Cabutan WOW! grand prize winner drives home a Mercedes
KUALA LUMPUR: Saving and investing in the National Higher Education Fund Corporation’s (PTPTN) National Education Savings Scheme (SSPN) has helped Sonita Sudin bring home a Mercedes Benz C200 FL AMG Line.
The Pahang Matriculation College lecturer won the car which was the grand prize of the Cabutan WOW! SSPN-i Plus 2020.
The 43-year-old single mother said she thought it was a scam when she received a call from a PTPTN officer.
“When I was told that I was the winner of the Cabutan WOW! SSPNi Plus 2020, I told the person on the line don’t try to scam me as I was busy marking my students’ assignments at the that time.
“I only started to believe it when the officer told me to check the details on their official website. But it never felt real, I always thought I was dreaming, and that when I wake up, everything will disappear.
“Only at this moment of time, after I have received the car, I feel that I have indeed won a Mercedes,” she told reporters at the prize distribution ceremony that was held at Bangsar NZ Wheels yesterday.
Sonita said she started to save in SSPN-i Plus three years ago after she was informed about the scheme by PTPTN officers who visited her college.
“Since then, I signed up for the minimal plan, RM30 per month, each for my three kids who are now aged 19, 18, 15.
“To be honest, I joined the scheme because I was worried that my kids may not get PTPTN loans in the future. I never imagined I would become the grand prize winner one day. I always thought that it will only happen to others,” she said.
She urged parents to save in SSPN for their children’s future education.
“I am teaching at a Matriculation college and have personally witnessed many parents who were not financially ready for their children’s tertiary education.
“Start now, it’s never too late. I only started three years ago after some of my kids had finished their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Start with a small amount and increase it when you can afford to do so,” she said.
The second prize of RM50,000 cash was won by Muhammad Zulfadli Hadri Abdul Rahim, a 35-yearold teacher at SK Permatang Kerat Telunjuk, Bandar Baharu, and selfemployed Lim Kee Hau bagged the third prize, RM30,000 cash.
PTPTN also gave out RM500 to 1,000 depositors as consolation prizes. SSPN-i Plus depositors are eligible to participate in the Cabutan WOW! categories for the annual prize draw and monthly draws.
Lim, who contributes RM100 each month for each of his five children since 2017, said he found out about SSPN during a roadshow held at school.
“I am contributing RM500 every month and will top-up the remaining so that I can claim for the full RM8,000 tax relief.
“I have five kids and it will be a burden to support their tertiary education if I do not start now as education fees are getting higher every year.I will leave the RM30,000 in my account as the money is for the future of my children,” he said.
PTPTN chief executive officer Ahmad Dasuki Abdul Majid said up to February, a total of 4.86 million SSPN accounts have been opened with deposits amounting to RM8.28 billion.
“For this year, we are targeting 400,000 new accounts. Up to February, we have logged 39,224 new accounts and we are confident that we can hit the target set despite the ongoing pandemic.
“In fact, because of pandemic, more people have realised the importance of saving, Last year, 436,101 new accounts were opened which is higher that our target,” he said.
Also present was NZ Wheels Sdn Bhd Automotive Group chief executive officer Datuk Nik Hamdam Nik Hassan.