Allow i-Citra withdrawals of RM2,000 a month, says Najib

 

A new i-Citra scheme for withdrawals from EPF savings was announced on Monday as part of a package of relief measures.

PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has suggested that the Employees Provident Fund allow members to withdraw up to RM2,000 in July and August under the i-Citra scheme.

Najib said many would have large arrears in financial commitments by the time August arrives, after being locked down for two months with less or no income at all.

Instead of allowing members to withdraw RM1,000 monthly over a period of five months, he said the scheme could be “improved” to allow RM2,000 to be withdrawn each month in July and August, followed by the final RM1,000 in September.

“Whatever it is, the amount for the first payment needs to be higher compared to the following payments because there will be arrears,” he said.

He added that this proposal was made in view of how most sectors were expected to reopen by September or October under Phase 3 of the recovery plan and that EPF had enough cash flow to fund the higher withdrawals.

He added that EPF already had the i-Lestari and i-Sinar systems in place and could start applications for i-Citra from next week onwards rather than July 15.

“They should also consider increasing the maximum withdrawals for those in the M40 who have more than RM100,000 in their EPF savings from RM5,000 to RM10,000,” he said, adding that their financial commitments were greater than those in the B40 lower-income group. - FMT