Assar announces interim dividend rate of 3 sen per unit

KUCHING (Feb 6): Tabung Amanah Saham Sarawak (Assar) has announced an interim dividend distribution of three sen per unit for the financial year ending June 30, 2026, involving a total payout of RM15.24 million to 57,878 unitholders.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the distribution was the fifth since the restructuring of the fund, with the dividend rate calculated based on unit holdings as at Dec 31 last year.

“This means that there is an income surplus of RM12.95 million available as reserves to support Assar fund income for the subsequent period,” he said during the announcement at Kompleks Satria Pertiwi here.

Abang Johari also pointed out that Assar’s performance remained stable due to prudent asset allocation strategies and proactive risk management.

For the first six months of the financial year under review, Assar had realised gross income of RM19.87 million.

Of the total, 42 per cent or RM8.34 million came from interest income on fixed income securities, while 36 per cent or RM7.18 million was derived from gains on the sale of equities.

In addition, 14 per cent or RM2.83 million was dividend income from equity holdings, while the remaining eight per cent or RM1.52 million comprised interest income from money market instruments and gains from the sale of fixed income securities.

“After deducting expenses of RM3.68 million, Assar recorded net income of RM16.19 million,” said Abang Johari, adding that the fixed income securities continued to serve as the backbone of the Assar fund, providing stable income flow and mitigating the impact of volatile stock market conditions.

He said that taking into account an income surplus of RM12 million from the previous financial year, the total distributable income as at Dec 31, 2025, reached RM28.19 million.

The Premier expressed hope that the competitive dividend rate would further encourage investment participation among Sarawak Bumiputeras.

He also said Assar was expanding accessibility through the collaboration with Service Sarawak in providing counter services at selected Urban Transformation Centres (UTCs) in Sibu and Miri, with Sarikei to follow suit; as well as mobile outreach into the rural areas supported by the Sarawak Rural Broadband Network.

The Premier also called upon Sarawakians to continue supporting Assar’s investment initiatives so as to help build a more sustainable financial future for the state.

Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Leonard Linggi Jugah, and Permodalan Assar Group chairman Dato Sri Wahab Dolah.