ASB Dividends, BSN Interest Rates & Unfair Government!
Last week, my mum told me that one of her friends profited RM 20 K per year with ASB and this made excited! I immediately went to the computer and searched for "Amanah Saham Bumiputera". I found the official info page. I was shocked when I say that the dividends per year averaged at 8 cents per unit (or 8% interest). So, A few days ago, I've opened up an ASB account and deposited some money 
I wished I had knew about it earlier!
After depositing some cash into my ASB account, I decided to put some money in a fixed deposit account at a bank. I did some reading at Forum.Lowyat.net and at the time I was reading it, CIMB Bank had the highest interest rate. I opened up an account with CIMB and went to EON Bank to withdraw my money but something interesting happened. The interest rates at EON Bank was higher than CIMB! I decided to go home (without withdrawing anymore cash) and do some research again on the net.
After a few hours of reading in various forums and websites, I stumbled upon BSN's (Bank Simpanan Nasional) web site. I looked around to see their fixed deposit interest rates but I couldn't find it! I did a quick search at Forum.Lowyat.net and finally I came across AKAUN PELABURAN AM-i MUDHARABAH. And guess what… their fixed deposit interest rates are way higher than any other banks in Malaysia! I'll be closing my EON Bank account somewhere around next week and will be opening fixed deposit account at BSN 
Here's a quote from BSN's web site about "Akaun Pelaburan Am-I Mudharabah:
AKAUN PELABURAN AM-i MUDHARABAH
Akaun simpanan pelaburan (fixed deposit) yang berlandaskan syariah. Pelaburan dalam bentuk sijil. Deposit dengan cek atau wang tunai. Kadar Keuntungan : (16.07.2008 – 15.08.2008)
1 bulan : 3.45%
3 bulan : 3.50%
6 bulan : 3.72%
9 bulan : 3.85%
12 bulan : 4.08%
15 bulan : 4.18%
18 bulan : 4.26%
24 bulan : 4.38%
36 bulan : 4.40%
48 bulan : 4.45%
60 bulan ke atas : 4.55%Syarat-syarat Pembukaan Akaun
- Individu berumur 15 tahun ke atas, Organisasi, Jabatan Kerajaan, Badan Berkanun, Syarikat Swasta, Pertubuhan, Kelab, Persatuan dan lain-lain.
- Tempoh pelaburan 1,3,6,9,12,15,18,24,,36,48 dan 60 bulan.
- Minimum RM1,000.00 bagi tempoh 1 bulan.
- Minimum RM500 bagi tempoh 3 bulan dan ke atas.
- Akaun Pelaburan Am-i Mudharabah diberi dalam bentuk sijil.
Interesting Stuff
It is nice to see the government trying to help all the Bumiputera's but do they really deserve it? Why the non-bumi's have to work their ass off to do something but the bumi's can get everything so easily?! This is unfair and in my opinion, against the human rights! Even though I am a bumi, I still think that it is very very unfair to the non-bumis. All the talk about the sacred Tanah Melayu is full of crap. Each and every race in Malaysia worked hard for independence and built the nation's economy from scratch… everyone should have equal rights.
Let's see whether Anwar Ibrahim can do something about this 
I totally agree with you. I'm a bumiputra and I say it's unfair to the rest of our non-bumi friends. They too worked hard and pay their taxes so why the biased treatment? The "Malay supremacy" is no longer relevant, but the government makes it such a taboo to even raise such matter.
But anyway, I'm intrigued on your effort with investment. In fact, I was frantically searching online for investments tips and guides when I plundered into this website of yours. I came to a conclusion that unit trusts are not necessarily the best options and it is wise to diversify your investments portfolio.
As of currently, I have placed my investments in the following:- ASB, Bank Rakyat's Islamic FD and CIMB Dali3 unit trust.
I can't control my thoughts of having "quick" money (don't we all?), but I had convince myself that the benefit will be there since I'm aiming for long term investment. Nevertheless, it's better than keeping money under the pillow!
I'm staying on the safe side of investing, so even though my returns are low with these options, but it will still benefit me over long period.
I couldnt agree with u regarding bumiputra and non-bumi thingie..
It sounds unfair when the Government gives so many benefits to Bumiputra..But,dont you see that our benefits getting lesser and lesser each day?
Why should we give equal benefits to non-Bumi? Maybe you didnt think much of the future huh? Can you imagine when all the Bumi and non-Bumi get equal treatments? There might be someday when non-bumi become our Prime Minister and control our Government. Do you really think they will give Bumiputra equal treatment? In our dreams…
Im sorry, if you dont agree with me..i just thought that this could really happen..When its really happenning..i 'm not sure where we'll stand..
I don't mind having a Chinese or Indian prime minister. If they support equal rights, I'll support them.
Most bumi's nowadays are not competitive (especially fresh graduates). Why? Because they take things for granted because the government spoon feed them. Non-Bumi's excel at every level because they know the current government is pro-Bumi.
I'm not saying that all Bumi's are lazy bums…but the fact is a LOT of them are.
Most crimes are committed by Bumi's.
Social problems are ruled by Bumi's.
….Need I say more??!
Giving equal rights to everyone, will force the bumi's to get off their ass and become more competitive.
In this modern world and age, race (kaum) should not be a priority.
Yes Mr.Mogul, I really agree with you. Thanks your comment. I know most of the bumi who read at your statement will disagree with you, but that is the fact. The malay bumi is giving a lot of problem in our country, look at pusat serenti, penjara and all those giving for makan free. All this stuff give the malay bumi more manje with the goverment. But don't worry if the malay follow Islamic and Syariah rule as stated in Quran and Hadis all of them will safe. But how many of them?
Just think and muhasabah diri
i am mixed so i am both malay and non-malay.
i found the discussion on malay's privilege is stupid and bias. just go to KL and you will find more than 80% of the business is owned by chinese.
just try to open a franchise or business and you will realize unnecessary obstacles are given to malay traders. sometime cantonese/mandarin is required! even though i speak both, i found highly discriminating to malay. so just shut up the rest of you