The Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) has expressed disappointment with Putrajaya's decision to not allow another round of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal.
Its president S Shashi Kumar said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should be more practical and understanding of the people's sufferings.
"The prime minister is so worried about retirement age, but what happens when you have a legal suit against you for not paying your loans and when you are forced to pay your entire retirement benefit to settle the claims against you with additional interest?
"We understand that the EPF withdrawal is a temporary solution, but at this juncture, it allows one to plan for the future ahead, and ease their burden while the government finds a permanent solution to the matter," he said in a statement today.
Shashi was responding to Anwar's remark when unveiling Budget 2023 yesterday that the government would give those with less than RM10,000 in their EPF an additional RM500 to help rebuild their retirement savings.
The sum, Anwar said, will benefit up to two million EPF contributors aged 40 to 54.
Shashi noted that the cost of living kept rising in parallel with the time when the previous administrations allowed EPF withdrawal, so there was not much room for people to manage their commitments and expenses as well as settle their debts at the same time.
"It was not right or fair for the prime minister to say that if the EPF withdrawal is allowed, the RM500 contribution would not be possible.
"The prime minister needs to be more practical in understanding the sufferings, pleadings, and cries of the rakyat," he added.
On Feb 17, GHRF, together with Pertubuhan Gagasan Inovasi Rakyat Malaysia and the Muslim Consumers’ Association, handed a memorandum to the Prime Minister's Department, urging the government to allow another round of special EPF withdrawal. - Mkini
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