KUCHING: Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (PIDM) has taken another step toward strengthening financial awareness in Sarawak by organising a Financial Literacy Programme 2025 in collaboration with the Kuching Division Journalists Association (KDJA) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
The programme, held in conjunction with Financial Literacy Month, was designed to empower journalists and university students with practical financial knowledge and insights into consumer protection, cyber fraud, and financial resilience.
The initiative was jointly organised with PIDM’s partners under the Financial Education Network (FEN), which supports Malaysia’s nationwide financial education efforts.
PIDM’s Executive Vice-President, Wan Ahmad Ikram Wan Ahmad Lotfi, said the event aimed to help participants make informed financial decisions, encouraging them to act as advocates of financial literacy within their communities.
“Journalists play a vital role in Malaysia’s financial literacy ecosystem. As trusted storytellers, you shape how the public understands complex issues that directly impact their financial lives.
“The way financial information is framed and communicated can either bridge or widen the gap between knowledge and action,” he said.
He also said that the event aligns with the Second National Strategy for Financial Literacy (NS2.0), launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 3, 2025.
“The NS2.0 sets a renewed direction to empower Malaysians at every stage of life for a more resilient financial future.
“Realising its full intent will require collaboration, innovation, and commitment from all sectors,” he added.
The KDJA president, Ronnie Teo Teck Wei, expressed his appreciation to PIDM and FEN partners for bringing the programme to Sarawak, saying that financial literacy is essential for journalists reporting on economic and business issues.
“By deepening our understanding of financial and economic concepts, this programme elevates our journalism standards, enabling us to report with greater accuracy, nuance, and depth,” he said.
He emphasised that equipping journalists with sound financial knowledge ensures the delivery of responsible and well-informed news to the public.
“This is a vital step toward fostering a more informed and financially literate community in Sarawak,” Teo said.
Among the sessions featured were Enhancing Financial Services and Access for Communities in Sarawak, Financial Consumer Protection, Strengthening Financial Resilience, Building a Stronger Retirement Future, and Lessons from Cyber Fraud Cases in Sarawak, aiming at cultivating long-term financial competence among participants.
