A 73-year-old Malaysian monk from Penang state became a millionaire after winning a prize from the National Savings Bank. He admitted he never expected the savings from donations and red envelopes would bring such great luck, and affirmed he will use the money carefully and share it to help those in need.
Chaan Chai Xiang, a 73-year-old monk born in Butterworth, Penang, and currently residing in the Air Itam area of Penang, won the grand prize of 1 million Malaysian ringgit (about 8.11 million baht) in the 124th draw of the Sijil Simpanan Premium (SSP) savings program by Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).
Chaan revealed he began depositing money into his BSN SSP account in January 2025 after a friend's recommendation, starting with about 2,000 ringgit. His goal was simply to keep his money safe and he did not expect to win any prize.
Before ordaining in 1985, Chaan worked in factories in Singapore and Penang. He has resided at a temple in Air Itam for over 30 years. He said he had never been lucky in any lottery before, but won a major prize on his first try. Most of his savings came from donations, red envelopes, and contributions from the public. He used some to help those in need and saved the rest for emergencies.
Chaan said while receiving a symbolic cheque at the main BSN branch in Penang, "At first, I did not believe it because the bank called me three times. I thought it was unlikely until a bank official came to see me personally, then I believed I had truly won."
Despite winning a large sum, Chaan said he would not change his lifestyle or spend the money immediately. He plans to deposit the prize back into the bank and only use it when necessary. He added that money is valuable only when used properly: "If we use money correctly, we can make ourselves and others happy. That is the true value."
He also said he will prioritize helping those in need, especially with medical expenses, warning that living costs and healthcare expenses are rising, so everyone should plan to take care of themselves.
Chaan, who has never married and never won any prize before, said this sum will also help provide security for himself and three of his living siblings out of a total of eight in the family.
The BSN SSP savings lottery campaign for 2026 runs under the "BSN SSP Jom Jadi Jutawan" (Let's Become Millionaires) campaign. One lucky winner will receive 1 million ringgit cash each month from January to November, with a grand year-end draw in December offering 1 million ringgit plus a luxury Porsche Macan X car.