If you have been waiting for a chance to invest in Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB), today’s your lucky day. ASNB has just announced that a fresh batch of 1.18 billion units is now available across its three most popular funds for all Malaysians. These funds are Amanah Saham Malaysia (ASM), ASM 2 Wawasan and ASM 3.

This is a big deal because these funds are often full, meaning you simply cannot put money in even if you want to. With new units available from today, the 7th of July 2025, a rare window of opportunity has just opened. The best part is that there is no limit on how much you can subscribe, but it is first-come, first-served.

For those interested in the announcement, or those who want to know which best fit you, this article provides an overview of the three funds involved. 

These funds have a primary objective of capital preservation, where the price is maintained at a fixed RM1.00 per unit. This is achieved by the fund manager, ASNB, managing the fund’s assets to ensure the price for all investor transactions remains stable.

ASM: A Focus on Domestic Equities

ASM is a fixed-price unit trust fund managed by ASNB, launched on 20 April 2000 with a total fund size of 30 billion units. ASM is open to all Malaysian citizens, regardless of ethnicity. It aims to provide consistent and competitive income by investing primarily in large, well-known Malaysian companies in industries like banking, energy, telecommunications and consumer goods.

Money placed in ASM is invested in these established businesses that form the backbone of Malaysia’s economy. The fund is designed to grow the value of your investment over the long term by staying closely linked to Malaysia’s economic performance. Since the fund invests only in Malaysian companies, it reflects how well the country’s businesses are doing. Investors should know that while the unit price stays fixed at one ringgit, the amount of income received can vary each year depending on how well the investments perform.

ASM 2 Wawasan: A Blend of Local and Global

ASM 2 Wawasan is another fixed-price fund managed by ASNB. It was launched on 6 August 2001 and has a total fund size of 18 billion units. Like ASM, ASM 2 Wawasan is open to all Malaysian citizens and has a fixed unit price of RM1 with no sales charges.

This fund is designed to give you a mix of local and overseas investments in a single place. Most of the money still goes into Malaysian companies, but part of it is used to buy shares of companies outside Malaysia. By including international investments, ASM 2 Wawasan spreads the fund’s exposure across different markets, which can help reduce the risk of being tied to only one economy. If Malaysia’s economy has a tough year, investments overseas could help balance things out.

ASM 2 Wawasan’s objective is to provide a reasonable level of regular income by investing in both local and international shares. However, the amount of income distributed each year depends on the fund’s overall performance and is not guaranteed. The financial year for ASM 2 Wawasan ends on 31 August.

ASM 3: A Modern, Diversified Approach

ASM 3 is the most recent of the three funds, launched on 5 August 2009 with a total fund size of 20 billion units. It is a fixed-price fund managed by ASNB and open to all Malaysian citizens. ASM 3 has a flexible investment strategy that allows it to invest not only in Malaysian and international shares but also in other types of assets, including property-related investments and private companies that are not listed on the stock market.

This wider range of investments gives ASM 3 a more flexible approach compared to ASM and ASM 2 Wawasan. By putting money in shares and other types of assets, ASM 3 can look for opportunities to grow the value of the fund from different parts of the economy. For example, if the share market is not doing well, investments in property or private companies might still provide returns.

The fund is structured with the goal of preserving your capital over time while aiming to deliver regular income. Like the other funds, income payouts are declared each year based on performance and are not guaranteed. ASM 3’s financial year ends on 30 September.

Key Fund Details at a Glance

To make things clearer, here are some key operational details for each fund. 

Tax Status

A key feature that applies to all three funds is the tax treatment of their income distributions. Based on Malaysian tax laws, any income distribution paid out to individual unitholders is exempt from income tax. This also includes the new 2% tax on high dividend earnings, which does not apply to distributions from unit trusts like these ASNB funds.

Annual Distributions and Reinvestment

A key feature is the annual income distribution, and each fund has a different financial year end, which determines when the payout is typically calculated. For ASM, the financial year ends on March 31, with distributions usually paid on April 1. The financial year for ASM 2 Wawasan ends on August 31, followed by a distribution on September 1. Lastly, ASM 3’s financial year concludes on September 30, with its distribution paid on October 1. A consistent feature across all three funds is that any income distribution is automatically reinvested into the unitholder’s account as additional units.

Fees and Charges Comparison

The fee structure is straightforward for all three funds. There are no sales charges for direct investments. The main costs are the annual fees for management and administration, along with minor transaction fees for certain online platforms.

Fee Type	ASM	ASM 2 Wawasan	ASM 3
Sales Charge	Nil	Nil	Nil
Repurchase Charge	Nil	Nil	Nil
Transfer Fee	Nil	Nil	Nil
Annual Management Fee	1.0% per annum of the Value of Fund (VOF)	1.0% per annum of the Value of Fund (VOF)	1.0% per annum of the Value of Fund (VOF)
Maximum Allowed Management Fee (per Deed)	Up to 1.0% of the VOF	Up to 1.0% of the VOF	Up to 1.5% of the VOF
Annual Trustee Fee	RM650,000, or 0.08% per annum of the VOF, whichever is lower	RM750,000 per annum	Up to 0.08% per annum of the VOF, subject to a minimum of RM18,000 per annum

Withdrawing Your Investment

The rules for exiting your investment are the same for all three funds. Unitholders can request to repurchase their units at any ASNB branch or through an approved electronic platform. All repurchase applications should be made before the cut-off time of 4:00 p.m. on a business day. The payment for the repurchase will be made within seven business days after the request is received.

A Look at Historical Payouts

One of the best-known features of these funds is their yearly income distribution, often called dividends. This is money shared with investors if the fund does well that year. But it’s important to remember these payouts aren’t guaranteed and depend on how the fund performs.

Here are the confirmed past payouts for each fund. The numbers show how many sen you’d get each year for every ringgit you had in the fund. The values are presented in sen per unit.

Financial Year Ending In	ASM (31 March)	ASM 2 Wawasan (31 August)	ASM 3 (30 September)
2019	5.50	5.00	5.00
2020	4.25	4.00	4.00
2021	4.00	4.00	4.00
2022	4.00	3.75	3.75
2023	4.50	4.50	4.50
2024	4.75	4.75	4.75
2025	5.00	Not Yet Announced	Not Yet Announced

Don’t Miss This Rare Chance

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to invest in these popular ASNB funds, this is it. With new units now open for all Malaysians, you have a rare chance to start or grow your investment at a fixed price of one ringgit per unit.

Just remember, these units are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. When they’re gone, you’ll have to wait for the next batch, which doesn’t come around often.

Whether you prefer ASM for its focus on strong Malaysian companies, ASM 2 Wawasan for a mix of local and overseas investments, or ASM 3 for its flexible and diversified approach, there’s something for everyone. Each fund has its own style and goals, so think about what fits you best.

To begin investing in ASNB funds, the first step is to open an ASNB account. This can be done conveniently online using the myASNB app or its web portal, or in person by visiting an ASNB branch, a participating agent bank, or a Pos Malaysia branch. Typically, the required documents for registration include your IC, your bank account details, and a valid email address and mobile number. Once your account is active, you can make investments through various channels, including the myASNB platform itself, internet banking platforms like Maybank2u, CIMB Clicks, or RHB Now, as well as at ATMs and bank branches.

• TAGS:
• Amanah Saham
• Amanah Saham Malaysia 2 - Wawasan (ASM 2 Wawasan)
• Amanah Saham Malaysia 3 (ASM 3)
• Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad
• ASM
• ASNB
• Investments
• Payouts