KOTA BAHARU: Competitive dividend distribution and prudent fund management has propelled Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Malaysia’s biggest fund manager, to accumulate investments totalling RM131.5 billion as of Aug 31, 2011, its chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said yesterday.
He said the whopping investment came from 10.5 million investors.
Innovative products — Amanah Saham Nasional and Amanah Saham Bumiputera schemes — introduced in 1990 and subsequently seven other products have succeeded in significantly changing the people’s mindset, he said.
“They’re now very keen to invest to increase their investments in PNB,” he said when speaking at the teachers’ training institute category PNB Quiz contest 2011 prize presentation here yesterday.
Ahmad Sarji said the core PNB investors are public and private sector employees, professionals, executives, farmers, fishermen, low-income earners, uniformed personnel, factory workers, labourers, housewives and students.
He said though PNB was established to help bumiputeras, there are products opened to multi-racial Malaysians as PNB’s contribution to nation-building.
Among the schemes are Amanah Saham Nasional 3; Amanah Saham Gemilang; Amanah Saham Wawasan 2020; Amanah Saham Malaysia; and Amanah Saham 1Malaysia.
Ahmad Sarji said these schemes have helped forged inter-racial unity, particularly among the younger set.
“As of Aug 31, 1.229 million non-bumiputeras have invested RM23.4 billion as compared to 9.317 million bumiputeras who have invested RM108.134 billion.
“This is a very encouraging sign, reflecting their trust and confidence in PNB fund managers’ ability,” he said.
Asked to comment on PNB’s investment education programme, the former chief secretary to the government said the response has been overwhelming, with last year’s participation increasing to 3,251 people as compared to 2,240 in 2009.– BERNAMA