Malaysia

Six NGOs urge govt to allow EPF emergency withdrawals

Groups say contributors expressed pain resulting from pandemic, rising living costs

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 17 Feb 2023 11:07PM

Six NGOs urge govt to allow EPF emergency withdrawals
S. Shashi Kumar (right) hands over the memorandum on EPF withdrawals to Muhammad Fikri Khalid (second from right) of the Prime Minister’s Department. – AZIM RAHMAN/The Vibes pic, February 17, 2023

PUTRAJAYA – Six non-governmental organisations (NGOs), representing about 320,000 Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors who have savings of RM100,000 or more, are calling for the government to allow contributors to make targeted emergency withdrawals immediately.

Among the NGOs are Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF), Pertubuhan Gagasan Inovasi Rakyat Malaysia (PGIRM), the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM), and Independent Living and Training Centre Malaysia.

GHRF president S. Shashi Kumar said people are struggling in the face of the economic challenge in the country and are hard-pressed by the increasing costs of daily living.

According to him, in a dialogue session on February 4, contributors expressed their pain and suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and how until now they have been unable to restore their daily lives due to outstanding debts after losing jobs, financial loans, high-interest rates and being unable to depend on monthly salaries to bear their daily living expenses.

“There are 15.5 million EPF contributors as of June 2022 and not all contributors are asking for these withdrawals,” he said. 

“Therefore, the government needs to give consideration to contributors who are desperate to make withdrawals to help restart their lives and get through these difficult times."

Shashi told reporters this after submitting a memorandum for the attention of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to allow eligible contributors to make immediate withdrawals.

The memorandum was received by the special officer of the senior private secretary in the Prime Minister's Department, Muhammad Fikri Khalid, here today. – Bernama, February 17, 2023

Related News

Malaysia / 1d

140 Palestinian NGOs support Khan over denial of due process

Malaysia / 4mth

PM praises maturity of Islamic, Hindu NGOs in dealing with sensitive issues

Film / 5mth

Astro removes all promotional materials related to Pak Su Ammara

Malaysia / 8mth

Fadhlina says calls for her resignation push her to do better

Opinion / 2y

Keep international conflicts out of schools – NGOs

Malaysia / 3y

[UPDATED] Govt firm on no EPF withdrawal despite backlash: Anwar

Spotlight

Malaysia

After Johor, the uncomfortable question for Anwar’s critics: Were we too impatient?

By The Vibes Says

Malaysia

Network School's business licences revoked, to cease operations tomorrow

Opinion

Orang Asli in Pahang: Token gestures or genuine recognition?

Malaysia

Tuition teacher sentenced to 105 years in prison and 70 lashes for raping daughter

Malaysia

Azam Baki denies involvement in RM178.29 million contract linked to brother’s company

Malaysia

Aminuddin urges NS voters to weigh manifesto promising benefits for M40 and B40 groups

Malaysia

No need to resign, PM has absolute power if there is doubt – Ahmad Zahid

World

Gaza’s water crisis deepens as families face thirst, disease and collapsing sanitation systems

You may be interested

Malaysia

Malaysia faces record heat risk in 2027 as El Niño expected to intensify

Malaysia

140 Palestinian NGOs support Khan over denial of due process

By Abbi Kanthasamy

Malaysia

No need to resign, PM has absolute power if there is doubt – Ahmad Zahid

Malaysia

Who is Sarah? What we know about the Malaysian lawyer at the centre of the Karim Khan case

Malaysia

PH pledges 30,000 high-paying jobs, 20,000 affordable homes in Negeri manifesto

Malaysia

Police station chief suspended for allegedly accepting RM500 bribe

Malaysia

PH banks on Negeri Sembilan development record as campaign heats up

Malaysia

Saifuddin: Immigration Dept on track to exceed RM5b revenue target this year