IPOH: Disciplined saving has paid off handsomely for a teacher from Penang, who won RM1mil in a draw.
M. Munisuaran, 56, said the draw is a blessing and a great Teachers Day gift.
“As teachers, we educate and contribute to society.
“I feel grateful and blessed by God for this reward as it happened by chance in conjunction with Teachers Day,” he told reporters yesterday after receiving the mock cheque for winning the 123rd Bank Simpanan Nasional Sijil Simpanan Premium (BSN SSP) draw.
The history teacher emerged as the winner of the lucky draw held on May 2.
Munisuaran, whose wife G. Manjula, 55, also teaches history at the same school, said he opened an account with BSN in 1990 while studying at the university.
He continued saving once he started working.
He began with savings of about RM100 or RM200 from his monthly salary, and eventually opened accounts for every member of his family.
He has four children aged between 22 and 29.
“The savings helped with their education, tuition fees and university expenses.
“Some of my children have also won lucky draw prizes before, including an iPad Air,” he said.
Recalling the moment he received a call from a corporate manager at the bank informing him of the win, Munisuaran said he initially could not believe it was real.
“I always followed the monthly live SSP draw and hoped to win a car.
“When I finally won, it felt surreal. I was nervous and felt like I was dreaming.
“It took me one or two days to realise it wasn’t a dream, that it was real,” he said.
Despite winning, he does not plan to buy a car but will continue saving with SSP.
He added that he has no immediate plans for the money as he is still working and intends to make decisions closer to retirement.
“I kept the savings as a form of security for emergencies and for old age.
“Besides the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), I wanted to have additional savings that I would not touch unless absolutely necessary.
“I would like to encourage the public to cultivate the habit of consistent saving for the future,” he added.
