Artikel dari Harakah, 6 Januari 2014

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Sehingga November tahun lepas seramai 244,517 rakyat Malaysia mendapatkan khidmat kaunseling dari Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) dan 40.7 peratus atau 99,347 orang daripada mereka terlibat dalam program pengurusan hutang.

 

Antara faktor utama masalah kewangan yang dihadapi mereka ialah kerana perancangan kewangan yang lemah iaitu sebanyak 22.9 peratus, kos perubatan yang tinggi (18.3%), kegagalan atau kelembapan dalam perniagaan (15.2%) dan hilang kawalan dalam penggunaan kad kredit (11.1%).

 

Untuk itu, dalam menghadapi kenaikan harga barangan dan perkhidmatan, rakyat di negara ini perlu mengubah cara berbelanja dan gaya hidup ke arah kesederhanaan, menurut Pengurus Besar Bahagian Perkhidmatan Korporat (AKPK) Azman Hasim.

 

Beliau berkata rakyat di negara ini perlu mengkaji semula corak perbelanjaan, selain berjimat-cermat bagi mengelak pembaziran, mewujudkan dana kecemasan dan mengelak daripada membuat pinjaman baharu.

 

"Disiplin dan fokus perkara kecil seperti kurangkan makan di luar, tutup suis elektrik dan paip air dengan sempurna, menabung sekurang-kurangnya 10 peratus daripada jumlah pendapatan serta berbelanja mengikut kemampuan adalah cara berkesan yang boleh membantu orang ramai bersiap sedia menghadapi masalah

peningkatan kos," katanya kepada Bernama.

 

Azman berkata cara paling mudah ialah dengan mengadakan bajet dengan menyenaraikan pendapatan dan menolak setiap perbelanjaan yang perlu.

 

"Melalui senarai bajet, pengguna dapat melihat kekurangan atau lebihan perbelanjaannya, sekali gus boleh menstruktur semula perbelanjaan dan mengubah perbelanjaan negatif kepada positif agar dapat membuat simpanan tambahan," katanya.

 

Azman berkata orang ramai lazimnya sedar akan masalah yang dihadapi akibat situasi ini, namun jika mereka tidak melakukan apa-apa tindakan, ia boleh menjejaskan kehidupan peribadi termasuk masalah keluarga dan pekerjaan.

 

Sementara itu, Pengarah AKPK Datuk Mahani Tan Abdullah berkata orang ramai perlu memanfaatkan perkhidmatan percuma yang ditawarkan oleh AKPK seperti Pendidikan Kewangan, Kaunseling dan Nasihat tentang Pengurusan Kewangan dan Program Pengurusan Kredit.

 

"Melalui perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan AKPK, mereka boleh mendapatkan khidmat percuma kaunseling dan nasihat berhubung bajet, pengurusan wang dan isu-isu kredit termasuk membantu mereka membuat belanjawan bagi mengurus perbelanjaan.

 

"Dengan perkhidmatan ini, saya percaya mereka dapat merancang perbelanjaan mereka secara bijak terutamanya ketika menghadapi kenaikan harga yang menyebabkan kos sara hidup yang tinggi," katanya.

 

Katanya mereka boleh mendapatkan perkhidmatan AKPK melalui talian bebas tol 1800-88-2575 atau pun mengunjungi cawangan AKPK terdekat di seluruh negara.

 

Sementara itu, perunding kewangan Phua Lee Kerk mencadangkan supaya melakukan perbelanjaan harian mengikut keutamaan.

 

"Seseorang yang ingin berbelanja haruslah terlebih dahulu menyediakan senarai barangan daripada yang penting sehinggalah ke barangan tidak penting dan wajib.

 

"Selain itu, mereka juga perlu menetapkan had perbelanjaan untuk sesuatu pembelian bagi mengelakkan pembaziran dan perbelanjaan mengikut nafsu," katanya.

 

Katanya golongan muda yang sentiasa mengikuti trend semasa tidak akan melepaskan peluang untuk berbelanja ke atas barangan seperti gajet dan pakaian.

 

"Namun, kadang-kala perbelanjaan ini dilihat sebagai tidak perlu kerana kebanyakan mereka membelinya untuk tujuan menunjuk-nunjuk.

 

"Ada juga dalam kalangan mereka yang terpaksa membayar hutang yang pelbagai disebabkan terlalu mengejar trend dan akhirnya tidak mampu melangsaikan hutang itu," katanya. - Bernama

Article from BERNAMA Online dated 6 January 2014

 

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- As at November 2013, 244,517 Malaysians have received counseling from the Credit Counseling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) and of the figure, 40.7 per cent or 99,347 people had to enlist in debt management programmes.

 

Among the main factors causing their financial problems were poor financial

planning (22.9 per cent), high cost of medication (18.3%), business failure (15.2%) and uncontrolled credit card usage (11.1%).

 

To cope with the rising prices of goods and services, consumers need to change their spending habits and lifestyle towards one of moderation, said AKPK corporate services division general manager Azman Hasim.

 

He said the people need to be thrifty and create an emergency fund while avoiding taking up new loans for a stable personal financial position.

 

"Discipline oneself and focus on small measures such as reducing the frequency of eating out, saving electricity and water while saving 10 per cent of the total income are some of the effective ways to face the rising cost of living," he told Bernama.

 

Azman said the easiest way was to have a budget list on income and important expenditure.

 

However, he said many people are aware of the problems of an unbalanced budget but they did nothing, leading to problems in the family and at work.

 

Meanwhile, AKPK director Datuk Mahani Tan Abdullah said members of the public could seek free services from AKPK on financial education, debt management and credit counseling.

 

"Through the services offered by AKPK, they can obtain free counseling and budget advice to manage expenditure.

 

"With these services, I believe they could plan their expenditure wisely especially in times of rising prices of goods," she said.

 

She said consumers could obtain AKPK services by calling its toll free number at 1800-88-2575 or visit any AKPK branch in the country.

 

Meanwhile, a financial consultant Phua Lee Kerk suggests one should purchase according to priority.

 

"There should be a list, ranging from the necessary to the unimportant items.

 

"Apart from that, they should also set a limit on their purchases to avoid wastage and emotional spending," he said.

 

He said young people tend to follow the latest trends in buying gadgets and clothes.

 

"Sometimes they buy such items to show off when such expenditures are

unnecessary.

 

"Some even incurred heavy debts in chasing such trends and in the end they could not settle their borrowings," he said.

Article from the New Straits Times dated 10 January 2014

 

EXPERTS' ADVICE: Malaysians need to inculcate proper planning, self-discipline

 

KUALA LUMPUR: FINANCIAL experts believe that self-discipline and proper planning are habits that Malaysians need to inculcate in order to cope with the increasing cost of living.

 

Independent economic macro-analyst Prof Dr Hoo Ke Ping and Credit Counseling and Debt Management Agency corporate services general manager Azman Hasim shared their ideas with the New Straits Times on what steps the public can take to spend prudently and make the most of their money.

 

Tips on this link.

Article from Yahoo News Malaysia dated 11 January 2014

 

A couple in their 30s, along with their toddler, waited at the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) this week, hoping for a likely answer to their financial problems which have caused sleepless nights these past few months.

 

Johan, who works in information technology, and Diana (not their real names) ended up at the AKPK counselling centre in Kuala Lumpur after finding themselves knee-deep in debts.

 

With two children to support, they are their wits’ end as the banks have started calling in their loans. The couple realised that they would not be able to pay off their debts with Johan's monthly salary of RM2,000.

 

"We have two car loans and credit card debts of more than RM20,000. Every month, we are expected to pay more than RM1,500 to the banks, which we obviously cannot afford," Johan told The Malaysian Insider.

 

Diana stopped working early last year to continue her studies. They thought they could manage with one salary, but the cut in fuel subsidy in September hit them hard.

 

They claimed the fuel subsidy cut had a domino effect on their lives.

 

"Household items costs a lot more. We found we could not make ends meet. We moved in with my parents to cut cost but it did not help much," he said. 

 

The constant worry about money and their escalating debts also strained the couple's relationship.

 

"We fight almost constantly about money and this has taken a toll on our marriage.

 

"That is why we decided to come here. We really need help," Diana said. 

 

Johan and Diana are part of a rapidly growing group of Malaysians who are seeking help from AKPK, a Bank Negara Malaysia agency that was set up in 2006 to "ensure the resilience of households by providing an avenue for borrowers to seek advice and assistance in managing their finances and debts".

 

Until December 2013, 248,491 people have sought counselling from the agency and out of that, 100,871 have been enrolled into the Debt Management Programme (DMP).

 

AKPK chief executive officer Koid Swee Lian said those under the DMP would have their current financial position reviewed in order to develop a debt repayment plan in collaboration with the credit provider.

 

"Most of them who come to us are those who have debts resulting from poor financial planning, ignorance and lack of financial discipline.

 

"There are also those affected by the spiralling cost of living," she told The Malaysian Insider.

 

AKPK statistics revealed that most of its “customers” have a combination of loans and credit card debts which they are unable to pay back.

 

"For those who qualify for DMP, we help negotiate with their credit providers to restructure and reschedule their debts," she said, while stressing that AKPK services are free.

 

"Customers also have to sign a commitment letter to ensure that they are serious about working it out."

 

Until last December, 4,645 people have successfully graduated from the DMP with a total of RM182.5 million debts settled.

 

With the spiralling cost of living following the increase in prices of petrol, sugar, electricity tariff and the impending toll hike as well as the implementation of the goods and services tax in 2015, Koid said she expected an increase in traffic into AKPK.

 

"We can see that consumers are more prudent with their spending following the increase in cost of living.

 

"While there is a possibility on an increase in the customers visiting our offices, I believe a large number of them will be coming for financial counselling," she added.

 

There was also a spike in the number of customers at the 10 AKPK centres nationwide, often after festive periods, Koid said, suggesting that people tended to spend beyond their means during the festive season.

 

Putrajaya revealed that 60 Malaysians were declared bankrupt daily last year, especially those between the ages of 35 and 44. The figure increased from 53 people the previous year.

 

According to Bank Negara, until April 2013, Malaysians have taken RM316.3 billion in housing loans, RM145 billion in car loans, RM55.8 billion in personal loans and RM32.3 billion in credit card loans.

 

Koid had previously said that only about half of the credit cardholders in Malaysia paid above the minimum required amount of 5% of total owed to banks each month.

 

"But what they don't realise is that the amount they can save in interest rates changes dramatically when they pay just even slightly more than the minimum amount."

 

Financial education, she said, was the key to having a healthy and secure financial status while empowering the public not to fall into the "debt trap". But Malaysians “still had a long way to go”.

 

"We used to have classes on financial management every Saturday but this has been reduced to once a month because of a lack of response.

 

"We now realise we should go to the public and not ask them to come to us," she said, adding that only 28% of those declared bankrupts sought the advice of the Malaysia Department of Insolvency.

 

Another drawback is that people are ashamed to be seen seeking help from AKPK.

 

"People are embarrassed. So they prefer to suffer in silence.”

 

When asked what advice she would give to those struggling to make ends meet, she said families should sit down together and discuss their financial problems.

 

"If you want to go around the house and switch off lights and fan on your own, you can't save. People have to be very conscious on what they spend on and what they can save on." – January 11, 2014.

Article from The Star dated 12 January 2014

 

Weddings are pricey affairs, but it is important to stick to a realistic budget.

 

Planning for a wedding can be stressful, especially when you have a tight budget to stick to.

 

Media practitioners Justin Suraj*, 28, and his fiancée P. Anila*, 29, know this first hand.

 

With their wedding coming up this August, preparations are already in full swing.

 

“We started planning for the wedding from last August, so we have a full year to get everything done. The first thing we did was to book the venues for the wedding,” Justin says.

 

With two separate functions on the cards (as they are both from different states), Justin says they will be sticking to a relatively tight budget.

 

The celebrations will begin in Johor Baru (JB) with a church wedding and a dinner reception, as Justin and his family are Catholics. A week later, the couple will be in Ipoh for their temple wedding and a lunch reception, as Anila and her family are Hindus.

 

“To make things simple, Justin will foot the bill in Johor, while I will cover the expenses in Ipoh. Because of the two receptions, our expenses will definitely be more, but we’re trying to save wherever possible,” Anila explains.

 

Justin says he plans to invite 200 guests in Johor, and expects to spend some RM35,000. Anila has about 500 guests on her list, and is budgeting about RM30,000.

 

“Justin’s mum will prepare the wedding cake herself, so we’ll save on that. We’re also trying to get local make-up artists and photographers (in JB and Ipoh), so there won’t be any additional costs for their travel and accommodation.

 

“Weddings are definitely not cheap,” Anila says.

 

Bank officer Sofea Azman* who got married last December agrees.

 

“I initially wanted a small wedding, just for close family and friends. But my mum and dad needed to invite the extended family, their bosses and colleagues as well,” she says.

 

Sofea and her engineer husband Rizal Salleh*, both 26, hosted four events for their wedding – the akad nikah (solemnisation of the marriage) and three receptions.

 

“One reception was for my fami­ly, another was for Rizal’s family, and the third was a reception held at my dad’s kampung.

 

“The akad nikah was held at home, my reception was at a banquet hall, Rizal’s reception at a community hall, and the kampung reception was at my grandma’s Minangkabau house,” she says.

 

Sofea says they had about 500 guests for the akad nikah and the first two receptions respectively, and they had 300 guests for the kampung reception. The total bill for the wedding came up to about RM123,000.

 

“My mum paid for most of the first two functions, Rizal paid for his reception, while my dad paid for the kampung reception. I paid for items like the decorations, photo­graphy, my three wedding outfits, make-up and other expenses.

 

“For my wedding dresses, I’m very particular about quality, but I was unwilling to spend anything more than RM4,000, since it’s something I would likely only wear once, so I capped my akad nikah dress at RM3,000 and my reception dresses at RM4,000 each,” she adds.

 

For general manager Calvin Lee*, 30, and his wife Adeline Chan*, 29, who got hitched last November, simplicity is key.

 

“We had a joint reception in Kuala Lumpur with 360 guests, and another one for my family in Kuantan where we invited 120 guests.

 

“I’ve heard a lot of people say that you will always end up spending more than your original budget, so I decided to start small. But as the wedding drew closer, the cost went up as we had to include a few items that we had not paid enough attention to earlier,” says Lee, who held both his receptions in Chinese restaurants.

 

In total, his wedding expenses came up to RM80,000.

 

“In our case, my mother-in-law requested for a roast pig (in line with Chinese customs), which cost about RM1,000, and I wanted to give her parents a good dowry too. For the Kuantan reception, karaoke was a must,” he says, explaining that even the little things had to be factored into the expenses.

 

For the invites, however, Lee and his wife decided to go green.

 

“We decided not to send cards and instead sent our invitation via Whatsapp. That may have also helped us reduce some cost.

 

“Weddings are definitely expensive, but I think couples need a realis­tic budget to know what is achievable. But at the end of the day, my wife and I were very happy ... that’s what mattered the most,” Lee says.

 

Wedding planner Stephen Foong, who has been in the industry for about 25 years, says wedding costs have shot up over the last 10 to 15 years.

 

“There’s been tremendous change in the cost of products and trimmings (referring to items such as wedding gowns, suits, photography, videography, flowers and decorations). Prices have gone up by more than threefold,” he says.

 

He cites hotel pricing as an example.

 

“Ten years ago, you could host a wedding at a five-star hotel for less than RM1,000 per table. Today, you will be looking at about RM3,500 per table if you want a five-star hotel wedding.

 

“So realistically, if a couple wants to host a 50-table wedding at a five-star hotel, they should be prepared to fork out at least RM150,000,” he says.

 

Prices in Chinese restaurants have also climbed.

 

“Chinese restaurants used to only cost between RM400 and RM500 per table. Now, you’re looking at an average of RM1,000 per table. This means 30 tables will already cost you RM30,000.”

 

But the priciest weddings he’s had to handle are destination weddings.

 

“It’s very expensive because the host has to cover all the travel and accommodation expenses of the guests as well. So if you’re looking at an island wedding for between 150 and 180 guests, you’re looking at a bill of between RM500,000 and RM600,000.

 

Stephen Foong putting the lats minute touches to a wedding cake.

Foong: ‘Your wedding is just one day, your marriage is a lifetime. You should fix your priorities and be realistic.’

“Not everyone can afford a destination wedding,” he quips.

 

Foong adds that there have also been cases of couples going overboard in their spending.

 

“If they want everything to carry designer labels ... of course it’s going to be expensive!” he exclaims.

 

Recently, a Singaporean couple made headlines after their dream wedding in October 2012 proved too costly for them. More than a year after the wedding, they are still struggling to settle their debts.

 

The New Paper reported that insurance agent Cayden Lee, 32, and his wife borrowed S$45,000 (RM115,900) from a financial institution with a repayment period of two years. They also borrowed S$4,000 (RM10,300) from a licensed moneylender and S$11,000 (RM28,300) from a relative.

 

They also pumped in their entire savings of S$20,000 (RM51,500), and used up to S$30,000 (RM77,300) on both their credit cards. The total sum came up to S$110,000 (RM283,000).

 

Foong has this advice for young couples: “Your wedding is just one day, your marriage is a lifetime. You should fix your priorities and be realistic.

 

“If there is something you really want, but it’s out of your budget, look for alternatives.”

 

Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) chief executive officer Koid Swee Lian concurs.

 

“We classify cases which involve wedding expenses under ‘Poor financial planning’, and that makes up the top 22.8% of why our customers default on their loans,” she says.

 

She remembers a case of a couple who came to AKPK after splurging on their honeymoon.

 

“They maxed out their credit cards for a honeymoon that spanned three locations – China, Korea and Taiwan. After that, they came to us.

 

“Sometimes, a couple overspends because they want their ‘dream wedding’. Sometimes, it’s the parents who are the reason for splurging. I know in many cases, the parents have high expectations of throwing a grand wedding, and they fork out their EPF money for it. But that’s also not encouraged – that money should be saved for their retirement,” she says.

 

Also, couples should not expect that their guests’ angpows will be enough to cover their wedding expenses.

 

“This should never be the case,” she says, adding that a host should also remember that his wedding may not be the only wedding his guests have to attend during that period.

 

“Marriage itself requires huge adjustments. You don’t need to add financial problems to it from the start.

 

“Don’t start your marriage by going into debt,” she advises.

 

 

*Names of the couples have been changed to respect their privacy.

Artikel dari Berita Harian, 16 Januari 2014

 

>> 74.1 peratus golongan berkahwin dirujuk AKPK

 

Budaya yang mementingkan kebendaan dan cara hidup melebihi kemampuan, faktor utama golongan berkahwin banyak terbabit dengan hutang.

 

Berikutan itu, 68,550 daripada 100,871 orang atau 74.1 peratus golongan berkahwin yang gagal menguruskan hutang dan kewangan dirujuk kepada Program Pengurusan Kredit (PPK), Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK).

 

Belanja kahwin besar

Pengarah Jabatan Konsumer dan Amalan Pasaran Bank Negara Malaysia, Suhaimi Ali, berkata amalan adat sendiri mengajar jika ingin berkahwin memerlukan perbelanjaan besar untuk majlis perkahwinan, hantaran dan perbelanjaan lain.

 

“Akibatnya kerana ingin mengejar semua ini, banyak yang berhutang untuk berkahwin.

 

“Selepas kahwin, hutang yang masih ada ditambah pula dengan kos perbelanjaan rumah dan meningkat jika mendapat anak dan membeli rumah atau bertukar kereta.

 

“Jika tiada perancangan dan pelan kewangan yang kukuh, hutang ini akan mengheret sehingga ke hari tua. Semuanya bermula dari satu hutang tetapi ditambah dengan hutang lain seiring dengan perkembangan keluarga,” katanya selepas majlis lawatan Timbalan Menteri Kewangan, Datuk Ahmad Maslan ke ibu pejabat AKPK di sini, semalam.

 

Hadir sama, Pengerusi AKPK, Dauk Mohd Hanif Sher Mohamed, dan Ketua Eksekutif AKPK, Koid Swee Lian.

 

Khidmat AKPK

Sementara itu, Swee Lian berkata, 248,491 individu yang menghadapi masalah kewangan, mendapatkan khidmat kaunseling AKPK sehingga 31 Disember 2013 lalu, selain 100,871 daripada mereka dirujuk kepada PPK.

 

Katanya, pekerja sektor swasta mendominasi individu yang mendapat khidmat AKPK iaitu 37.4 peratus, diikuti individu bekerja sendiri 10.4 peratus dan individu yang tidak bekerja 7.1 peratus.

 

Dalam pada itu, Ahmad berkata, paras hutang isi rumah negara ini masih terkawal dan belum mencecah tahap membimbangkan.

Artikel dari Sinar Harian, 21 Januari 2014

 

SHAH ALAM – Wanita sering dianggap lebih boros dan tidak berfikir panjang untuk berbelanja berbanding lelaki terutama untuk membeli kosmetik, pakaian, kasut, aksesori dan sebagainya, yang tidak termasuk dalam kategori keperluan.

 

Malah bagi memenuhi kehendak terhadap perkara-perkara itu, ada yang sanggup mengikat perut semata-mata untuk kelihatan cantik dan bergaya.

 

Persoalannya, benarkah wanita lebih suka berbelanja berbanding lelaki ataupun dalam erti kata lain, lebih boros?

 

Mengikut laporan Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK), berdasarkan kes yang diterima, ramai lelaki berusia 40 tahun ke atas yang datang ke pusat khidmat pelanggan AKPK untuk mendapatkan kaunseling mengurus wang termasuk nasihat untuk menyelesaikan hutang.

 

Lazimnya, lelaki pada peringkat usia ini dianggap mempunyai kehidupan yang lebih stabil serta kewangan yang kukuh.

 

Namun statistik AKPK sebaliknya menunjukkan sepanjang 2013, lelaki berusia lebih 40 tahun merupakan golongan yang paling tinggi iaitu 42.4 peratus atau 39,220 orang mendapatkan khidmat agensi itu untuk membantu mereka menguruskan hutang masing-masing. Ini diikuti golongan berusia 30 hingga 40 tahun berjumlah 36,916 (39.9 peratus) dan 16,336 orang golongan berusia antara 20 hingga 30 tahun (17.7 peratus).

 

Sepanjang 2013 juga, seramai 60,359 atau 65.3 peratus daripada jumlah 92,472 pelanggan Program Pengurusan Kredit di agensi itu adalah lelaki berbanding wanita sebanyak 29,725 atau 32.1 peratus.

 

Golongan yang berkahwin paling ramai mendapatkan khidmat AKPK iaitu 68,550 orang (74.1 peratus), diikuti bujang seramai 14,069 orang (15.2 peratus) dan bercerai seramai 4,144 orang (4.5 peratus) sementara kematian pasangan seramai 1,727 orang (1.9 peratus).

 

Dari segi purata gaji, individu berpendapatan kurang RM24,000 setahun adalah yang paling tinggi berdepan masalah hutang iaitu seramai 48,647 (52.6 peratus). Ini diikuti 17,389 mereka yang berpendapatan antara RM24,000 hingga RM36,000.

 

Manakala mereka berpendapatan lebih RM40,000 mencatat jumlah lebih tinggi iaitu 14,428 berbanding mereka yang berpendapatan RM30,000 hingga RM40,000, 12,008 (13.0 peratus).

 

Menurut Ketua Jabatan Komunikasi Korporat AKPK, Mohamad Khalil Jamaldin, antara faktor utama masalah kewangan dihadapi mereka kerana perancangan kewangan lemah iaitu 22.8 peratus, kos perubatan tinggi (18.1), kegagalan atau kelembapan dalam perniagaan (15.2) dan hilang kawalan dalam penggunaan kad kredit (11.1).

 

Justeru, rakyat di negara ini disaran mengkaji semula corak perbelanjaan, selain berjimat-cermat bagi mengelak pembaziran, mewujudkan dana kecemasan dan mengelak membuat pinjaman baru.

 

“Sentiasa mengamalkan perbelanjaan berhemah, menabung sekurang-kurangnya 10 peratus daripada jumlah pendapatan serta berbelanja mengikut kemampuan antara cara berkesan yang boleh membantu orang ramai bersiap sedia menghadapi masalah peningkatan kos sara hidup,” katanya.

 

Menurutnya, cara paling mudah, mengadakan bajet dengan menyenaraikan pendapatan dan menolak setiap perbelanjaan.

 

Katanya, orang ramai lazimnya sedar akan masalah dihadapi akibat situasi itu, namun jika mereka tidak melakukan apa-apa tindakan, boleh menjejaskan kehidupan.

 

Dalam usaha meningkatkan pengetahuan terhadap pengurusan kewangan, AKPK menyediakan beberapa program bagi menggalakkan golongan muda terhadap budaya terbabit.

 

Antaranya, agensi itu menggiatkan usaha kempen dan kaunseling untuk orang ramai mengurangkan perbelanjaan dan ubah cara hidup selain meningkatkan pendapatan sama ada membuat kerja lebih masa atau sebagainya bagi menampung kehidupan.

 

Beliau turut menyarankan orang ramai memanfaatkan perkhidmatan percuma ditawarkan AKPK seperti Pendidikan Kewangan, Kaunseling dan Nasihat tentang Pengurusan Kewangan dan Program Pengurusan Kredit.

 

Pihaknya akan bantu sediakan pelan pembayaran balik bagi setiap hutang dihadapi termasuk berunding dengan pihak bank untuk tempoh bayaran tertentu iaitu memanjangkan tempoh bayaran balik.

 

Katanya, mereka boleh mendapatkan perkhidmatan AKPK melalui talian bebas tol 1800-88-2575 atau mengunjungi cawangan terdekat di seluruh negara.