A RETIREE, who saved part of her gratuity with Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd (BIMB), became the latest millionaire through the bank’s Al-Awfar June 2021 draw.
Ruth Anak Sibat, 61, from Kuching, Sarawak, was among four grand-prize draw winners who received RM1mil each from the bank.
Ruth formerly worked as an assistant general manager for registration at Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation, where she served for 37 years.
She opened an Al-Awfar account in March 2021.
“I saved RM100,000, which is part of my gratuity at the Simpang Tiga branch in Kuching. The move turned out to be a blessing.
“I will be performing umrah with my family in December, and later, the haj,” said Ruth, who converted to Islam in 1988.
“I was speechless when I was told that I won RM1mil,” she told reporters at the BIMB Al-Awfar prize-giving ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur.
When asked how she had been spending her prize money, she said she bought cars for her four children and was currently renovating her home.
The other millionaires are Abdul Razak Mohd Noor, Mardianah Shahrun and Ahmad Shafuan Mohammad.
Of the 10 special draw winners, Saian Majid and Jawa Pariza Wahab each won a Mercedes Benz.
The rest – Mohamad Aznam Mohd Suki, Nor Baya Mohamad, W. Hapsah W. Nek, Zaleha Zainal Abdin, Halid Salim, Aris Othman, Rahizul Abd Rahim and Syed Mohamed Adnan Mansor Alhabshi – won a Mazda CX-5 each.
Saian, 58, from Batu Pahat, Johor, said he could not believe it when a bank officer informed him last July that he had won a luxury car.
“I later called the bank in Batu Pahat to confirm the win.
“I did not even tell my wife because I wanted to surprise her,” said Saian, who was accompanied by his wife at the event.
The former operations manager of Syarikat Air Johor had opened an Al-Awfar account in 2018 upon his retirement and kept his savings in BIMB, since his previous employer paid his salary through the bank.
BIMB group chief business officer (retail) Mizan Masram said Al-Awfar had become one of the bank’s signature products since it was introduced in 2009.
He said Al-Awfar was a low-risk innovative investment account, based on the profit-sharing Mudarabah concept.
It is open to individuals, business entities, associations, religious bodies, schools, universities, clubs and organisations.
“After 13 years in the market, Al-Awfar has recorded a fund size amounting to almost RM5.3bil with 1.02 million accounts.
“In March, Al-Awfar recorded a growth of almost RM50mil through over 10,000 accounts,” Mizan elaborated.
Since 2009, 34 customers have been made Al-Awfar millionaires. BIMB has also rewarded Al-Awfar customers with various prizes, including cars, umrah or holiday packages, cash and electronic devices.
To promote it this year, BIMB introduced its Elite 3.0 Campaign (from March 1 to Dec 31) to increase Al-Awfar customers’ chances of winning exciting prizes through its monthly, quarterly and half-yearly draws.
Additionally, the Do It and Win IPT Campaign is being held from Feb 1 to Aug 31 for students from higher education institutions to register Al-Awfar accounts.
The monthly draw offers 50 Apple iPads and 15 MacBooks.
For graduates aged between 21 and 35, there is the GradONE campaign (until July 31) where they can switch their salary account to Al-Awfar for a chance to win prizes.