Job Discussion Forums

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

I am really surprised at people's reactions to a salary of 5k in KL as being good! It sounds really low to me. I am at an international school and it's true salaries are higher (I'm on 10k+), but where are those people on 5k living? And in what conditions/locations? I'm not being rude - I'm genuinely curious. I couldn't find somewhere to live for less than 3k (I pay more than this) with a 4 person family (3 bed + 1 maid's room). Perhaps you 5k-ers are free singletons?

My other half is at the British Council and getting at least 6k per month as he is part-time and his hours vary. No doubt we are very comfortable but I honestly don't know how we'd survive on anything less than 10k as a family, especially living in KL. Are teachers generally NOT in expat areas? They are significantly more expensive, but I didn't realise there were other options, as I was told security would be a massive issue, as would facilities such as shops etc. We eat local food and shop in local supermarkets, but there are some essentials which we can't avoid buying such as nappies and milk for the baby, not to mention some foods that we actually recognise which are hugely expensive here. We live in a condo with the usual facilities such as pool etc. but this doesn't feel massively extravagant and it's not fancy - in fact, quite old and rundown even.

I am really interested to hear about others' lifestyles here so I'll start:

We go out about once a fortnight (alcohol is super expensive and we're parents after all! There is local alcohol but I can't believe it's safe to drink - it's like rocket fuel and this comes from a former SangSom drinker so it's not that I'm particularly delicate...)
We have live in help (1.6k/month) as we are both working and need childcare for the baby
We had to buy a car as I work far out of KL and have a 40-min commute (20k buying outright - others take loans)
We eat local food like roti canai regularly (cost about 1-2RM)
We eat western-ish food fairly regularly (3-4 times a week - cost about 30-40RM total)
We shop at the market and local supermarkets with a little bit from expat supermarkets. Cook at home (weekly food bill around 250RM)
Education for eldest - thankfully free at my school, as I don't know how any teacher (even international school teachers) could afford the fees. Do some send their kids to local schools and, if so, please tell us of your experiences?

Anyone else willing to share?

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

I lived in KL back in 1996-2000, so the prices that I will quote are a little dated.

I was on RM2800 to start, and near RM4,000 when I left for Kuantan. Still, I had investment income from outside the country that helped especially with the initial setup expenses.

We rented a link house in PJ for RM1,300 (4 bedroom, 3 bath) for a family of 5. That same house probably still rents in the RM1300-1500 range; rents have not increased like purchase prices. (When in KL, I regularly check the newspaper rental adverts, so that range is still valid.)

We didn't own a car in KL; found it was easier for me to commute via motorcycle and wife to use taxis. She could walk to the store (10-15 minutes) and taxi back with the groceries. When we went out, taxis made more sense: no need to worry about parking, drop off directly in front, planned to leave before major exodus of other folks wanting taxis, and etc.

I still keep in touch with KL-based friends, and outside of having a PhD, a highly technical qualification, or an int'l school post, salaries still hover in the RM3k-6k range. This is because the private colleges can find fresh graduates to take those salaries as opposed to hiring more expensive expats.

Yes, there are exceptions; but most posters want to know the general range, not the exceptions.

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

This is all news to me - houses in PJ for such low rents! Was it relatively easy to get to know the neighbours.? No isolation problems socially?

I'm starting to see the great variation in salaries. It's mad, but perhaps the recent introduction of the 5k minimum will go someway to changing this, although I already know institutions who have found loopholes and grey areas...

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

The 5K is a new legal visa requirement as a salary for an international teacher brought to MY. I think it's nationwide, as anything else wouldn't make sense. The idea is that it raises standards in teaching and stops cowboys setting up and hiring for peanuts. But as I said, there are ways around it, not least to put down that a teacher earns 5k per month - but it's a grey area as to whether or not this 'month' is one of 12 in a year.

Contacting the British Council should give more clarification on this, as I can't find anything online.

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

Sorry - I wasn't clear. It's a requirement to get the work permit, so when that is being renewed there has to be a written signed document from the school to say you are receiving at least 5k a month. I imagine it applies to any institution - local or international, but as I said, I don't know the ins and outs of it. The whole situation is as clear as mud, but while I know of schools circumventing this, I also know of individuals who have approached management with this info and had pay rises. The 5k could include housing allowances and EPF (I guess) so in reality the amount you take home could still be well below the actual stated 5k.

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

As I said in the original post, I have no weblinks, but from the little I know (and it is only a little as it affected my other half but not me), it was only introduced this year. Most likely, I first heard of it through TES, but it was definitely confirmed by management when my OH went to work for the British Council in KL. That's why I suggest contacting them for clarification, if not the govt department for work permits...

Sorry I can't be of more help, but if you find anything solid either way, it'd be great to know.

roamingteacher · Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 106

Check out this thread. Perhaps the original poster has more info...

http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/p/422279/5738694.aspx#5738694

Prog Rocker · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 33 Location: SE Asia

Interesting that there seems to be a 5K limit. I was recruited by an international school, locally, for only RM2K a month, no bonus or allowance. That was in 98/99 though. How things have changed!

wailing_imam · Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 580 Location: Malaya

International School is an empty term in modern East Asia. A great way for the owners to make a few quid though.

I can't imagine many well qualified teachers from the UK would consider moving to an 'international school' for 5k. It is small money, even for Malaysia.

I always advise ESL teachers to give Malaysia a miss unless working for the govt sponsored progs (fairly well paid) or the British Council. Although Malaysia is a wonderful country to visit, one can earn, save considerably more elsewhere is Asia and even S E Asia.

Save Malaysia for when the hair starts greying at the temples.

Prog Rocker · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 33 Location: SE Asia

Kana65 · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 22 Location: Malaysia

Nemodot · Joined: 12 Mar 2011 Posts: 53

I agree with the original OP. When I was in Malaysia I did have some forum arguments over this but we all have different lifestyles.

However I have job interview coming up for an int school in KL and did a budget based on ok living and I reckon 6k after tax is required for me being single, eat local food which I love, but includes savings for hols and medical insurance/bills. Not an extravagant lifestyle. I'm allowing for having some medical insurance but I always like to put aside extra from experience.

As I won't be in the uk teachers pension scheme I need to invest 600 pounds a month to allow for that and have a student loans for my pgce which will be 170 pounds roughly (threshold is a lot lower in Malaysia). Along with tax that means 12k RM a month min. From what I have read that is about right for a good int school with qts and 2 years experience teaching science. Anyone got firmer info? I've had a look at recruitment agent databases as well that suggest 10-12k rm a month.

I am looking at at least 10k equivalent in Bangkok which is cheaper to live in (lived in kl and Bangkok before) and Malaysian schools seem to be tight with salaries.

One thing I would add re local wages used by some to justify low expat wages. The clerk at a government office may officially get paid 1,200 rm per month. But gets lots of "coffee money" to process forms. I went for an interview with an Arabic bank on e that wanted to expand in Malaysia. They told me the CEO would get 25k a month. I laughed as I know CEOs make 10 million a year at least. And it's tax free ......... A business friend told me 90% of his business costs were under the table. Even local teachers on 2,500k a month make extra by offering "tuition" (if you don't pay you don't pass). Also they get cheap loans for house, land and cars. I was married to a local.....