Article from Malay Mail dated 11 October 2012

UP to 68 per cent of the individuals who obtained assistance from the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) were those whose monthly income was less than RM3,000, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said today.

He said 196,014 individuals benefited from the service from AKPK up to August this year.

The profile of the individuals showed that 57 per cent of them were under 40, sixty-seven per cent were male, 32 per cent were from the private sector, 48 per cent were self-employed and eight per cent were civil servants, he added.

Replying to a question from Datuk Md Sirat Abu (BN-Bukit Katil) in the Dewan Rakyat, Awang Adek said 77,994 people were assisted under the debt management programme whereby they were able to reschedule their loans and avoid being declared bankrupt.

"A total of 2,316 were totally successful and exited the programme, their debts paid up totalling RM72.5 million," he said.

AKPK, set up by Bank Negara and having started operations in 2006, provides services such as financial management, rescheduling of loans, credit counselling and financial education for loan borrowers and guarantors who have difficulty paying back loans. – Bernama

Article from Borneo Post dated 9 September 2012

IT is sad to note the annual hike in bankruptcy cases in Malaysia even though household income is on the rise.

Last year alone, 19,167 individuals went bankrupt with motor vehicle hire purchase defaulters topping the list at 5,137.

More than 50 people in the country are declared bankrupt everyday and the figure is alarming in view of the rapid economic growth Malaysia is experiencing and the higher spending power the people are now enjoying.

There is no definite solution to the problem because debtors come from all walks of life, including even professionals and prominent businessmen.

Helping hand

The setting up of the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) in 2006 by Bank Negara is a blessing, particularly to those heavily in debt.

“We are here to help,” said AKPK Sarawak regional head Marlene Margaret Nichol.

She explained the agency’s role is primarily to assist its target group and educate the public on the importance of prudent financial planning and spending.

“You have the moral and legal responsibility to pay whatever you owe or you will be liable to go to court and even be declared a bankrupt,” Marlene said on the why people must repay their debts.

“Many Malaysians are declared bankrupt everyday and most cases are due to credit card debts. This is one of the most common reasons why people approach AKPK for help,” she added.

According to her, those eligible for the agency’s programme will be placed under its debt restructuring and management scheme to help them repay unsecured debts due to credit cards, personal loans, car loans and the like at a level affordable to them every month.

“We look into their debts and outstanding balances — we have this industrial group working with the banks which help us find the best solution for those who approach us for help,” she explained.

Personal financial crisis

Statistics released recently by the Malaysian Insolvency Department revealed a shocking record of 116,379 bankruptcy cases between 2005 and April this year.

About 20 per cent of cases involved individuals aged 35 and below, 32 per cent between 35 and 44 and 18 per cent between 45 and 54.

Most people got in heavy debts because of poor money management and poor budgetting skills.

Whether they like it or not, working adults must have a proper monthly budget because without one, they are unable to track their expenses. Most times, they won’t know exactly whether they could afford things like a fancy car, the latest electronic gadgets or expensive accessories for their vehicles.

Being self-disciplined and prudent in spending is one of the best ways to acquire sound financial management skills whereby unnecessary spending is avoided to stay out of debts.

Prevention better than cure

Being heavily in debt can ruin people’s lives because it slowly (but surely) causes them to lose their assets and suffer from mental stress and can even strain the relationships between married couples or family members.

There are many causes for getting into debt although most people are not aware of them.

Working adults should try to avoid being consumed by debts so that they do not take over their lives, and for AKPK, financial education has become a priority, especially for students and working adults

“We are trying to get the root of the matter and even parents can play a big role in educating their children on the importance of good financial management before they get their first credit card or loan,” Marlene said.

“Always set aside some money for savings. Working adults need to cultivate the saving habit and live within their means.”

Situation manageable

Marlene, seconded from Bank Negara to head AKPK in Kuching, said response to the agency’s counselling services had been encouraging although slow at first.

She added that the services were also provided in Miri and Sibu.

On the whole, cases of people badly in debt are still low here compared to bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur. Perhaps, the living costs locally are still affordable and the temptation to overspend manageable.

Marlene said as long as people were willing to follow the agency’s programme and abide by the terms and conditions, AKPK could arrange for repayment of their restructured debts up to a maximum of 10 years.

“They can just bank in the monthly repayment to AKPK — they don’t have to deal with the banks,” she said on how debtors could enrol in the agency’s programme to resolve their predicament.

People will always have unlimited desires and wants but the painful truth is that most only have a limited source of income.

“We have to make the right choices in life and learn to have proper financial planning in order to continue enjoy living within our means,” she advised.

Article from Kosmo! dated 12 October 2012

KUALA LUMPUR – Keyakinan orang awam terhadap kemampuan Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) dalam mengurangkan beban pembayaran balik hutang terus meningkat apabila seramai 196,014 individu telah mendapatkan khidmat daripada agensi itu setakat Ogos lalu.

Pengurus Besar Bahagian Pengurusan Korporat AKPK, Nor Fazleen Zakaria berkata, daripada jumlah tersebut, seramai 80,664 individu telah menyertai program penjadualan semula pembayaran hutang yang dicadangkan oleh AKPK.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, berdasarkan statistik terbaru, punca utama penyusunan semula hutang bukan disebabkan penggunaan kad kredit.

Ia sebaliknya berpunca daripada sikap individu terbabit yang berbelanja melebihi kemampuan.

“Berdasarkan statistik terbaru, sebanyak 25 peratus atau 20,166 orang terpaksa dijadual semula pembayaran hutang mereka disebabkan berbelanja melebihi kemampuan,” katanya kepada Kosmo! semalam.

Article from Utusan Malaysia dated 11 October 2012

KUALA LUMPUR 11 Okt. - Sebanyak 68 peratus daripada 196,014 pelanggan Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) terdiri daripada golongan berpendapatan di bawah RM3,000 sebulan.

Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Dr. Awang Adek Hussin berkata, maklumat daripada agensi yang berperanan memberi kaunseling kredit serta pengurusan hutang itu turut mendapati 57 peratus pelanggan terbabit berumur di bawah 40 tahun dan 67 peratus daripadanya lelaki.

"Maklumat sehingga 31 Ogos 2012 itu turut menunjukkan sebanyak 32 peratus pelanggan AKPK adalah daripada sektor swasta, 48 peratus bekerja sendiri dan lapan peratus adalah penjawat awam," katanya dalam sidang Dewan Rakyat hari ini.

Beliau menjawab soalan Datuk Md. Sirat Abu (BN-Bukit Katil) yang bertanyakan berapa ramai individu yang berjaya diselamatkan daripada status muflis hasil bimbingan AKPK.

Menurut Awang Adek, kebanyakan pelanggan AKPK terdiri daripada individu mempunyai masalah pembayaran jumlah hutang yang tinggi berbanding pendapatan bulanan dan ada di antara mereka telah mendapat surat tindakan undang-undang.

Jelasnya, AKPK membantu pelanggannya dengan mencadangkan kepada pihak institusi kewangan untuk menerima bayaran balik pinjaman yang telah distruktur semula mengikut kemampuan pelanggan dan hasilnya, pihak institusi kewangan menangguhkan tindakan undang-undang terhadap pelanggan terbabit

"Daripada jumlah keseluruhan pelanggan, seramai 77,994 orang telah dibantu melalui Program Pengurusan Kredit AKPK yang mana pinjaman mereka berjaya dijadual atau distruktur semula bagi mengelakkan perintah muflis oleh mahkamah,'' katanya.

Excerpt from Berita Nasional RTM dated 11 October 2012

68-peratus individu yang telah mendapatkan bantuan daripada Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (A-K-P-K), terdiri daripada mereka yang mempunyai pendapatan bawah 3-ribu Ringgit sebulan.  Demikian menurut Timbalan Menteri Kewangan Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin,  pada sesi soal jawab di Dewan Rakyat.  Lebih 196-ribu individu telah mendapatkan khidmat nasihat dan kaunseling kredit daripada A-K-P-K,  sehingga Ogos lepas.  57-peratus daripada mereka berusia bawah 40 tahun.  67-peratus adalah lelaki. 32-peratus dari sektor swasta, 48-peratus bekerja sendiri dan lapan peratus penjawat awam.

Article from Borneo Post on 15 October 2012

KUCHING: Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) kini memberi pilihan kepada rakyat negara ini yang tidak dapat menghadiri program ‘Power – Mengurus Wang Ringgit Anda’ anjuran agensi itu agar melakukannya secara atas talian.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) AKPK Koid Swee Lian berkata pilihan itu adalah untuk mereka yang sibuk dengan urusan harian sehingga tidak mempunyai masa untuk menghadiri sesi taklimat ‘Power’ selama empat jam diadakan di pejabat AKPK di seluruh negara.

“Pelanggan hanya perlu melayari laman sesawang power.akpk.org.my. Kursus ‘Power’ secara atas talian sesuai kepada mereka yang sibuk, tinggal jauh dari pejabat-pejabat AKPK dan mahu menjimatkan masa kerana secara atas talian mereka hanya perlu meluangkan masa selama dua jam sehingga sesi selesai.

“Selepas selesai sesi kursus atas talian, pelanggan kami boleh mencetak sijil penyertaan untuk simpanan mereka dan sijil itu adalah serupa dengan yang diberikan kepada pelanggan yang menghadiri taklimat ‘Power’ di pejabat-pejabat AKPK di seluruh negara,” jelasnya pada sidang media di pejabat AKPK Negeri, di bangunan Bank Negara Cawangan Sarawak di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata peserta kursus ‘Power’ AKPK harus menyimpan sijil penyertaan masing-masing untuk digunakan pada masa akan datang sekiranya mahu membuat pinjaman peribadi atau pinjaman sewa beli kerana ia antara syarat ditetapkan Bank Negara bagi tujuan itu.

Sementara itu Ketua Kaunselor Kredit AKPK Wilayah Sarawak Marlene Nichol berkata setiap Rabu dan Jumaat, taklimat umum mengenai peranan dan perkhidmatan ditawarkan agensi itu diadakan di pejabat agensi itu di Tingkat 1, Bangunan Bank Negara Malaysia di Jalan Satok dekat sini.

Bagi taklimat pada Rabu ia akan diadakan pada jam 2.30 petang manakala untuk hari Jumaat sesi taklimat akan bermula jam 10 pagi dan dibuka kepada orang ramai, jelasnya.

“Bagi program ‘Power’ ia akan diadakan setiap Rabu dari jam 9 pagi hingga 1 petang dan peserta perlu mendaftar terlebih dahulu untuk menyertai program ini. Peserta akan diberikan sijil penyertaan selepas program itu.

“Selain itu di AKPK Kuching, Program Pengurusan Kredit (DPM) pula diadakan pada Isnin, Selasa dan Khamis.

“Peserta DPM perlu mendaftar atau membuat temu janji dengan menghubungi 082-414910,” katanya.

Article from Borneo Post on 15 October 2012

KUCHING: The lack of education and a naive attitude on personal finances are the two chief causes that drive individuals deep into debts.

Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) CEO Koid Swee Lian yesterday said that the level of financial education in the country was still relatively low compared to other Asian countries like Taiwan where 89 per cent of credit card users make full payment for credit card bills.

“In Malaysia, less than 50 per cent makes full payment, 18 per cent pays only the minimum amount and 15 per cent pays more than the minimum amount,” she said.

“The reason why most Taiwanese make full payment of credit card bills is because they are very well educated and aware on finances and they are aware of the various charges and fees banks make.

Most financial institutions even go to Taiwan to test new products because the people there are always in-the-know on finances,” Koid added in a media briefing at APKP Sarawak branch at the Bank Negara near Satok.

AKPK Sarawak head Marlene Margaret Nichol was also present.

To promote financial knowledge, basic money management skills and responsible credit use, AKPK has set up public briefings, financial management counselling, AKPK ‘Power!’ programme and Debt Management Programme (DMP).

Koid said that under DMP, counsellors can assist borrowers in high debt to manage their repayments in an affordable amount.

“With AKPK, nearly 80,000 individuals in Malaysia avoided bankruptcy. If you have debts, don’t run away from your debts or resort to ‘ah longs’ instead seek free and professional financial advice and guidance from AKPK.

Our counsellors in the DMP can assist in negotiating with bankers for an affordable repayment so that both lenders and borrowers can benefit from it,” she said.

In Kuching, a total of 5,310 have undergone counselling with AKPK since they started in October 2006 and out of that number, 2,730 have enrolled under DMP.

For Miri and Sibu, 651 and 462 have undergone counselling with AKPK.

“For the whole of Malaysia, 198,870 have undergone counselling with AKPK as of Sept 30 this year while 81,596 enrolled in DMP,” Koid said.

AKPK Sarawak conducts free, walk-in public briefings every Wednesday at 2.30pm and Friday at 10am at its branch office.

Their AKPK ‘Power!’ programme is held every Wednesday from 9am to 1pm.

Those interested in the AKPK ‘Power!’ programme are urged to register with the branch and a certificate will be given to those who have completed the programme.

“Those who have the AKPK ‘Power!’ programme certificate should keep it because it can be very useful when applying for loans.

Bankers will have higher confidence on those who have taken the initiative to educate themselves financially,” Koid added.

The AKPK ‘Power!’ programme is also available online at power.akpk.org.my/.

AKPK Sarawak is located at Bangunan Bank Negara Malaysia, Jalan Satok. They can be contacted at 082-414910 or fax 082-414960 from Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5.30pm.

Article from Berita Harian (Johor) dated 24 October 2012

>> Tingkat tahap kesedaran supaya bijak urus wang

Seramai 2,830 individu tampil mendapatkan khidmat Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) Johor sejak awal tahun ini, menjadikan negeri ini antara cawangan paling sibuk membantu dalam pengurusan kewangan.

Daripada jumlah itu, seramai 1,324 peminjam dirujukkan kepada Program Pengurusan Hutang (DMP) yang dikendalikan AKPK sebagai ‘orang tengah’ bagi membantu individu terbabit mengurus kewangan mereka dan melunaskan hutang ditanggung.

Kes catat penurunan

Walaupun jumlah kes yang dirujuk kepada program itu mencatatkan penurunan, masalah penggunaan kad kredit dan pinjaman peribadi masih menjadi faktor utama kegagalan individu membayar balik pinjaman.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif AKPK, Koid Swee Lian, berkata agensi itu kini dalam usaha meningkatkan tahap kesedaran masyarakat terhadap fungsi dan peranan sebenarnya yang membantu memberi khidmat kaunseling dan pengurusan wang.

Katanya, selain DMP, AKPK turut melaksanakan Program Pengurusan Wang Ringgit (POWER) secara percuma iaitu pendidikan kewangan praktikal bagi memberi pengetahuan asas dan cara pengurusan kewangan yang sewajarnya.

Tawar tiga khidmat utama

“AKPK menawarkan tiga perkhidmatan utama iaitu kaunseling kewangan, DMP dan pendidikan kewangan yang mungkin masih ramai keliru dan tidak memahami sepenuhnya peranan kami.

“Bukan itu saja, kami menyediakan portal pembelajaran dalam talian dengan hanya melayari power.akpk.org.my dan sesuai bagi golongan muda terutama pelajar institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT),” katanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua AKPK Cawangan Johor, Mohd Fairuz Mohamed kapi, berkata, orang ramai boleh mengunjungi pejabat AKPK Johor yang terletak di Bank negara Malaysia (BNM) dekat Jalan Bukit Timbalan, di sini, untuk maklumat lanjut.

“Selain itu, kami juga membuka pejabat AKPK di Batu Pahat yang terletak di Bangunan AmBank, Jalan Rahmat sejak 2008 dan orang ramai boleh datang mendapatkan perkhidmatan setiap Khamis dan Jumaat minggu kedua setiap bulan.

“AKPK Johor sedang berusaha meningkatkan kesedaran masyarakat selain menjalin kerjasama dengan Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) bagi memberi pendedahan awal kepada mahasiswa,” katanya.