A TOTAL 14,332 company directors were barred from leaving Malaysia for failing to remit employees’ Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions, based on records up to December 2025.
Of the total, 2,257 were new names submitted by the EPF to the Malaysian Immigration Department between January and December 2025 under Section 39 of the EPF Act 1991.
At the same time, a total of 3,530 civil suits were filed by the EPF, and a total of 6,011 criminal actions were taken against company directors and employers who failed to pay employees' EPF contributions.
EPF Chief Operating Officer, Sazaliza Zainuddin, said that all employers are required to pay employee contributions in accordance with Section 43(1) of the EPF Act and those who fail to meet the prescribed obligations may be subject to enforcement action, including civil proceedings, criminal prosecution and travel restrictions abroad.
“Our enforcement team constantly monitors employers to ensure that contributions are paid accurately and on time.
“Regular and timely payment of contributions is important not only in protecting the rights of employees, but also to ensure that their retirement savings continue to grow and provide a solid foundation for long-term financial well-being,” he said in a statement today.
He said the EPF framework also ensures that employers fulfil their obligations to contribute to employees’ retirement savings.
He said that without this statutory mechanism, employees have limited means to ensure that their employers consistently contribute to their retirement savings.
Meanwhile, Sazaliza said the EPF has resolved 8,868 cases of contribution arrears out of 21,029 employee complaints received, while 12,161 cases are still under investigation and legal action.
“Every complaint received will be investigated, and appropriate action will be taken to ensure that the rights of members as employees are always protected.
“The EPF will continue to intensify its enforcement efforts to ensure that employers fulfil their obligations. Employers who fail to do so may be subject to strict action to protect members’ retirement savings, which remains our priority,” he said.
Commenting further, EPF members are urged to always check their respective accounts via the EPF i-Akaun application to ensure that employer contributions are credited on time and in the correct amount.
“If there is any discrepancy, members should immediately contact their employers for confirmation. If the employer fails to make the prescribed contributions, members can contact or visit any EPF office to file a complaint, along with supporting documents such as job offer letters, salary slips or other relevant records.
“EPF also encourages employers to use the i-Akaun (Employer) platform to check the list of employees, contributions that have been paid and payment history. If there are any issues related to contribution arrears, employers can contact or come to any EPF office to resolve them,” he said. – March 13, 2026
