KBW 2021 attracts most participants from higher learning institutions
SITI NURFATIHAH PIRDAUS
SHAH ALAM - The 2021 Kembara Bijak Wang 2021 (KBW) series organised by the Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) and HSBC Malaysia has marked another milestone for the programme as it garnered the highest number of participants, this year.
In a joint a statement, AKPK and HSBC said a total of 6,334 students from 58 higher learning institutions nationwide participated in the programme since its launch in November, last year.
“This is a very encouraging increase from that of the previous years; the first KBW saw the participation of 4,000 undergraduates when it was launched in 2019, while the second, launched in 2020, attracted more participants—5,634 students from 42 higher learning institutions that included 22 UiTM campuses nationwide,” the statement said.
This year, KBW was supported by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) as a co-partner to measure the effectiveness of the programme.
KBW 3.0 officially ended on Feb 22, after a four-month series of challenges that the participants went through as they competed with one another in teams.
This year, the WeWantToBeBillionaire team from Universiti Malaya won the top prize, bringing home RM5,000.
The first runner up was Putra Warriors from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), bringing home RM3,000, while the third winner was Mailo from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah in his special remarks during the ceremony held virtually via AKPK’s official Facebook page said the collaboration between academia and industry is crucial to create awareness on financial literacy to the people.
He said the importance of raising financial literacy is a long-term obligation that requires the efforts and commitment of many parties to join hands to make it happen.
HSBC Malaysia Bhd's chief executive officer (CEO) Stuart Milne who was also present at the ceremony said education is key to building long term financial health and resilience.
“The KBW initiative will help the next generation of Malaysians to acquire the skills that they need to thrive in an increasingly competitive economic environment. As such, we at HSBC are delighted to support this very worthwhile programme,” he said.
Milne added that the encouraging response to the programme, with the highest number of participants to date, was testament to the success of the initiative and a great reflection of the crucial role institutions such as AKPK and UMT play in developing young people in Malaysia to become economically independent citizens.
The KBW programme empowers Malaysian youth with financial literacy, especially on the topic of financial management that is based on four main cores— Manage, Save, Earn and Give.
Participants were placed in a gaming environment where they will learn about money management as they help a fictitious alien called “Moolah” to return to his home planet.
AKPK CEO Azaddin Ngah Tasir said KBW has always been the agency’s special project as it aimed at empowering youths in Malaysia.
He said it was important to improve the financial well-being of youths for the country to realise its full potential as a nation.
“Raising financial literacy is a long-term obligation that requires sustained efforts and commitment of many parties. So it is our aim as an agency of Bank Negara Malaysia to equip individuals with the necessary financial knowledge to prepare them for what lies ahead.
“As we face challenges in this trying period, the right financial knowledge and skills are part of the ecosystem that builds financial resilience for us to thread the future and secure financial well-being and peace of mind.” he added.
