Anonymous career talk from Malaysian job seekers — salary, interviews, company culture, WFH and more.
In Malaysia, car/travel allowance of up to RM6,000 per year is tax-exempt. Anything beyond that is taxable. So RM1,500/month = RM18,000/year, meaning RM12,000 is taxable income.
In Malaysia, unfortunately common. Best to set boundaries early. Mute notifications and respond only on Monday morning unless it is a genuine emergency (which it rarely is).
Speak up in meetings: "Yes, and as I mentioned in my draft..." and always keep a paper trail of your contributions. Address it privately with them first before going to your manager.
Use a colleague, not your direct boss. Brief them well. Most checks ask about work quality, not the drama.
Managed to use my Account 3 for a home deposit topping up. A great initiative, but be careful not to empty it early, the compounding interest on that money is powerful in the long run.
It's a business, not just making videos. expect to spend 50% of your time on admin, sponsorship deals, and editing. Income can be very inconsistent for the first 2 years.
Expected expenses: Rent (shared room RM600-800), Food (RM600), Transport (LRT/MRT RM100), Utilities (RM100). Emergency fund first. Total RM1,500 min. On a RM3,500 salary, you can save RM1,000.
Expect RM7,000-11,000 depending on industry and experience. Performance-based roles often have bonus structures. Specialized skills like SEO and data analytics add a premium.
Look into: medical coverage for family, flexible working hours, WFH equipment allowance, professional development budget, and additional EPF contributions (beyond the statutory 13%).
Yes, the savings potential in absolute MYR is huge. But make sure the role actually grows your skills. Don't go just for the money and end up in a dead-end role.
Structured environment, very process-oriented. Good benefits. It feels very corporate but you get to work with global teams. Pay is mid-to-high market for finance/ops roles.
HR sided with manager initially. I documented everything with evidence. Manager was moved. Took 3 months. Worth it.
Honest answer: only if you have help (nanny/parents). You can't focus on deep work while watching a toddler. It leads to frustration for both you and the child. Set realistic expectations with your boss.
Joined a coworking space in Bangsar. Made 3 new friends in a week. Productivity and mental health improved. Spending RM500/month is an investment in my sanity.
Focus on your ability to understand complex systems and explain them simply. Your technical background gives you immense credibility with decision-makers. High commission potential.
Best of both worlds. Earning in SGD, spending in MYR. Commute is better now with the RTS progress. Just make sure the tax and EPF situation is sorted correctly.
Fast, chaotic, but high impact. You learn to build for scale. Equity can be life-changing if the exit is successful. Pay is competitive. Good for those who want high-growth exposure.
Internet was great, cost of living was lower than KL for food, but co-working space was RM600. Worked KL hours (same timezone). Felt much more refreshed. Highly recommend if your company allows it.
Don't ask for a job in the first message. Ask for advice or a 15-min chat about a specific topic they wrote about. Always provide a clear, easy way for them to say "no". Be genuine, not transactional.
Very bureaucratic. Most work is PowerPoint slides and internal reports. Good to understand government procurement.
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