The Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency (AKPK) has launched Siri BUDI, a four-volume Malay-language financial guide designed to strengthen money management skills among Malaysians from youth to retirement.

According to AKPK, the guide goes beyond financial literacy by encouraging values such as discipline, resilience, and dignity in managing personal finances and everyday life.

A Malay Transcreation of the GROW Series

In a statement, AKPK said Siri BUDI follows the success of its GROW series, an English-language financial literacy guide released earlier this year. The GROW series was well-received for framing financial literacy around key life stages.

“Now comes Siri BUDI. It is not a direct translation of the GROW series but a Malay transcreation — an adaptation that preserves its essence while expressing it in the language, symbols, and spirit of Malaysia,” AKPK said.

The launch took place at the Financial Independence & Thriving Families (F.I.T. Life) Conference 2025 held recently.

Financial Knowledge as a Foundation for Resilience

AKPK chief executive officer Azaddin Ngah Tasir said that discussions about saving, planning, and resilience go beyond financial advice, touching on the wider goal of strengthening families and communities.

“Unlike conventional money guides, Siri BUDI emphasises that money is never neutral. Every decision, whether to save or spend, to plan or avoid, reflects deeper values,” he said.

The four volumes of Siri BUDI cater to students and youth, young professionals, families, and retirees. Each book includes practical steps such as saving early, balancing ambition with sustainability, managing household resources, and planning for retirement.

Building Independence and Financial Confidence

Guest speaker Datuk Nora Abd Manaf, former Maybank Group chief human capital officer, said that people facing financial hardship do not need sympathy or punishment but access to the right tools and opportunities to rebuild independence and self-respect.

“That is how lasting well-being is built. No one builds resilience alone. We all need supportive environments and communities that make sound financial guidance accessible to everyone,” she said.

Another speaker, Dr Mohd Hannan Yusof, a physician-turned-entrepreneur, highlighted that spending without values often leads to financial stress.

“Surrounding ourselves with people who give sound financial advice also matters, because the right guidance builds confidence and resilience,” he said.

Established in 2006, AKPK provides financial education, counselling, and debt management services to individuals as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Encouraging Financial Awareness Among Malaysians

Initiatives such as Siri BUDI contribute to a growing focus on financial literacy in Malaysia. With rising living costs and higher household debt, practical guides that help people make informed decisions about saving, spending, and planning are increasingly relevant.

Findings from the RinggitPlus Malaysian Financial Literacy Survey (RMFLS) 2025 show that many Malaysians continue to face financial pressure, with 47% living paycheck to paycheck and only 27% of middle-income earners able to sustain themselves for more than six months using savings. These figures highlight the importance of consistent, practical financial education that supports better money management across different life stages.

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• TAGS:
• Azaddin Ngah Tasir
• Credit Counselling and Debt Management Agency
• Debt Management
• Finance Guide
• Financial Education
• Siri Budi