Building on our first session earlier this year, RinggitPlus partnered once again with CIMB Foundation to deliver the second edition of “Good Habits, Good Future,” a free financial literacy workshop designed to equip Malaysians with practical money management strategies. Held at Pavilion Bukit Jalil Exhibition Centre on 22 November, the afternoon session drew attendees eager to learn actionable approaches to debt management, savings building, wealth growth, and financial protection.

CIMB has long championed financial inclusion and literacy through its various initiatives under CIMB Foundation. This event reinforced CIMB’s JagaDuit initiative, a comprehensive platform helping Malaysians cultivate sustainable financial habits. 

Jaga Duit aims to empower employees to take charge of their financial well-being by offering practical tools that address key gaps in financial literacy. By imparting essential skills such as cash flow and debt management, financial planning, protection strategies, and scam awareness, the initiative seeks to strengthen the financial resilience and support the overall well-being of Malaysia’s workforce. 

Practical Strategies From The Frontlines

Vickneswaran Muniandy, Senior Executive at HFED’s Content Unit, brought 13 years of banking and debt management experience to the stage. His session focused on the realities of credit counselling, debt restructuring, and financial education, offering participants concrete strategies for achieving financial stability and building sustainable money habits.

Drawing from real cases handled throughout his career, Vickneswaran walked attendees through the four-pillar framework that forms the backbone of effective financial management:

• Salvage your debt by addressing urgent financial issues and creating structured repayment plans
• Build your savings through disciplined income management and realistic budgeting
• Grow your wealth by making informed investment decisions aligned with your goals
• Protect what matters by safeguarding assets and preparing for unexpected setbacks

His practical approach resonated particularly with attendees facing immediate financial pressures, offering them clear pathways forward rather than abstract theory.

Why This Work Matters

Findings from the recently released RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey (RMFLS) paint a stark picture of Malaysian household finances. More than half of Malaysians (55%) live paycheck to paycheck, and 54% report feeling anxious, frustrated, or embarrassed about their finances. Adding to the challenge, 36% have not started financial planning for retirement, with 40% of those saying they simply don’t know where to start.

These numbers highlight a gap that workshops like “Good Habits, Good Future” aim to close. This second session demonstrated strong continued demand for practical financial guidance that translates awareness into action. 

What’s Coming Next

Workshop participants were encouraged to continue their financial literacy journey through CIMB’s JagaDuit programme, which offers comprehensive tools and guidance for managing money at every stage of life. For those requiring structured support with debt management and financial planning, AKPK’s services remain available.

The momentum doesn’t stop here. A third “Good Habits, Good Future” workshop is scheduled for 6 December 2025 at TGV in 1 Utama, this time focusing on “Personal Tax Made Simple.” Speaker Pugaleshwaran Raja Kumaran, Executive Director from ThinkTax Consultants, will help Malaysians navigate tax obligations while optimising legitimate deductions and relief claims. Interested participants can now RSVP for free admission.

Building Financial Resilience Together

Through this partnership between CIMB Foundation, AKPK, and RinggitPlus, Malaysians gain access to practical financial education that addresses real challenges, from managing debt to planning for retirement. In a landscape where more than half of Malaysians live paycheck to paycheck, accessible financial literacy efforts like these matter more than ever.

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