KUCHING: The Sarawak government is studying the possibility of introducing a second Amanah Saham Sarawak (ASSAR) fund to allow non-Bumiputera Sarawakians to invest in the state’s unit trust fund.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he had instructed ASSAR’s board of directors and senior management to study a more sustainable investment model in line with Sarawak’s expanding economy.
He said the proposal is modelled after Permodalan Nasional Bhd’s Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) and ASB 2 funds, while retaining the existing ASSAR fund for Bumiputera investors.
“At the moment, ASSAR is focused on Bumiputera investors. We may also open another fund for the non-Bumiputera community, perhaps ASSAR 2, which will allow them to save and invest in Amanah Saham Sarawak.
“Our policy is inclusive. This means we will have two sources of funding that can be invested in our economy, which is growing very well.
“This will give non-Bumiputera Sarawakians the opportunity to participate in Sarawak’s development through investment,” he said.
He said this when speaking to reporters after announcing ASSAR’s final dividend for the financial year ended June 30, 2026, at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre (HEEC) here today (July 13).
Earlier, in his speech, Abang Johari proposed using SarawakPay to make investing in ASSAR more accessible to the public.
He said the platform could encourage micro-investments, allowing Sarawakians to invest small amounts regularly instead of waiting until they had larger savings.
“With SarawakPay, if you have, let’s say, RM15, why not invest RM10 in ASSAR?
“You may not realise it at first, but over time it will grow into a substantial amount.
“This is a new approach because we already have the tools to invest, and I am confident all Sarawakians, regardless of their background, can invest and contribute to Sarawak’s development,” he said.
However, he stressed that the proposal remained subject to ASSAR board approval.
“This is subject to the board. They will review it first before we decide how to proceed,” he added.
Asked whether the expanded fund could invest in major state development projects, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s growing economy would continue to create investment opportunities.
He cited the proposed deep-sea port, the planned Tanjung Embang international airport, Bintulu Port and Miri Port as examples of strategic projects.
“There are opportunities for them to invest in our economy, which is now growing rapidly.
“With such investments, they can work with merchant banks and investment banks on bond or sukuk financing for projects that support Sarawak’s development,” he explained.
