Personal Finance Term
Amanah Saham Bumiputera
A fixed-price unit trust fund by ASNB (Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad), available only to Bumiputera investors. The price is fixed at RM1 per unit — returns come entirely from the annual dividend.
ASB has paid total distributions (income distribution plus bonus) ranging from 4.25% to 5.75% over FY2020 to FY2025, and 5.75% for both 2024 and 2025. Because the price is fixed at RM1, returns come from the distribution, not price changes. ASB is managed by PNB, a government-linked entity, but it is a unit trust, not a deposit: it is not PIDM-insured and not government-guaranteed. ASNB lists a fixed price, which is not a capital guarantee.
ASB Financing (an ASB loan) is a popular strategy: borrow at a low rate, invest in ASB, and capture the dividend spread. Whether this makes sense depends on the loan rate vs ASB dividend and your personal risk appetite. It carries leverage risk — if dividends fall or the loan rate rises, the math can flip.