Couples planning to marry at a young age are encouraged to buy gold as assets for a financially secured future, being that gold tends to maintain its value over time.

Money or the ringgit does not guarantee good investment because its value depends on the world foreign exchange rate which always fluctuates.

Dean of the Economic and Business Faculty, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Prof Dr Shazali Abu Mansor said it was a wise move by couples who invested in gold.

"The price of gold will continue to rise and it is also a form of liquid asset which can be converted into cash at anytime," he said when contacted by Bernama.

He advised couples planning to get married to not apply for loans to finance their marriage and wedding preparations.

"Spend within your means and only for the necessary. Whatever savings that you have is best used after the wedding ceremony which is for married life," he added.

A graduate of Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Muhamad Nazrul Zakaria, 25, said he had been buying the gold dinar since early this year as preparation for his marriage, scheduled next year.

"I'll give the gold dinar as 'mas kahwin' and 'hantaran' (dowry) to my future wife," he added.

He said gold was also a hedge against inflation and the value would not drop, unlike the ringgit.

Nazrul, from Kelantan, said his target was to buy five to seven gold dinars as preparation for his marriage.