National Investment Corporation (PNB) wholly-owned subsidiary Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) announced that for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the Bumiputera Trust Fund (ASB) will distribute a dividend of 5.75 sen per unit.
This dividend includes an income distribution of 5.50 sen per unit and a bonus of 0.20 sen per unit.
PNB stated that the total dividend payout amounts to RM10.1 billion and will benefit 11.1 million ASB unit holders.
As one of Malaysia's largest fund management firms, PNB emphasized that compared to 2023's 5.25 sen per unit, this year's 5.75 sen per unit is a significant increase. This brings the total dividend distributed to unit holders since ASB's inception to RM196.5 billion.
“ASB provides competitive returns, outperforming the 2.64% average 12-month fixed deposit interest rate benchmark of Maybank for this year.”
PNB President and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad noted that the 5.75 sen per unit dividend is the highest level since 2020.
He said at an editors' briefing held at the Merdeka 118 building on Monday: “Last year, we disbursed RM9.3 billion. Since its inception, ASB has cumulatively distributed RM196.5 billion in dividends.”
Abdul Rahman attributed the high dividends to the strong performance of the Malaysian stock market, allowing ASNB to offer better returns.
“In the past five years, dividends have faced challenges, except this year, as they reflect the performance of Malaysia's stock market. If the market continues to perform well, we hope to maintain this dividend trend.”
He added that PNB has set ambitious growth targets, aiming to increase its assets under management from RM347 billion in 2024 to RM400 billion by 2027.
PNB's account numbers grew by 3.2% this year to 16.2 million, and ASNB added over 400,000 new unit holders.
Abdul Rahman said that to promote regular investment, PNB plans to encourage Malaysians to develop stronger saving habits.
“For example, we will promote the idea that even saving RM150 per month and simulating conservative growth of 5% compounding over ten years, which is less than the 5.5% or 5.75% offered by ASB, you can accumulate nearly RM23,000.”
However, he noted that according to statistics, 51% of Malaysians have not yet started investing, and 40% of adults have not yet started financial planning for retirement.
“These are key challenges we must address. Even those who are saving are not saving an adequate amount.”
PNB Group Chairman Raja Arshad stated that for the past 45 years, PNB has been entrusted with safeguarding the people's savings.
“We are keenly aware of the broader challenge of insufficient savings and the necessity to cultivate stronger saving habits among Malaysians.”
He said PNB would continue to enhance its financial literacy efforts to improve the financial well-being of Malaysians across generations.