Kuala lumpur: Permodalan Nasional Bhd's (PNB) wholly owned unit trust management company, Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), has declared an income distribution of 5.75 sen per unit for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) for the financial year ending December 31, 2025 (FY2025).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PNB announced that the total payout amounts to RM10.4 billion, marking the highest annual distribution since ASB's inception and benefiting 11.4 million ASB unitholders. PNB group chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda noted that this brings ASB's cumulative income distribution to RM206.7 billion, underscoring the resilience and strength of ASB's investment portfolio.
PNB has underscored the importance of addressing the challenge of insufficient savings and plans to enhance financial literacy efforts to improve Malaysians' financial habits. The statement highlighted that ASB maintained its dividend payout compared to 2024 and continues to deliver sustainable, above-market returns, surpassing its benchmark of the Maybank 12-month fixed deposit rate, which averaged 2.29 percent, by 346 basis points.
ASNB has distributed a total dividend of RM15.3 billion in 2025, the highest ever, bringing total distributions since inception to RM279 billion. This reflects a positive and consistent performance trajectory across all its 18 unit trust funds. The government-linked investment firm reported that distribution rates for ASNB fixed price funds improved year-on-year, maintaining healthy spreads above the average 12-month FD benchmark, ensuring competitive returns for its unitholders.
ASNB's variable price funds continue to perform strongly, with all funds surpassing their respective benchmarks. Four out of the 12 funds ranked in the top quartile of their respective segments based on their rolling three-year total return.
President and group chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad said PNB has made significant progress across key priorities, resulting in a 4.5 percent increase in assets under management (AUM) to RM364 billion, following the second year of implementing PNB's LEAP-6 Strategic Plan. He expressed optimism about achieving the target of RM400 billion AUM by 2027.
ASNB's unique account holders remain consistent at 13 million, supported by the addition of 560,000 new account holders during the year, indicating sustained public trust and loyalty. Looking ahead, PNB remains cautious about the investment outlook for 2026 due to global capital market volatility and economic uncertainties, including trade policy disruptions and concerns over potential overvaluation in AI-driven investments.
Domestically, PNB plans to collaborate with policymakers and market players to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic equity market, reflecting Malaysia's strong fundamentals and economic growth under the MADANI framework. The units re-invested from the income distribution will be credited to unitholders' accounts on January 1, 2026. Transactions for ASB at ASNB branches and agents, including online channels, will be temporarily suspended from December 27-31, 2025, and will resume on January 1, 2026, via online channels and internet banking, and on January 2, 2026, at ASNB branches and agents.