KUALA LUMPUR (April 17): The top-performing Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) fund outperformed the FBM KLCI by a wide margin in 2025 to clinch gold in the PRS Fund Awards ceremony.

The Public Mutual PRS Islamic Strategic Equity Fund returned 21.3% to investors last year and notched a 17.85% annualised return over three years from 2023 to 2025.

For comparison, the benchmark index FBM KLCI gained 2.4% last year.

Held on Thursday, the PRS Fund Awards was organised by the Private Pension Administrator (PPA) Malaysia, with the support of the Securities Commission Malaysia, to recognise top performers across 10 categories based on net asset value growth for 2025 and over the three-year period.

According to a press release, Public Mutual Bhd took gold in the Most Consistent House 2023-2025 category, with six funds in the top 10 for consistent performance, followed by Principal Asset Management Bhd with three funds and RHB Asset Management Sdn Bhd with one.

In the Best Overall House 2025 category, Principal Asset Management placed first with four funds, followed by Public Mutual with three and RHB Asset Management with two.

PPA said 38 PRS funds achieved at least 6% annualised returns during the 2023 to 2025 period, driven by diversified strategies and holdings in local equity, fixed income and investments across Asia and the US.

PPA CEO Taufiq Iskandar Jamingan said the administrator is working with the SC to expand the PRS eligible universe, allowing members to hold listed instruments such as exchange-traded funds and individual shares in the future.

"Members should have choices and control over their investment allocation," he said.