PUTRAJAYA, April 5 — The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) today declared a 3.05 per cent dividend for the National Education Savings Scheme (Simpan SSPN) for 2022.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the dividend involved an allocation of RM266.17 million which would benefit around 5.73 million depositors.

"This 3.05 per cent dividend is not only higher than the three per cent dividend announced in 2021.

"In fact, it is a competitive rate when compared to current accounts and fixed deposits rates in some banks of only 2.05 per cent to 2.75 per cent (per annum),” he said when announcing the Simpan SSPN dividend for 2022 here.

Also present were Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal, Higher Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Abdul Razak Jaafar and PTPTN chief executive Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid.

Mohamed Khaled said since its introduction in 2004, PTPTN has distributed dividends worth RM1.33 billion.

As of Dec 31 last year, a total of 5.73 million Simpan SSPN accounts had been opened, involving a deposit value of RM14.24 billion.

"The Simpan SSPN deposits received last year amounted to RM3.36 billion, which is 119.93 per cent higher than the initial target of RM2.8 billion. This is an increase of RM350.55 million from the RM3.01 billion deposits recorded in 2021,” he said.

A total of 491,984 new accounts were also opened last year, compared to the initial target of 400,000 accounts.

Mohamed Khaled said the community’s encouraging response to Simpan SSPN was unsurprising because the savings are supported with various privileges and benefits.

"In addition to being the only savings product that provides income tax relief up to RM8,000 per year, Simpan SSPN is also equipped with takaful protection on depositors, matching grants of up to RM10,000 for each eligible family, guaranteed savings by the government and shariah-compliant investment,” he said.

At the event, Mohamed Khaled also launched the Ganjaran Kesetiaan Simpan SSPN Prime 2023 campaign, which offers an additional return of one per cent for depositors who make long-term savings.

He said the loyalty rewards would be enjoyed by Simpan SSPN Prime depositors, with accounts opened between 2004 and Dec 31, 2019, who deposit a minimum cumulative amount of RM500 during the campaign period from April 5 to July 31, 2023.

Meanwhile, PTPTN, in a statement, said that the dividend would be deposited directly into the Simpan SSPN accounts, and depositors can check their respective savings statements online via www.ptptn.gov.my or the myPTPTN application from tomorrow onwards. — Bernama