Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) has announced a record total income and bonus distribution of RM14.5 billion for the financial year ended 31 December 2024, reflecting its strongest annual distribution in the past five years.
The distribution, involving all 18 of its fixed price and variable price funds under Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB), benefited over 13 million unit holders nationwide.
ASNB’s flagship fund, Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB), declared a total income of 5.75 sen per unit, the highest since 2019.
PNB Group Chairman Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda stated that the strong performance reflects PNB’s long-term investment resilience and its commitment to improving the financial well-being of Malaysians across generations.
According to PNB, the robust performance was driven by a favourable macroeconomic and capital market environment, coupled with the group’s continued asset diversification strategy. Total net income rose 30.2% to RM16.97 billion, up from RM13.04 billion the previous year.
Assets under management (AUM) grew to RM348.3 billion, compared to RM337 billion in 2023.
In 2024, PNB launched several key initiatives aimed at strengthening future growth. These include its new three-year strategic roadmap LEAP 6, which targets RM400 billion in AUM by 2027, a rebranding of ASNB, the launch of Robo Investment Advisor (Ria), and the introduction of the Celik MADANI financial literacy programme.
Launched in March, Ria attracted more than 60,000 users and over RM6 million in investments within two months. It offers personalised, tech-friendly investment advice tailored to new investors, including automatic monthly investment options starting from just RM10.
The Celik MADANI initiative, rolled out in August 2024, aims to provide one million public university and vocational students with RM50 in seed investment and basic financial education to encourage early financial planning.
PNB also made significant strides in its sustainability agenda. In 2024, it achieved a 98% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 enterprise carbon emissions, and invested RM5.5 billion in green and transition assets, part of its RM10 billion target by 2030.
The group reinforced its commitment to social equity by supporting the implementation of a living wage policy across all Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLICs), including PNB, effective 1 May 2025.
PNB President and Group Chief Executive, Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad, acknowledged that 2025 would present economic uncertainties due to global geopolitical shifts and changes in U.S. trade policy.
“We remain committed to delivering sustainable and competitive returns through continued asset diversification and stronger financial education efforts, especially as saving habits among Malaysians have declined in recent years,” he said.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
