‘This is good for the baby’s future’
KUALA LUMPUR: Nurfarahin Abd Jalil never expected that her first child would be born on New Year’s Day.
The 28-year-old accountant and her husband had travelled all the way from Kedah to stay with her mother in Kuala Lumpur in preparation for the baby’s arrival.
However, their plans went out the window when the baby decided to come into the world a week earlier than expected.
“I only arrived in Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, and I was caught unprepared when I started having contractions.
“My due date was Jan 8, so I couldn’t believe that I was going to have the baby so soon,” she said. Her daughter was born at 1.22am. Nurfarahin was one of eight women (as at press time) who delivered their babies at Hospital Kuala Lumpur on New Year’s Day, making them among the earliest to be eligible for the Amanah Dana Anak Malaysia 2050 (ADAM50) scheme.
Under the initiative, all Malaysian babies born from 2018 to 2022 will receive RM200 in a trust fund managed by Permodalan Nasional Bhd after the registration process is completed by their parents or a guardian.
“This is good for the baby’s future,” said Nurfarahin, adding that the benefits of the fund will be
I only arrived in Kuala Lumpur a few days ago, and I was caught unprepared when I started having contractions. Nurfarahin Abd Jalil
seen over time.
Another first-time mother Siti Norain Rasid, 25, said she will continue to top up her son’s trust fund under the scheme.
“I’ll keep topping up the account with, say, RM50 a month. If there’s more, I’ll put in more,” said the administrative assistant.
“Whatever is in his best interests, I’ll save up for it.
“ADAM50 helps us (parents) to start saving up since (our children) are still young. It also motivates us to have the self-discipline to keep saving as well.”
Housewife Norsyazana Abd Aziz said her family was surprised and excited that she gave birth to her fifth child on New Year’s Day.
The 30-year-old, who lives in Sentul, said it was good to have a trust fund for her son’s future.