Are Citibank credit cards good? Or other local Malaysian cards better?

If you are looking for a credit card with high instant cash rebates, look no further than Ambank credit cards.

Because for every RM1 spent, you will earn 1 points and every 30,000 points can be converted to RM150 cash rebates. For easy calculation, take 30,000 x 0.5% = RM150.

This I believe is the best there is in the current market.

My Citibank Platinum card used to offer the same cash rebate but this was amended sometime in March 2015.

So now for Citibank cash rebate, you will need to have 80,000 points to get back RM200!! Meaning 80,000 x 0.25% = RM200.

This is a very significant difference because with the same points at Ambank I can get back RM400, which is double!

FOR FURTHER READING

I highlighted my grievance to Citibank on the unfairness of this amendment and sad to say, my loyalty to the Citibank is completely ignored.

In fact the latest reply from Citibank's customer service Mr Panglima Jagumba, which came after a few reminders was such an insult to my intelligence!

I quote him, "Even though vouchers redemption requires higher points than last year, we are still competitive compared to other banks".

Well, let's do a COMPARISON then on voucher redemption since Citibank is already the undisputed loser in the cash rebate department.

The above is a screenshot of latest Ambank's latest voucher redemption or you can click AmBonusECatalogue.pdf

And this is what Citibank is offering to their platinum cardholders.

Just comparing PARKSON RM100 vouchers, it's a no brainer that Citibank is ripping off its platinum cardholders.

Ambank 22,280 points
Citibank 42,900 points

So Mr Panglima Jagumba, may I ask in what way is Citibank COMPETITIVE..??

my brain hurts cos it's been ripped off by Citibank

So IN CONCLUSION, I have stopped using my Citi card and exclusively using my Ambank card to earn points faster.

What shoes to buy for 1 year old

Baby's walking.. yeah.. which means it's time to get him shoes.

We bought him a Garfield shoe with squeaker cos we figured he'll be motivated to walk by the squeaky sound. We didn't want an all covered shoe because of our Malaysia hot weather.

The shoe was good for like a week or two week until a center strap snapped.

The shoe can still be used by looping over the remaining side straps

But by week 3, more parts are tearing :(    Such lousy quality for Rm36.90!

More parts tearing

So we bought fabric shoe instead and it's a covered shoe from Larrie for RM39.90.

Larrie shoe - much better quality

Quality is much much better and we didn't not have to worry about the shoe falling off like we had to with the Garfield shoe cos once baby wore the shoe, it stayed put.

So should have saved some money and gotten the Larrie shoe in the first place. So parents.. take note!

Garfield shoe @ RM36.90

Larrie shoe @ RM39.90

How to apply Malaysia passport for baby without looking like prison inmate

Gosh!! My son look like fellow inmate with Chow Yun Fat in this photo.

So to apply for Malaysia passport the fastest and simplest way, READ ON:-

THINGS TO BRING:-
a) Birth Certificate of baby
b) Identification Card (MyKid) of baby
c) Parent’s Identification Card
d) One (1) recent photograph with plain white background
e) your baby - cos they need to verify the baby in the photograph is the same baby with you
f) RM100 for 5 years

passport rates

I went to the Immigration office at:-
Level 3, Menara Ikhlas, Persiaran Perdana, Presint 3, Putrajaya

EXTRA NOTES:
1) no form to fill and no need to bring photocopies of documents

the official receipt

payment with Mastercard

2) can pay in cash or credit card

3) The Immigration website actually state the operating hours as:-
Monday-Friday : 7.30 am – 5.30 pm / Friday Closed On : 12.15pm – 2.45pm
Saturday-Sunday : 8.00 am – 1.00 pm⁠⁠⁠⁠
but there were notices around the office that state that they NO longer open on weekends.

4) EITHER parent can be there. I went alone with baby and it can be done. Finally rights of mothers are recognized!!

instant camera at each counter

5) even though each Immigration counter is equipped with camera, they will not take the photo for infant below 4 years old. So for toddlers under 4, please bring your own photo.

If you do not have a photo, do not fret. Just cross over to Jabatan Audit Negara beside Menara Ikhlas, go to 2nd floor, and there is a kiosk near the food court which offers passport photo service. RM15 for 4 pieces.

6) advisable for baby to wear dark colour clothes. I did not, so the photo booth kiosk staff lend me a brown colour t-shirt. Yikes! Hence my son now look like an inmate in the photo..

Thankfully, the immigration dept cropped the photo and it's in grayscale.. Taa DAA!! My big head son passport!! Ready within 1 hour of payment.

my queue number

FYI, I arrive at 3:45pm on FRIDAY but after running over to the next building to get a photo, I was given a queue number of 2038 at 4pm (as they are special counters for senior citizens and toddlers). I received the passport at about 5pm. Mission accomplished!