Kuala lumpur: The Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) has launched Siri BUDI, a four-volume Malay-language financial guide to strengthen money management among Malaysians from youth to retirement.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, in a statement, AKPK said the guide is intended not only to teach money management but also to instil discipline, resilience, and dignity in daily life. Earlier this year, AKPK released the GROW series, a four-volume English-language guide praised for reframing financial literacy around the key milestones of life. Now comes Siri BUDI, which is not a direct translation of the GROW series but a Malay transcreation. It preserves the essence while expressing it in the language, symbols, and spirit of Malaysia.

The launch took place at the Financial Independence and Thriving Families (F.I.T. Life) Conference 2025 recently. AKPK chief executive officer Azaddin Ngah Tasir said discussions on saving, planning, and resilience go beyond financial advice but also involve strengthening families and society. Unlike conventional money guides, Siri BUDI emphasizes that money is never neutral, and every decision, whether to save or spend, to plan or avoid, reflects deeper values.

The four-volume Siri BUDI focuses on students and youth, young professionals, families, and retirees. Each book highlights practical steps such as saving early, balancing ambition with sustainability, managing household resources, and planning for retirement. Former Maybank Group chief human capital officer Datuk Nora Abd Manaf, a speaker at the two-day event, stated that people in financial difficulty do not need sympathy or punishment but tools and opportunities that restore independence and self-respect.

Physician-turned-entrepreneur Dr. Mohd Hannan Yusof, another event speaker, mentioned that spending without values breeds anxiety, while informed spending strengthens finances and well-being. Surrounding oneself with people who give sound financial advice also matters because the right guidance builds confidence and resilience.

AKPK, established in 2006, provides financial education, counselling, and debt management services to individuals and micro, small, and medium enterprises.