ASB dividend puts smile to investors face, used to pay house deposit, haj
SHAH ALAM - The average unit holder of Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) consistently saves in the account to collect annual dividends to pay house deposits, finance education and performing Hajj or Umrah.
Banking staff Noraidah Lamri, 57, said she opened an ASB account since the 1990s and also kept money in separate accounts for her four children.
She said the savings could be used as an alternative once retired or want to go on vacation abroad in the future.
"I performed Umrah in 2019 and brought my whole family, so saving in ASB is very helpful," she told Sinar.
Hotel worker Syaznur Hakim Janal, 25, said that his late father routinely saved in the ASB account since he was 12 years old to fund education and long-term savings.
He added that the accumulated amount of RM30,000 had not been spent until now because he wanted to use it for emergency purposes, getting married or buying a first house.
"My late father did not allow me to use this savings until I reached the age of 18 and I can only use it after he passed away two years ago.
"However, there is no need for me to use it for now so I just collect dividends every year," he said.
Meanwhile, nurse Juminah Tamin, 44, said she started saving since 2005 and the amount saved up to has reached RM50,000.
"Usually I only put in (in ASB) around RM300 but I don't save it every month. I think I want to cash in the savings for Umrah or Hajj if given the opportunity to go there, InsyaAllah.
"As a contributor, I am happy with the dividend increase and it gives all of us some relief because the last few years the dividend has been quite low.
"This increase to some extent will attract the attention of more people to save with ASB," Juminah said.
Yesterday, the Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) announced a dividend of 4.25 sen per unit and a bonus of 1.0 sen per unit to ASB holders for the financial year ending Dec 31.
Last year, the total amount of dividends was 4.6 cents per unit including income distribution of 3.35 cents per unit and bonuses of 1.25 cents per unit.
Although the dividend only increased by 0.65 cents per unit compared to last year, it proved that the country's economy was at its best.
Therefore, the public was advised to have financial planning by making investments to avoid crises in the future.
It would be a sensible move for the long term in line with the current situation where there was an increase in the price of goods and the cost of living.
