PUTRAJAYA – Allowing Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors to withdraw their savings from Account 1 and a targeted loan moratorium extension are among the 130 recommendations submitted by Umno to Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for Budget 2021.
Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Supreme Council members Tan Sri Noh Omar and Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, as well as Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki handed over the proposals at the Finance Ministry here today.
Ahmad said allowing withdrawals from EPF Account 1 is most favoured by the people, especially those hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“However, the (withdrawal) amount could be considered by the ministry and EPF. It does not have to be as high as RM10,000,” he told reporters after the meeting.
On the loan moratorium, he said it is more appropriate for it to granted on a targeted basis.
During the 1½-hour meeting with Tengku Zafrul, said Ahmad, unemployment and initiatives to create job opportunities were discussed, with Umno believing the issue should be prioritised in the Budget, set to be tabled on Friday.
He said there are 740,000 unemployed people in the country, with the rate rising from 3% to 5.4% due to the coronavirus crisis.
He said Umno also emphasised the need for people-friendly development programmes nationwide, especially in rural areas.
Asyraf Wajdi, in a Facebook post, listed 10 main proposals, among them a fee waiver for public university students and a special payment of at least RM500 to parents, to lessen their burden ahead of the new school session next year.
Other proposals are for the deferment of National Higher Education Fund Corporation loan repayments to be extended to December next year, and for the terms, conditions and processing of business loans under Tekun Nasional, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, SME Corp and other agencies to be less restrictive.
Tengku Zafrul is also due to meet Pakatan Harapan, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak leaders today. – Bernama, November 1, 2020
