CNA938 Rewind - Open for Business: Is Malaysia's new sales tax on non-essentials necessary?
CNA938 Rewind
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From July 1st, Malaysia will impose a sales tax rate of 5 per cent or 10 per cent on non-essential and luxury goods, including salmon and imported fruits. The service tax will also be expanded to cover six new categories, including rental and leasing. But what necessitated it and how will it hit consumers both in Malaysia and shopping Singaporeans? Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat to Cassey Lee, Economist, Senior Fellow and Coordinator for the Regional Economic Studies Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute to find out more.
CNA938 Rewind - Open for Business: Is Malaysia's new sales tax on non-essentials necessary?
From July 1st, Malaysia will impose a sales tax rate of 5 per cent or 10 per cent on non-essential and luxury goods, including salmon and imported fruits. The service tax will also be expanded to cover six new categories, including rental and leasing. But what necessitated it and how will it hit consumers both in Malaysia and shopping Singaporeans? Andrea Heng and Susan Ng chat to Cassey Lee, Economist, Senior Fellow and Coordinator for the Regional Economic Studies Programme at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute to find out more.
12 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Malaysia's Booker Prize nominee Tash Aw discusses 'The South' – the first in a quartet of novels
In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Malaysian author Tash Aw, known for international bestsellers like 'The Harmony Silk Factory' and the longlisted Booker Prize novel 'Five Star Billionaire'. Twenty years after his debut title, Aw will talk about 2025's 'The South' which is a coming-of-age tale of teenager Jay Lim who – with his family – moves south of the Malaysian peninsula to a neglected farm that they have inherited. Aw will talk about the characters and era that propel the story and how 'The South' is the first in a quartet of novels.
39 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Travel & the average Singaporean - an Allianz Partners survey
In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro analyses key travel survey results released by Allianz Partners, a global firm providing B2B2C insurance and assistance. Managing Director Vinay Surana will discuss the Allianz Partners Travel Index survey which - for the first time - has released some Singapore findings. Surana will discuss trends like why some Singaporeans are not travelling; what concerns they have about going overseas; using AI for holiday planning; and even aisle passenger behavioural trends.
19 mins
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I had a stroke; my entire left side paralysed, but my mum told me, 'Son, you can do anything' — SG man recalls the words that drove him to become a self-made millionaire
SINGAPORE: At 18, Reshveen Rajendran was set to become a military officer — until his body gave up on him. Just two weeks into national service (NS), a brain aneurysm floored him. The entire left side of his body was paralysed. His dream? Dashed. His future? Uncertain. But what pulled him through wasn't therapy, fame, or fortune — it was just a simple line from his mother: 'Son, you can do anything.' Today, that same young man — now a multimillionaire entrepreneur and investor — runs a successful education company and a fund, raking in over S$10 million a year. And it all started with nothing but some savings, an interest in investing, and a painful personal reboot. Rock bottom came before takeoff While most NS recruits were learning how to field strip rifles and march in sync, Reshveen was lying in a hospital bed, unable to move his fingers. 'I had a stroke… an aneurysm in the right side of my brain,' he told the Asian Boss team during their street interview in Singapore. 'I basically lost sensation on the whole left side of my body,' he explained. Six months of medical leave followed. Physical rehab became his daily drill. And his military officer's dreams? Over. 'All my dreams got dashed. I couldn't become an officer ever again. I couldn't go back to the gym. Everything that I wanted to do was gone,' he recalled. But then came mum, delivering what can only be described as the emotional defibrillator that shocked his mindset back to life. 'She said, 'Son, you can do anything.' So I decided to pick up books and learn how to make money. I decided to use my brains instead,' he said. See also Catalysing Growth: SME Interview Series with Validus Capital It was then that his breakdown turned into a breakthrough. From free talks to S$10M revenue Fresh out of national service and with his military officer career buried, Reshveen fell in love with investing. He started small — not just with money, but with impact. 'I attended a programme on investing. I got very passionate about it. I saw very decent results. So I just wanted to share the information with my friends.' And he didn't charge a cent. 'It was literally for free, and people loved it. They started inviting their friends, and before you know it, it became a full-fledged business,' he added. Fast-forward a few years, and what started as casual lessons snowballed into a full-on education empire. Today, his company and fund together generated over $10 million in revenue just last year. That's really a great feat for someone who once had to relearn how to even wiggle his fingers after suffering a paralysing stroke. On saving, spending, and not getting scammed by 'glorious' investing 'Saving is the number one thing you've got to do, even before you start investing,' Reshveen stressed. In a world where 'investing' is the new flex, he's quick to point out the dark side. 'People lose a ton of money if they don't know how to invest.' So his golden rule? 'Make sure your savings can cover at least six months of emergency expenses. Whatever that amount is for you, get that settled first. Anything on top of that, I invest.' 'Doing what you love' vs. 'doing what's boring but rich' Reshveen's story might sound like a dream scenario: make money doing what you love. But he doesn't pretend it's the only way. 'I'm doing what I love and I've made millions from what I love… but I also know many friends who do boring stuff and make millions too,' he said. The lesson? You don't have to love your job to get rich. You just have to be good at it — or better yet, be consistent with it. What if he lost all his millions tomorrow? When asked a question about something that haunts most millionaires — 'What would you do if you lost everything?' — Reshveen didn't flinch, and he even seemed excited by the idea. 'Today, in 2025, we're living in the age of exponential artificial intelligence (AI). The first thing I'd do is learn AI — what I can do with it — and use that to sell information to businesses.' He calls it 'information arbitrage,' and it's where he believes the real money lies today. 'There are a ton of businesses around that have no clue how to create a website, which you can get done in 5 minutes today.' He adds with a grin, 'I would probably make millions of dollars. I'm not joking. It's so crazy.' Millionaire mindset: Discipline over drama Despite the money, Reshveen doesn't preach hustle culture or flex the usual luxury lifestyle. So what's his formula? Save first — at least 20% of your income. Build a 6-month emergency fund. Invest what's left — wisely. Never stop learning. Especially now, with AI reshaping the game. And most importantly: Your tragedy doesn't define you. Your pivot does. Reshveen's story is more than a rags-to-riches tale. 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‘You want proof? I'll give you proof…' — Grab rider discloses his payslip to sceptics, detailing how he nets S$6K/month in SG; RM20K in JB
SINGAPORE: When Afiq Zayany, a full-time Grab rider from Singapore, shared his story of earning a six-figure income while living in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru, the internet sceptics didn't hold back. From 'Really meh?' to 'Sure ah? Can get S$4,000 to S$6,000 working as a Grab rider?' the comment section fired off their doubtful questions. It also cued some haters, as Afiq described one of the comments he received, mocking his earnings and hard work by telling him to just 'Cut the c**p, bro! 4K to 6K with those working hours? Hahaha.' And so, the man behind the helmet decided to deliver his proof to his doubters—Grab rider receipt style. 'They said it's impossible… but here's the REAL proof of my Grab rider salary!' he wrote. He then opened up his Grab app and gave netizens a guided free tour of his weekly, monthly, and even hourly earnings—complete with screenshots. No excuses, no flexing, just cold, hard numbers and a hefty dose of humility. The $6K breakdown: More than just delivering food Afiq clarified that he isn't working himself into the ground for that paycheck. He starts his day around 7:00 am and clocks out by 2:00 pm, give or take. That's around 6–7 hours a day, delivering about 25 orders daily, seven days a week. Commenters say, 'wow, bro! crazy ah? you working every day. not tired ah?' and 'bro, you crazy! you no life ah?' But for Afiq, he says, 'But it's not that crazy. I come back around 2 pm plus, so it's actually not that bad.' On one random weekday, Afiq raked in S$204 in a little over six hours. That's almost S$30 an hour, which is more than many desk-bound workers in Singapore earn for staring at spreadsheets all day. Photo: YT screengrab/@RinggitDollars He even addressed the potential nitpickers before they could strike: 'I know what you're going to say: 'Hei! That day you said (you work from) 9 am to 3 pm, now you say 7 am start?'' but that's because, Afiq says, he wants to record YouTube videos, so he starts early to finish early. And it's not just the daily grind—Afiq's weekly earnings tell the real story. Between May 19 and 25, he clocked in S$1,283.20 before incentives. Photo: YT screengrab/@RinggitDollars And if you hit 180 orders that week? That's an extra S$150 in incentives. Photo: YT screengrab/@RinggitDollars Let's do the math: If you earn, let's say S$1.3 or S$1.4K to S$1.6K a week, multiply that by four, and you're looking at S$5.2K or S$5.6K to S$6.4K a month—all from riding and delivering smart. Photo: YT screengrab/@RinggitDollars 'I cannot tell you guys how much I earn consistently (for 4K to 6K)… (but) if I work seven days straight for the whole month, that's close to S$7,000. (But) I have a wife, so I cannot do that,' Afiq laughed. The hustler's math: Expenses, incentives, and smart riding Sceptics often forget one thing—net income matters more than gross. So Afiq broke that down too. Let's talk costs: Petrol: Living in Malaysia keeps fuel costs low—around RM20–25 per day, equivalent to around S$151 per month Bike instalments (XMAX): S$250/month Maintenance: Around S$60/month So the total monthly cost is around S$460. If you earn S$6,000, that's S$5.5K take-home. Even if you cut the workweek to five days, he says you'll still bring back S$4K to S$4.5K. The key, according to Afiq, isn't just working hard—it's working smart and hard. 'You know what they say, don't work hard, work smart. But you know what I say? Work smart and work hard.' So, what's his secret sauce? It's not just about riding faster or hustling harder. Afiq shares the two main traits that have helped him turn his two wheels into a six-figure business: 1. Discipline 'You need discipline, bro. Even as a Grab rider, you need to wake up on time and go to work on time. Yes, you're your own boss—but do you think being a boss is easy? It's not easy.' The flexibility of gig work can be a trap if you're not careful. Afiq warns against using freedom as an excuse for laziness. 2. Consistency + Drive 'You need to be consistent and driven,' Afiq says, and set a minimum earning goal, like telling yourself 'die die I must earn S$4,000 this month,' and anything earned above that, treat it as a bonus. And yes, he works, even when it rains. And there's a reason he loves it too: 'I love to work during the rain. Why? Because a lot of other Grab riders are not working. (So) you get extra incentives (and) the orders just (keep coming) nonstop.' A lesson in quiet hustle Afiq's payslips and solid logic prove that he's just a man trying to make an honest living while sharing what works. Sure, Afiq doesn't wear a suit or sit in a cubicle, but he's building something real—consistently, strategically, and sustainably. He's not waiting for a miracle. He's showing up, rain or shine, and doing what needs to be done. And maybe that's what made his message resonate with others, who are more open to what was possible if you just put your heart and mind to it. But what about the naysayers? For every person laughing behind a keyboard, Afiq has a message—not of revenge, but of quiet confidence: 'You want proof? I'll give you proof…' And indeed, he did. He did it with payslips, screenshots, timestamps, the whole nine yards. In a city filled with hustle fantasies and internet flexing, Afiq Zayany offers something extremely rare—just receipts. If you're still sceptical or simply curious, watch Afiq's full video below and see what real grind looks like when it's powered by discipline, not just dreams. Read related: Singaporean Grab rider shares how he earns six figures and lives in a RM1.4 million villa in Johor Bahru
