TEMERLOH: Integrity is the key factor behind Permodalan Nasional Bhd's (PNB) success in distributing wealth back to the people since 1978.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said PNB's management, since its incorporation, had ensured that investments in the institution are being handled with the people's interests in mind.
"(Former PNB) manager Tun Ismail Mohamed Ali used to say that an organisation must have the trust of the people and never to compromise on integrity," said Zahid, who used to work with PNB from 1979 to 1985.
He noted that Ismail had laid down the guidelines for PNB that are not found in other corporate organisations at the time thus able to turn it into one of Malaysia's leading asset managers.
Zahid noted that there is no other nation in the world that has similar investment institution like the PNB which manages and channels wealth back to the people.
He said the people's trust in PNB was clear as the institution now manages RM266 billion in assets for its 13 million investors, compared to its capital of RM200 million in 1979.
Zahid said this in a speech during the closing ceremony of Unit Trust Week 2017 at Dewan Tun Razak here today.
The six-day exhibition has attracted 183,426 visitors as of yesterday, breaking PNB's own target of 150,000 visitors.
Also present at the event were PNB group chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, its president and chief executive Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, and State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, who is also Lanchang assemblyman.