From RM50 BSN SSP Savings To RM1 Million Win: Retiree Plans Quran Centre

ALOR SETAR, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- When Arbaai Mat Ali received RM50 as a cash reward nearly two decades ago, she could hardly have imagined that the modest sum would eventually lead to a RM1 million windfall - and help turn a long-held dream into reality.

For the 66-year-old retired healthcare assistant from Kampung Alor Senibong here, the money is not simply a stroke of luck.

She sees it as a blessing entrusted to her by Allah, and one she wants to share with the community.

“This is sustenance that Allah has entrusted to me, so I want to use it to build a place where the children in this village can learn the Quran,” she said.

Arbaai was named the winner of the 127th Bank Simpanan Nasional Sijil Simpanan Premium (BSN SSP) Millionaire Draw, taking home the top prize of RM1 million.

Her journey began in 2006, when she received RM50 after being awarded the Excellent Service Award (APC) during her years in service. 

She used the money to open a BSN SSP account and continued putting aside whatever she could whenever she had extra cash. It was a simple habit that she maintained for years.

Recently, however, she almost emptied the account.

“I almost withdrew all the money, but the bank told me there was a lucky draw, so I left RM5,000 in the account,” she said.

When BSN later contacted her to say she had won a prize, Arbaai assumed it was only a small consolation prize. Even after a friend told her she had won RM1 million, she remained unconvinced.

“I still didn't believe it, so I asked my son to check,” she said, recalling the moment she discovered that the news was true.

For Arbaai, the timing could not have been more meaningful.

A widow and mother of two sons, she had already been working towards a dream close to her heart - creating a place where children in her village could learn the Quran.

She had previously spent RM180,000 from her pension savings to buy a plot of land and an old house in the village, hoping one day to turn the site into a learning centre.

“I used to pray that Allah would bless me with enough fortune to build a place for the children here to learn the Quran.

“Now, work to prepare the site is under way. The centre will be fully endowed as a waqf and will provide Quran classes for primary schoolchildren, taught by two female religious teachers,” she said.

-- BERNAMA