M'sian woman allegedly misled by drugstore cashier after paying for additional RM11 item
'Is one of the requirements for working there to fool customers?' she asked in a TikTok video.
She had entered the drugstore to buy an eye wash solution, which was discounted from RM35 to RM27.
After selecting the item, she proceeded to the cashier to make her purchase and allegedly discovered that the cashier had added another item worth RM11, without her full understanding.
When the item was included, the woman assumed the cashier was 'trying to help her' by offering it as part of a promotional tactic.
She further explained that the drugstore often runs a 'purchase-with-purchase' promotion, where customers can buy an additional item at a discounted price alongside their main purchase. Typically, the promotion is explained clearly by the staff.
'I thought the cashier was trying to help me because she just scanned the item immediately. She said it was really cheap now at RM11, so I thought, 'Wow, she's trying to help me,'' she said, adding that she initially believed both items together cost only RM11.
The woman admitted that she hurriedly paid for both items without properly checking the total amount charged, as she was rushing to catch her e-hailing ride.
While she was paying, she further alleged that the cashier's colleague remarked how easy it was to convince a customer to purchase the item – to which the cashier allegedly replied confidently that it was indeed 'that easy'.
'Only then did it click in my mind that I was probably scammed, but since I was in a rush to get to my ride, I just left,' she added.
She later checked the receipt and found that she had spent a total of RM42.15.
'I'm not mad because I paid an extra RM12, but you literally fooled me – and you were proud of it,' she said.
The woman also claimed the cashier told her colleague to call the next customer to the counter so the same tactic could allegedly be used again.
Netizens encouraged the woman to file a report with the relevant authorities, while some criticised her for not being more alert during the transaction and warned her to be more cautious in the future.
Meanwhile, other commenters explained that the staff are often required to meet certain sales targets by introducing different sales promotions, but agreed the cashier was in the wrong.
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Malay Mail
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The Star
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The Star
32 minutes ago
- The Star
Bond market set to attract foreign money
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The country recorded net foreign fund outflows in June and July, primarily driven by weaker investor sentiment and heightened uncertainty over the looming US reciprocal tariff deadline. 'However, the latest tariff reprieves, including the United States tariff deadline extension for China, could reverse or at least dampen outflow starting this month. So far, there are telltale signs that foreign investor sentiment has improved slightly. 'The ringgit strengthened against the US dollar to RM4.23 as of Aug 12 from RM4.28 on Aug 1, while the 10-year Malaysian government securities (MGS) yield fell to 3.44% as of Aug 16 from 3.46% on Aug 1. 'Should this risk aversion sentiment in the market continue to subside, we should see a more sustained foreign buying of ringgit-denominated bonds in the second half of 2025,' she said. As at press time, the ringgit was hovering at RM4.22 against the US dollar. Furthermore, Nadia said foreign demand for local bonds could also be supported by the upcoming rate reductions by the Fed, which would narrow the positive interest rate differential of US bonds over local bonds, and in turn, increase the attractiveness of Malaysian assets. The US federal funds rate (FFR) currently is at a range of between 4.25% and 4.5%. Markets are widely expecting the Fed to trim the FFR by 25 basis points (bps) in September to a target range of 4% to 4.25%, with the market-assigned probability of a cut having increased to 94% on Aug 12 from 57% on July 11, according to CME FedWatch Tool data. The CME FedWatch Tool estimates the probability of the Fed changing interest rates at upcoming meetings. Nadia said markets are also banking on at least another rate cut in October or December, which is similar to the Fed's June dot-plot projection which indicated a median FFR target range of 3.75% to 4% by year-end from the current FFR range of 4.25% to 4.5%. In contrast, she said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is expected to maintain the overnight policy rate or OPR at 2.75% for the remainder of the year. MARC Ratings Bhd chief economist Ray Choy MARC Ratings Bhd chief economist Ray Choy said the reduction of US import tariffs on Malaysian goods from 25% to 19% was a positive development for Malaysia's trade outlook, particularly for export-oriented sectors. He said this could help ease some of the external headwinds weighing on growth and the ringgit, potentially improving sentiment towards local bonds. 'However, while the tariff cut may marginally support investor sentiment and trade performance, foreign investor demand for ringgit bonds in the remainder of 2025 will still be heavily influenced by broader geopolitical risks, global interest rate trends and currency stability. 'While the tariff reduction may provide a marginal boost to foreign inflows, especially equities, sustained buying interest in MGS and government investment issues (GIIs) will likely require a combination of improved global risk appetite, strong domestic fundamentals and supportive interest rate differentials,' Choy noted. Looking ahead, he expects foreign demand to favour government bonds (MGS/GII) over corporates for the remainder of 2025, with buying concentrated in medium to long-term maturities for yield pick-up and a declining inflation risk premium. Overall, Choy said foreign inflows are likely to continue, but at a more moderate pace compared to the first half of the year. Inflows will be supported by a narrowing of the US Treasuries (UST) and MGS yield differential, as markets price at least one Fed rate cut in September and potentially another by December, he said. 'In addition, the government's ongoing fiscal consolidation strategy, targeting a fiscal deficit of 3.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2025 (2024: 4.3%) will anchor foreign demand. 'This is also in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan's goal of reducing the deficit to 3% or below by 2030, further enhancing Malaysia's creditworthiness to foreign investors. 'In terms of corporate bond inflows, we expect demand to remain positive but selective, skewing towards high-grade debt papers,' Choy said. However, he cautioned key downside risks persist and may weigh on inflows. These include ongoing global risk-off sentiment stemming from conflicts in the Middle East and abrupt shifts in trade policy, such as the proposed 100% levy on semiconductors, which could dampen sentiment, given that Malaysia accounts for about a fifth of US semiconductor imports, he said. RAM's Nadia concurred that the upside from the recent tariff reduction would likely be limited, as foreign investors are expected to remain cautious given lingering uncertainties from US protectionist trade policies, especially the proposed sectoral tariffs on semiconductors. 'For Malaysia, this sector-specific tariff could have a sizeable impact on economic growth given that about 8% of Malaysia's total exports are US-bound electrical and electronic (E&E) goods. 'This uncertainty in US tariff policies, which could turn on a dime under US president Donald Trump and trigger investor 'risk-off' sentiment, will remain a key challenge to Malaysian bonds for the rest of this year,' she said. Nadia is projecting RM155bil to RM165bil worth of issuance of MGS and GII this year, a slight moderation from RM176.7bil in 2024. For corporate bonds, she said the rating agency is expecting between RM110bil and RM120bil issuances from RM124.2bil last year. MARC's Choy said for this year, he is forecasting government bond issuance to reach RM163.5bil, while corporate bond issuance is expected to reach RM125bil, bringing the total to RM288.5bil, he said. Bond Pricing Agency Malaysia's (BPAM) CEO Meor Amri Meor Ayob Bond Pricing Agency Malaysia's (BPAM) chief executive officer Meor Amri Meor Ayob reckoned with the import tariff on Malaysian goods reduced to 19% from 25%, coupled with BNM's rate cut, and the expectations of Fed cutting interest rates in September, foreign interest in ringgit bonds, particularly MGS, is likely to be rekindled soon. 'We expect foreign interest will remain in government bonds, especially the MGS. Some potential growth drivers for ringgit bonds in 2025 include maintaining fiscal discipline by reducing government debt while diversifying revenue sources, as well as exploring the idea of tokenising MGS and GII on blockchain platforms. 'Such initiatives could enhance transparency, reduce transaction costs and capture the imagination of tech-savvy investors on the global stage. For example, tokenising real-world assets like sovereign bonds could enable fractional ownership and expand access to retail investors,' Meor Amri noted. Highlighting the challenges for ringgit bonds for 2025, he said a slower-than-expected pace of Malaysia's economic growth could weaken demand for fixed-income assets and curb foreign inflows. 'If the government's budget deficit target is missed, whether due to weaker revenue collection, higher subsidy bills or unplanned expenditure, it may raise concerns over fiscal discipline. 'Another key risk is elevated global yields, particularly in UST. If UST yields remain high, they could offer more attractive, low-risk returns to global investors compared with MGS. This yield differential may lead to capital outflows or reduced foreign participation in the MGS space,' Meor Amri said. Maybank Investment Banking Group head of fixed Income research Winson Phoon Commenting on foreign investors buying into ringgit bonds for the remainder of the year, Maybank Investment Banking Group head of fixed income research Winson Phoon said tariffs are highly consequential to Malaysia's growth prospects but not necessarily the key driver to foreign flows. He said in the medium to long term, ringgit bonds may gain from flow redirection, driven by gradual diversification away from US-dollar assets. 'Foreign flows could remain choppy through the rest of 2025. Fed easing, if materialised, would be conducive to foreign demand for ringgit government bonds. Foreign holdings of corporate bonds are likely to remain small. 'It would be bond-positive if the government can deliver another fiscal outperformance this year, similar to last year. However, a sharp US dollar rebound could sour sentiment and drive outflows from the ringgit bond market,' Phoon said. Phoon is forecasting gross MGS and GII supply of RM168bil and net supply of RM84bil for 2025. For corporate bonds, he is projecting gross supply of RM125bil and net supply of RM38bil.
