Living in JB

[wuqi256]

Quote: RafflesTiger

I wish to find out from brothers here whether I should carry my passport everywhere I go within Malaysia or is it safer to keep it in the apartment?

I realise that the customs officers only browse through the passport and gives it back to me.. However there was once I went to the MACS queue and they scanned the passport like the Singapore Customs do.. The other counters do not seem to scan.. I saw one custom officer key something into the keyboard once but he too did not scan..

The people here are quite helpful and I have managed to figure some things out..

I wish to say thanks to the forumers here who have adviced me along the way.. Especially Bro Wuqi..

The tenancy agreement states one year with the option to renew for one more year. Do I have the right to ask for a renewal for one more year? Is the option to renew binding? Or both parties must agree to renew? Thanks a lot brothers..[/QUOTE]

Hi RT, thanks, alot of people here also helped, Prof and Cathy as well. You don't really need to but just remember to carry your driving license at ALL TIMES when driving.

As for the tenancy agreement, if its 1+1, then you are entitled to renew after the 1st year ends but has the option not to. For the 3rd year, then you need to renegotiate as likely they may raise the rental a little. The normal raise is about 5% depending on type, etc.

 

[dp248]

First, let me thank you for posting this thread...someone pointed me to this site, and I must say that 155 pages on living in JB is a little too much to read right now. I'm wondering if I could ask some questions instead?

Some background: my wife is a malaysian citizen (from penang) and i'm american, but we're moving to singapore from the uk in april because i got a job in singapore...we also have a 2 year old boy.

1. i'm wondering if it would be realistic to live over one link or the other and then just commute to D13 every day? i have been trying to estimate drive times and it appears the 2nd link might be quicker, but i have more confidence in people who have actually made the drive than computer algorithms. how long might an average commute take to and from D13 during morning/evening traffic?

2. since my wife is a malaysian citizen, i'm thinking it would be pretty easy to purchase a basic used car in malaysia (like a proton), which i could then drive in and out for work...though i'm not sure whether there might be some 'red tape' i haven't considered yet?

3. my wife's primary concerns are: safety and access to day care where our son can learn both english and mandarin. we've tried searching for day care in jb, but haven't been able to come up with a lot. this is a MUST have...she will not consider living in JB unless we can find something like this. :-)

4. ideally, we'd like to spend no more than $4000/mo on rent.

5. given the above, if you were in my shoes, what would you do?

Thanks in advance for your help everyone...I wish I'd found this forum sooner so that I could do more of my own investigation, but with only 2 weeks left before we move, I have little spare time at present.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Thanks Wuqi

Prof, there are a few at Nusa Bestai actually:

http://www.7eleven.com.my/html/stores_listing.aspx?ID=36

 

[Analytical Professor]

Tong Carriage is good.

I used it and one of the bros here used it too

Hi all,

I be moving from s'pore to Johor soon thus would like to know if any bro or sis here has any contacts for reliable home movers I can use? Is it advisable to engage our local movers or m'sia movers?

 

[rw6akr]

Where exactly can i get it at the price you have suggested? Please advise.

Go towards Nusa Bestari until you can see Petronas Gas Station and McDonalds. Make a turn to Persiaran Perdana (no signboard but you can find it on the map) and after 300 meters take a left turn.

Pork "supermarket" is located on a corner of Jalan Wira 3 and Jalan Wira 4 and you can try to find its location using the Google Maps.

Locals were telling me that even supermarkets are taking pork from there. I've been there quite a number of times and so far it happen to be much less expensive and always fresh.

 

[gregorian]

Hi i am a newcomer!

 

[LeMans2011]

I've been trying to estimate how much water i would reasonably consume every month before i call the Indah Water peopl to check. Seriously i wonder how are they able to check if there is any pipe leakage? I came to the following conclusion of my minimum daily consumption:

1) Laundry - average 1 wash daily ==> 200l
2) Shower for 2 persons ==> 300l
3) Watering plants and grass ==) 100l
4) Washing car ==> 200l
5) General usage like flushing toilet bowl, washing, etc ==> 200l

On that basis i think average consumption of 1000l a day is reasonable, and that costs MYR28.50 per month.

I realise in the last few months we have been too liberal or wasteful.. hence the usage was doubled.
Will be more conscious to keep the bill below MYR50 which should not be a difficult target

 

[toolate]

i had wanted to comment on the article but was very busy with work so my views may have already been echoed before..

i felt the article apart from being misreported was also a little slanted. these young journalists (or maybe their editors) had to make those who made the moved look a little bad by trying to slot in details that their shifts were because they had financial needs or weren't earning top level salary etc. No they didnt emphasise it but the whole package including the caption at the front 'is it worth it' may have cast these impressions sub-consciously on the minds of readers. those smarty pants singaporeans will then pat themselves on their backs thinking how fortunate they are and how they will never have to put themselves at risk of danger in a foreign land like those 2nd class people who couldnt make it or keep up and thus have to content themselves with a more inconvenient way of life...

thankfully, those who have already been enlightened would have rushed to the comp and googled living in johor wu qi and found their way here! and to the showrooms to catch up with the first few 'waves' of singaporeans featured. this will explain the surge of readers, as well as house viewers which i noticed in my estate immediately the next day!

i want to state that focusing solely on CHEAPER living misses the point. The point is that life in Singapore is NOT the 'only' nor 'best' way and the life we are now enjoying is one that we CHOSE to live because we like it and can afford it. (not just in monetary terms)

We do our commutes because we find it reasonable, and enjoy nice scenic drives, and of course because it is also necessary but not because we have no choice. and mind you the SILLY JAMS are caused by the MASS of people living in clementi ave 2 and 6 entering the AYE and going home everyday!! Poor road management LTA! this is the source of stress in the commute- on the AYE and not in msia.

There IS a good life outside Sg that is not pride and status driven. Here, we can focus on other aspects of life such as family, exercise, personal improvement, hobbies and much more. It is an extremely viable alternative but we must strive to maintain harmony with the folks here and not bring in the haughty Sg attitudes. here, there are the rich and not so rich but seriously, is this how we teach our kids to look at people?? Its not just about money

My wife and I are 'professionals' in the various occupations listed on this thread a few pages back and have plans one day to start something within the local sg community and im sure there are others thinking of that as well.

i hope through this forum we can help establish this enclave into a thriving and viable one that exists in harmony and safety with the locals. If the market forces continue to blow this way, in a decade's time, the existence of a community of thriving singaporeans in nusajaya will be common knowledge and something which will be well established and accepted. i hope, and we'll see.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Wow thanks so much. I really need to check this place out.

BTW just checking we are not allowed to bring pork back into Spore right?

Go towards Nusa Bestari until you can see Petronas Gas Station and McDonalds. Make a turn to Persiaran Perdana (no signboard but you can find it on the map) and after 300 meters take a left turn.

Pork "supermarket" is located on a corner of Jalan Wira 3 and Jalan Wira 4 and you can try to find its location using the Google Maps.

Locals were telling me that even supermarkets are taking pork from there. I've been there quite a number of times and so far it happen to be much less expensive and always fresh.

 

[ginfreely]

Wow thanks so much. I really need to check this place out.

BTW just checking we are not allowed to bring pork back into Spore right?

Hi, yes pork is not allowed. Eggs also.

 

[ginfreely]

Last time when I applied my house loan from HSBC they included credit card with the loan. Not all banks does that. You may ask the bank you had applied your home loan with if you may apply for their bank cards. If you are working in Malaysia, you may apply with the Malaysian company payslip.

Hi, thanks. I've checked with HSBC today and they advised that the criteria for credit card application is: for non-Malaysian, must have a legal work permit.

 

[ginfreely]

I dun think Singaporeans can get credit cards in Malaysia.

Debit cards are pretty safe especially the new ones that have a chip embedded in for additional security.

What happens here is that when you make a purchase there is a text sent to your hp immediately to inform you that a purchase has been made. The POSB-VISA debit card is what i am talking off. Many other banks in Spore too have the same service.

Ofcourse some banks have a small charge for the card. But the additional safety is worth it especially if you are frequently travelling and lose ur card somewhere.

Thanks AP. Oic about the debit card security feature. I was thinking of the Malaysia issued cards so as to avoid conversion at lousy credit card rate.

 

[euphony]

Hi, yes pork is not allowed. Eggs also.

the URL below has the full list with description.
http://www.limsimi.com/johor-bahru-...-food-products-from-johor-bahru-to-singapore/

Safe water tip for all:
As to washing macine, buy side loading if you can. Washes are more effective less damaging to clothes and saves more water than top loaders.

 

[sillysinky]

Good morning everyone. Just wanted to share the sarcastic side of one young malay lady working at the singapore immigration with you all. Not the Cisco officer but those in light blue uniform which handles all the queries and transactions involving Autopass card.
My Malaysian neighbour was driving into singapore a couple of days back so I tagged along as I wanted to ride in his new car. Being the first time he drives this car into SIngapore he had to apply for the Autopass card.

After the immigration counter, he had to reverse-park his car at the immigration office to go to the autopass card office. He probably didnt realise at all but his car was only reversed halfway into the parking bay but in no way that it blocked or disrupted traffic at all. Indeed the front of his car was out of the parking bay but within the side of the kerb.

So this particular young malay lady that he approached to jot down his car road tax details was one heck of a sarcastic lady.
SHe asked my friend, " Your car is very big and long is it ?" My friend replied, " i Beg your pardon" as he didn't catch what she was asking initially.
Again she blurted out, this time in a louder tone, "if your car not very long, why do you park halfway only into the parking bay?" must go inside all the way Lah!".

I just stared and stood there in disbelief and was thinking, why the hell was this Malay lady so rude to her malaysian neighbour. Isn't it common courtesy to be polite to the visitors visiting your country.

there and then I told her off that she should not be so sarcastic treating our neighbours across the causeway this way and I showed her my singapore passport.

She just smiled and kept quiet.

A true Singaporean character , wouldn't you say ?

 

[rw6akr]

I just stared and stood there in disbelief and was thinking, why the hell was this Malay lady so rude to her malaysian neighbour. Isn't it common courtesy to be polite to the visitors visiting your country.

Try to travel around this world and you will realize that Singapore Immigration officers are among those good ones. They just do their job and if something is wrong they would say so.

People with a power given by government are spoiled by default and in Singapore it is least noticeable. Immigration officers in countries like US, EU, Australia, New Zealand, China, Russia and many others can really demonstrate a different approach and spoil your good mood easily if they just don't like something in you.

In the situation described above the officer has outlined a violation of rules. If one person would slightly violate one, another will do it a bit further, and further and further... The final result would be a BKK or KL like mess with a traffic

 

[cathylmg]

Hi there cathylmg,
Along the road towards HH there is a tuition shop. Here is their number for enquiries.

07-2366900
07-2344900
0127337900

Thanks for help to take down the phones cockcansing. However I still need to get those that can come to my house to give tuition. Anyone who have lobangs for tutors, please help. Thank you in advance.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Oops i am sorry:o:o:o

Its a DBS Visa Black Debit Card (Not POSB)

My apologies.

Yeah the exchange rate is terrible even with debit cards. I tried this several times when i was overseas (i mean using my debit card) and ended up with ridiculous rates. Something that i would never ever fancy.

I shy away from credit cards (cause i am scared of chalking up unneeded debts)

Your thinking is along the right lines.

Thanks AP. Oic about the debit card security feature. I was thinking of the Malaysia issued cards so as to avoid conversion at lousy credit card rate.

 

[sillysinky]

Good morning everyone. Just wanted to share the sarcastic

I believe only a very small minority custom officers have bad attitude. I have breezed past both sides of the causeway custom and that of 2nd link almost every day

well, I have seen and experienced worse, particularly from those cisco officers. But I am not here to complain or whine. Just felt that she could have asked my neighbour to adjust the car instead of being so sarcastic.
I actually wondered if she said the same thing if it was a singapore registered car.. My gut feeling tells me she would not have dared.
cheers

 

[Analytical Professor]

That is so sad:(. I love local pork when compared with the airflown australian variety.

Hi, yes pork is not allowed. Eggs also.

 

[sillysinky]

Try to travel around this world and you will realize that Singapore Immigration officers are among those good ones. They just do their job and if something is wrong they would say so.

People with a power given by government are spoiled by default and in Singapore it is least noticeable. Immigration officers in countries like US, EU, Australia, New Zealand, China, Russia and many others can really demonstrate a different approach and spoil your good mood easily if they just don't like something in you.

In the situation described above the officer has outlined a violation of rules. If one person would slightly violate one, another will do it a bit further, and further and further... The final result would be a BKK or KL like mess with a traffic

well i have travelled to as many countries as you have and so far only encountered bad experiences at the immigration in a few third world countries. In those countries that you have named, so far, fortunately for me, has been very good experience.

as i had pointed out, there are many ways to skin a cat, she has every right to instruct that the car be adjusted but I just dont buy it that she had to be sarcastic to downright rude. I rest my case.