PM: RM500 to be credited to EPF accounts with under RM10k savings

The government will be crediting RM500 to the accounts of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors who have less than RM10,000 in their Account 1.

The amount, which will be credited into the accounts of those aged between 40 and 54, will involve an allocation worth RM1 billion.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that nearly two million EPF members will benefit from this allocation.

While delivering the good news, Anwar accidentally mentioned the wrong figures by saying that the contributors would receive RM500 million, instead of RM500.

The finance minister later corrected himself.

“It’s an effort to help rebuild the people’s retirement savings and ensure they have enough funds for their retirement.

“At the same time, the government hopes that people who have sufficient retirement savings will continue to contribute so that all levels of contributors will benefit,” he said.

Yesterday, Anwar mentioned that 71 percent of active EPF contributors, aged 55 and below, do not have enough money to retire above the poverty line due to four rounds of withdrawals from the EPF at the height of Covid-19.

He told the Dewan Rakyat that the number of active members who have achieved the basic savings level (RM240,000 by age 55) has reduced to 29 percent in 2022, down from 36 percent in 2020.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Earlier, Anwar also announced that starting next year, Syariah Savings accounts will be fully segregated from the EPF to provide competitive returns to its RM1.25 million members.

In an effort to improve the social security of the self-employed, he announced that all self-employed workers will be required to contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Anwar added that the government will incentivise the contribution of self-employed individuals up to 80 percent during the transition period.- Mkini