still either undergoing mediation or waiting for a decision by ECT. This brings the total of workers receiving help for unpaid salaries to 29, said the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) and MOM in a reply to The Straits Times on July 12. The agencies were responding to reports of unpaid salaries and late payments that occurred sporadically since December 2024. MOM will continue to extend help to affected employees. "We would like to remind employers to pay salaries and CPF (Central Provident Fund) contributions on time to their employees," TADM and MOM said in the joint statement. They added that employees in Singapore who are not paid salaries on time can file their claims with TADM, which will assist workers in recovering their salaries either through mediation or referring the case to the ECT, which has legal powers to order employers to pay owed salaries to their workers. Employees who require assistance can contact TADM at Jollibean Foods director Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan was reported in the media to have said that the company has a new owner and it is working closely with the authorities to resolve salary issues by the end of July. A counter staff The Straits Times spoke to on July 11 said her wages had been unpaid for May and June, and her salary for December 2024 delayed by around three weeks. She had to dip into her savings for rent and personal expenses, said the Chinese national in her late 40s, adding that other front-line staff were also owed salaries. "There was no forewarning; It would have been reassuring if the management had at least warned us that the company was struggling but hopes to turn things around under new owners." The agencies were responding to reports of unpaid salaries and late payments that occurred sporadically since December 2024. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG Employment lawyer Goh Seow Hui told The Straits Times that workers are taking a risk if they stay on their jobs despite salary arrears that a company promises to resolve after an ownership transition. "The employer's promises do not improve the worker's legal position. If there are better alternative opportunities available, the worker is better off resigning and making a legal claim for the salary arrears." An ongoing ownership transition is not a justifiable reason for salary arrears, added Ms Goh, a partner at Bird & Bird ATMD.
Business Times
17-07-2025
- Business Times
Chinese EV brands rule the road in Malaysia
[KUALA LUMPUR] Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands have quietly overtaken European, American and even local competitors to dominate Malaysia's emerging EV market, riding a wave of shifting consumer perception, favourable pricing and aggressive regional investment. In the first six months of 2025, Chinese EVs accounted for nearly 50 per cent of all new electric cars registered in Malaysia, with close to 8,400 units sold out of a total 17,251, indicated Road Transport Department data. The clear front-runner is China's BYD, which alone delivered 5,434 units, outpacing home-grown Proton's 4,043 cars and US-based Tesla's 2,399 vehicles. BYD's early advantage stems from having introduced its first EV, the Atto 3, in 2022. That marks a dramatic reversal from just four years ago, when only two Chinese-made EVs were registered in the country, then still a stronghold of premium European marques such as Porsche and Mini. Now, German EVs have fallen to just 10 per cent of market share. 'This level of adoption wasn't even on the radar a few years back,' said Jeremy Khoo, a car sales agent in Selangor. 'People used to think EVs were for the rich but now they're realising you can get a stylish, high-tech EV at a price that rivals conventional cars.' Although imported EVs in Malaysia are still capped at a selling price of above RM100,000 (S$30,270), there are plenty of EV choices that are priced below RM130,000, for instance, Neta V, BYD Dolphin and MG ZS EV. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up With internal combustion engine (ICE) models such as the Honda City or Mazda CX-3 now priced similarly, buyers are increasingly willing to give EVs a try, he added. 'Malaysians are pragmatic buyers… They want value, reliability and affordability. Right now, Chinese EVs are checking all the boxes,' Khoo told The Business Times. Ding Yuqian, head of China autos research at HSBC, said while China exports both ICE and EV models to the Asean region, including Malaysia, its EV products are proving far more competitive. She anticipates that EVs will constitute the majority of Chinese automakers' overseas sales mix by the end of this decade. Fuel subsidy removal accelerates EV demand RON95 petrol, which is widely used by most Malaysia registered vehicles, is currently priced at RM2.05 per litre, roughly 35.5 per cent below the unsubsidised petrol of RM3.18. PHOTO: BT FILE A broader policy shift is also nudging consumers towards EVs. The government is planning to remove the blanket subsidy for RON95 petrol this year, continuing fuel support for only lower-income groups. RON95 fuel, which is widely used by most Malaysia registered vehicles, is currently priced at RM2.05 per litre, roughly 35.5 per cent below the unsubsidised RON97 petrol (RM3.18). Macquarie Equity Research earlier estimated that if RON95 prices rise to RM3.25 per litre, EV users could save as much as 35 per cent in fuel costs. The policy shift follows the government's move last year to eliminate diesel subsidies, which resulted in a 15 per cent drop in diesel vehicle sales, said Patrick Ziechmann, PwC Asean automotive lead. 'We anticipate that the removal of (the RON95) subsidy could result in a similar impact on ICE vehicles sales. This could lead to a positive effect for EVs,' he told BT. Still, challenges remain. Range anxiety and insufficient charging infrastructure continue to deter some buyers, though the number of charging stations is steadily rising nationwide. Double down on Malaysia Proton 7 has become Malaysia's fastest-selling EV, with more than 4,000 units already registered. PHOTO: PROTON Chinese carmakers are not just selling into Malaysia, they are also building in it. To stay competitive when tax exemptions on Completely Built-Up (CBU) EVs eventually lapse in 2027, Chinese carmakers are making big local bets. Chery is investing RM2.2 billion in a Smart Auto Industrial Park in Selangor. This will be its first production hub in South-east Asia, with plans to produce ICE, plug-in hybrid and battery EVs. Vehicles produced at the site will also be exported to neighbouring markets, with Vietnam already identified as a key destination. Geely, which acquired a 49.1 per cent stake in national carmaker Proton in 2017, has partnered with DRB-Hicom to build the Automotive Hi-Tech Valley in Tanjong Malim, Perak. The development is envisioned as a regional EV manufacturing hub. Proton has already broken ground on an EV plant there, which will roll out the 7 – Malaysia's first national electric car. Officially launched in December 2024, the Proton 7 has become Malaysia's fastest-selling EV, with more than 4,000 units already registered in the first six months of 2025. Priced from RM105,800, the model offers both affordability and familiarity, making it a popular choice for Malaysian families transitioning away from ICE vehicles. Meanwhile, Leapmotor has teamed up with Stellantis to begin local assembly of EVs at its Gurun plant in Kedah. The initiative, backed by a RM24 million investment, will start production of Leapmotor's C10 EV by year-end. 'Chinese brands, led by BYD, have already captured around half of the Asean EV market,' said HSBC's Ding. Given rising trade tensions between China and the US and Europe, she noted, emerging markets such as South-east Asia are the most promising overseas opportunities for Chinese carmakers. Regional players join the race China's rise in Malaysia has stirred interest from other Asian giants. South Korea's Hyundai is shifting from a distributor-led model to a direct presence in Malaysia by establishing a new subsidiary, Hyundai Motor Malaysia. This new subsidiary will begin local assembly at the Inokom Corporation facility in Kedah in the third quarter of 2025. The facility is slated to produce up to seven models over the next five years, initially focusing on ICE and hybrid variants, with future plans to expand into EVs. This strategic move by Hyundai reflects a broader effort to deepen its regional manufacturing footprint. Sweden-based Volvo Cars, via its Malaysia subsidiary Volvo Car Malaysia, in 2022 announced its plan to produce the first assembled EV at its manufacturing facility in Selangor, which in line with the company's plan for going into full electrification by year 2030. Meanwhile, German-based Mercedes-Benz in 2023 launched its first locally assembled EV in Malaysia, the EQS 500 4Matic sedan, produced at its Pekan, Pahang plant. Market still in early days While EVs are gaining traction in Malaysia, they still make up a small portion of the overall automotive market. In the first half of 2025, EVs accounted for around 4.3 per cent of the 396,747 vehicle registrations. The growth is significant compared with last year's EV registration of 21,789. That 2024 figure itself represented nearly 64 per cent jump from the 13,301 units registered in 2023, indicated Road Transport Department data. However, Malaysia's EV adoption still lagged behind the regional peers. EVs make up 25 per cent of new car sales in Vietnam, 23 per cent in Thailand, 15 per cent in Indonesia, and 82 per cent in Singapore. Even so, market observers believe there is potential still. EV sales accelerated from less than 300 units registered in 2021 to more than 21,000 registered EVs in 2024. This rapid increase aligns with ambitious government targets set out in the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which aims for EVs to make up 15 per cent of new car sales by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. Expanding China's EVs in South-east Asia Tesla's experience centre in Kuala Lumpur. As at the first half of 2025, the US-based EV brand holds the third-highest number of registered EVs in Malaysia. PHOTO: GOH SENG CHONG The surge of Chinese EVs is not just a local trend in Malaysia, but a significant force reshaping the global automotive landscape, said market observers. As HSBC's Ding observed, Chinese carmakers are increasingly leveraging Asean nations not only as key markets but also as integral components of their global supply chains. This involves substantial investments in battery factories, sophisticated logistics networks, and advanced research and development hubs across the region. PwC's Ziechmann said Asean is a naturally attractive export market for Chinese automotive companies due to its proximity, efficient transportation links and historical ties with countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. Furthermore, the region offers compelling growth opportunities. Automotive markets are expanding in Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore, while Indonesia and Thailand are poised for renewed growth in the coming years, particularly within the EV segment. The growing presence of Chinese EV manufacturers in Malaysia and across the Asean automotive market has affected the traditional big players, said Ziechmann. 'We're already seeing how new Chinese EV models are reshaping the competitive landscape,' he said, noting that in 2024 alone, Japanese original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) lost around 4 per cent market share across the region, with most of that shift going to Chinese brands. In Thailand, BYD and MG entered the top 10 best-selling OEMs, surpassing well-established names such as Ford, Mazda and Nissan. In Singapore, BYD was the best-selling EV brand in 2024. In Indonesia, Wuling and BYD each secured 4 per cent of total market share, ranking ninth and 10th respectively.


Online Citizen
13-07-2025
- Online Citizen
Jollibean workers claim unpaid wages as multiple outlets close across Singapore
SINGAPORE: Once a ubiquitous name with over 30 outlets islandwide, soy milk retailer Jollibean has seen a drastic downsizing in the past year. Only five physical outlets remain open, and several former and current employees claim they are owed months of unpaid salaries and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions. Staff members told state media CNA that they were not informed in advance about outlet closures, only discovering them upon reporting for work. 'At first, we worked so hard and did not get paid, so we were very emotional. Now I think, just forget it. I will just treat it as charity,' said one worker, who has yet to receive her final month's wages. Eight current and former employees who spoke to media declined to be named for fear of jeopardising any future payment. Some said they continued working in hopes of recovering the amounts owed. Of the eight Singapore outlets still listed on Jollibean's website, three — located at Lavender MRT Station, Raffles Place MRT Station, and Ng Teng Fong General Hospital — were found to be shuttered as of Tuesday (8 July). The Lavender MRT outlet had a notice from SMRT Trains stating that the premises had been repossessed since 30 June. Workers Left in the Lurch A former worker from the Pioneer MRT outlet, which closed on 27 December last year, described how SMRT Trains repossessed the premises without prior notice. 'The moment I stepped through the door, my leader said, 'Today you don't need to work, you need to close shop,'' recalled a 68-year-old part-time employee who had worked there for over five years. She said she was still owed more than S$1,000 in salary and three months of unpaid CPF. The affected staff visited Jollibean's headquarters in Pasir Panjang earlier this year over the unpaid wages and were told that the money would be credited the following month, along with a letter of guarantee — but as of July, there has been no update. 'I don't have experience with this kind of thing,' she said, adding that she was reluctant to lodge a formal report. 'I will just treat it as charity.' Another part-timer, a 74-year-old woman who had worked at the same outlet for over a decade, eventually approached the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) with her son. 'We went to the authorities in April, but now it is July and we have not received a cent,' she said. 'The authorities have intervened, but the company is still dragging its feet. It's hopeless. And it's money earned from hard work, not just money you get from sitting around.' CPF Contributions Also Alleged Withheld Workers also highlighted irregular CPF contributions. A 49-year-old counter staff member said she had yet to receive her May and June salaries. 'Without getting my pay, I have no mood to work,' said the Chinese national, adding that her rent was due in two days. At another central Singapore outlet, a worker identified only as Mars, 40, said her wages were still being paid, though often delayed by over a month. However, her colleague revealed that CPF contributions had stopped since last November, with one exception in March this year. When asked, their supervisor reportedly replied that there was no clear timeline for funds to be made available. Despite the irregularities, some staff expressed cautious optimism, saying they were told a new 'boss' would take over operations in July. Yet, none of the workers — including one outlet manager — knew who the supposed new owner was. Company Response and Claims of New Ownership Jollibean director Shahrul Nazrin Mohd Dahlan told CNA that the closures were part of a downsizing move. He said he is stepping down as director and that a new owner will be taking over, although he declined to reveal the identity of the party. 'We are resolving it with MOM [Ministry of Manpower]; we are settling it by the end of this week,' he said. 'There's a new capital injection with a new shareholder, so everything will be resolved financially.' According to Shahrul, paperwork is being finalised and payments are expected to be completed by the end of the month. He added that the new owners are experienced in the food and beverage industry and plan to expand Jollibean's operations after the takeover. Public records show that the sole shareholder of Jollibean Foods is Joybean Inc, which also lists Shahrul as director. Union Advisory The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), stated that Jollibean is a non-unionised company. A spokesperson advised affected workers to approach TADM for help with employment disputes. Outside Singapore, Jollibean currently operates six outlets in Hong Kong and continues to market itself as a Singapore soymilk brand. Customers Flag Silent Closures On 2 July, a member of the Complaint Singapore Facebook group raised an alert about the silent closures of Jollibean outlets across Singapore. The user noted that Jollibean, once present in locations such as Raffles Place MRT and Bugis Junction, had been shutting down its outlets one by one without any prior notice or explanation at the stores. Attempts to contact the company's customer service reportedly went unanswered, and a Google search showed many outlets marked as 'temporarily closed'. Other Facebook users also chimed in, speculating that the closures may be linked to unpaid staff wages. The user claimed they had heard that even employees themselves were not informed in advance about the shutdowns. Calls for Help from the Public Career coach Ken Tan commented on the issue in a Facebook post on 12 July, expressing concern for the affected workers — particularly older staff who may be unfamiliar with their options for seeking help. He questioned whether the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) could find ways to support the employees, even though Jollibean is not a unionised company. He also called on pro bono lawyers to offer guidance on recovering unpaid wages and urged Members of Parliament to step in and assist those affected.