Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is encouraging unit trust holders to subscribe to the trust fund inheritance services Perkhidmatan Hibah Amanah and Pengisytiharan Amanah.

PNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said the two services make it easier for unit trust holders to name the beneficiaries who will inherit their Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd (ASNB) investments after their death.

"So far, 41,049 Hibah Amanah and Pengisytiharan Amanah contracts have been signed by ASNB unit holders, involving 10.26 billion units.

"This number is still low, comprising only around five per cent of the total units invested," he said at a media conference after opening the 'Seminar Pelaburan 360 Hari Mega' here today.

Abdul Wahid said PNB and ASNB started offering the Hibah Amanah and Pengisytiharan Amanah services in 2013 to stress the importance of will planning in financial management.

PNB, he noted, had a total of 209.56 billion units in circulation held by 12.84 million unit holders (comprising 89.5 per cent Bumiputeras and 10.5 per cent non-Bumiputeras) as of Sept 30, 2016.

This year, PNB has disbursed dividends and bonuses totalling RM3.56 billion to unit holders, while the cumulative dividends and bonuses distributed from 1981 to September 2016 have hit RM147.17 billion, he said.

"Investors' funds, if combined with PNB's proprietary funds and properties, have raised the assets under management to over RM250 billion, or approximately 15 per cent of the country's capital market," he said.

About 1,000 participants attended the seminar, part of a series held nationwide to educate the public on financial planning and investment.

Abdul Wahid said to attract more participants, PNB will hold e-seminars next year.

-- BERNAMA