PTPTN urges public to save for better financial future

Ahmad Dasuki says PTPTN is close to its total deposit target of RM1.8bil.

THE lack of a financial plan was the reason behind actor, comedian and entertainer Nabil Ahmad’s habit of overspending to the point of financial distress.

“People often think that artistes are flushed with money.

“But after I became one, there was a time when I spent too much, kept swiping my credit cards until I started facing financial problems.

“I had absolutely no financial planning at the time. But I soon realised how important it was to save and plan for the future,” said Nabil, who appeared as a special guest at the National Higher Education Fund Corporation’s (PTPTN) Simpan SSPN Savings Month (BMS 2021) virtual closing ceremony.

His wife Nazirah Ayub helped to turn the situation around with her strict and wise money management style.

Nazirah, who was also a guest at the event, said she never told Nabil how much she saved each month and would always put needs before wants whenever making a purchase for herself and the family.

Organised in October every year since 2018, PTPTN’s BMS this time was held in recognition of World Savings Day themed “Hold on to your financial future” on Oct 31.

PTPTN’s signature programme serves to convey information and provide exposure on financial planning as well as foster saving practices among parents and children.

BMS 2021 also presented the Simpan SSPN product as a community’s main choice to build up savings while enjoying privileges provided.

While delivering closing remarks, PTPTN chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid noted that BMS 2021, held from Oct 1 to 31 virtually, had been well received by the public.

“Throughout BMS 2021, PTPTN reached our goal of RM110mil in deposits.

“Total SSPN Savings deposit received was RM155mil or 141%, which was RM55mil more than the intended RM110mil.”

He also pointed out that there were 315,984 new SSPN Save accounts, while deposits received for the same period were RM1.78bil as of September this year.

“This was very close to PTPTN’s total deposit target of RM1.8bil with 400,000 new account openings,” he said.

Ahmad Dasuki said PTPTN remained committed to empowering people to save and plan for the future — particularly for the purpose of pursuing higher education.

“We will not stop disseminating information on Simpan SSPN for parents to cultivate and practise financial planning so that they can boost life savings and ensure their children’s plans to pursue higher education can be a reality,” he said.

He added that proper financial planning was essential to ensure uninterrupted education for children, who were the nation’s future leaders.

Ahmad Dasuki urged the public to sign up for a Simpan SSPN account, which can be done online.