Expenses to enroll a kid in Montessori pre-school in Klang Valley

My kid is now attending a nearby half-day Montessori pre-school this year, and here are the expenses we've spent so far:

• Registration: RM60
• 2 x uniform + 2 x sports wear: RM180
• Insurance: RM20 / year
• Kids Gazette: RM20 / year
• Misc. fees: RM550 / year
• Personal reading books (3 languages): RM30
• School bag: RM50
• 2-way transportation by MPV: RM90 / month
• Monthly fee: RM230 (need to pay 2 months during enrolment = RM460)

Total spent during enrolment = RM1,460
Subsequent months = RM320

The pre-school education is really very expensive in Klang Valley, and parents need to spend a lot during enrolment and for each subsequent months.

We've decided to let our kid attend the Montessori pre-school programme so that he can learn and master the 3 neccessary languages commonly used in Malaysia: English, Chinese and Malay. At the same time, it provides opportunity for him to play around with classmates from different ethics of Chinese, Indian and Malay.

Therefore, although the pre-school education is really very expensive, we still have to spend it.

PS: We feel sad that there are still some political gaffes trying to separate people from different ethics and/or religions who live in this same piece of land for so many years, and we really hope that our current and next generation can mix and unite together as Malaysian. Those political gaffes who like to create issue and tension should feel shameful to see the little boys and girls of young age can befriend and play around with each other without separation of ethics or religion.

Extension and renewal of Malaysia leasehold land tenure

If you are planning to buy, or are already the owner of, a property built on leasehold land, you might be wondering (or worrying) about what will happen and what should you do when the tenure of your leasehold land going to expire in the future.

In fact, the tenure can be renewed and extended to another 30, 60 or 99 years.

The following info are obtained from the National House Buyers Association.

Section 197 of the National Land Code 1965 (Act 56 of 1965) governs the extension of land leases.

Before applying for an extension, the lease must be firstly surrendered back to the state government. Then, both the property developer and leasehold land owner(s) have to submit the Permohonan Serahbalik dan Mohon Semula Tanah Untuk Tujuan Melanjutkan Tempoh Pajakan form, together will all the required photocopied documents such as land title, site plan, quit rent receipt, assessment receipt, etc. to the state's land office.

If the lease already expired, the form need to submit will be Permohonan Pemberimilikan Tanah (Application for Land Re-alienation) instead.

The land will then be checked by a settlement officer, who will then submit a report to exco for approval.

After approval, the land will need to go through re-alienation process by the land administrator.

If the re-alienation is approved, the land office will issue a Notice that Land Revenue is Due (Form 5A) to the property owner to pay a premium.

The premium charged is based on a formula factoring the following into calculation:

• Premium rate (in percentage)
• Land size
• Market value per square feet
• Lease tenure period

For example, the renewal premium for a residential land at rate of 0.5% of size 25 x 80 with market value of RM20 psf for 99 years is:

0.5% x 25 x 80 x RM20 x 99 = RM19,800 (RM200 per year).

The land valuation is done by the Valuation and Property Services Department of Finance Ministry, and is based on the latest transaction values in the area.

If the owner feel that the premium is too high, he has the option to appeal to the state government for a reduction.

Upon payment of the premium, the land office will get the land title ready and inform the property owner when it is ready for collection.


If the owner does not renew the land tenure and let it expire, the land will revert back to the state government, and be available to anyone to apply for its new ownership.

Jobs Rated 2010: 20 best and 20 worst jobs of the year

CareerCast's Jobs Rated 2010 Report has made a ranking for 200 jobs from best to worst using a comprehensive analysis methodology covering the aspects of:

• Environment
• Income
• Outlook
• Stress
• Physical Demands

The resulting 20 best jobs of 2010 are:

• 1. Actuary ($85,229)
  
• 2. Software Engineer ($85,139)
  
• 3. Computer Systems Analyst ($76,162)
  
• 4. Biologist ($71,279)
  
• 5. Historian ($62,226)
  
• 6. Mathematician ($95,161)
  
• 7. Paralegal Assistant ($46,152)
  
• 8. Statistician ($73,193)
  
• 9. Accountant ($59,176)
  
• 10. Dental Hygienist ($67,107)
  
• 11. Philosopher ($60,218)
  
• 12. Meteorologist ($81,226)
  
• 13. Technical Writer ($62,162)
  
• 14. Bank Officer ($88,217)
  
• 15. Web Developer ($60,090)
  
• 16. Industrial Engineer ($74,123)
  
• 17. Financial Planner ($59,353)
  
• 18. Aerospace Engineer ($93,133)
  
• 19. Pharmacist ($106,070)
  
• 20. Medical Records Technician ($31,150)
  

Click here to see the slideshow for The 10 Best Jobs of 2010 with their pros and cons information.

The resulting 20 worst jobs of 2010 are:

• 1. Roustabout ($31,133)
  
• 2. Lumberjack ($32,114)
  
• 3. Ironworker ($32,123)
• 4. Dairy Farmer ($32,114)
• 5. Welder ($34,122)
• 6. Garbage Collector ($31,183)
• 7. Taxi Driver ($22,113)
• 8. Construction Worker (Laborer) ($29,200)
• 9. Meter Reader ($33,170)
• 10. Mail Carrier ($50,041)
• 11. Butcher ($28,150)
• 12. Photojournalist ($28,275)
• 13. Firefighter ($44,227)
• 14. Sheet Metal Worker ($40,208)
• 15. Emergency Medical Technician ($29,158)
• 16. Stevedore ($38,182)
• 17. Reporter (Newspaper) ($35,285)
• 18. Sailor ($34,148)
• 19. Machinist ($36,150)
• 20. Choreographer ($39,272)

Click here to see the slideshow for The 10 Worst Jobs of 2010 with their pros and cons information.

The figure in the brackets above is the median income for the corresponding job.