Better to explore other options, Anwar says on more EPF withdrawals

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the government will have to consider the plight and future of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors before they are allowed another round of special withdrawals. 

Anwar said it was better for the government to look for other effective options to help those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

He said this was because most contributors had very little in way of savings, and if the government allowed withdrawals again, it would affect the future of the contributors themselves.

"Too little… I’ve checked the amount of savings and for a majority of contributors, it is too small and I am very concerned about their future.

"It would be better for the government to look for options to help them," he told reporters after an event in Kangar today. 

Yesterday, a group of EPF contributors, Pertubuhan Aktivis Rakyat Malaysia (ProRakyat), had called on the government to consider another round of EPF withdrawals of up to RM30,000.

ProRakyat president Khairul Anuar Othman said the one-off withdrawal of between RM10,000 and RM30,000 would be a short-term solution so that the people would not run out of cash to spend. 

On development projects in Perlis, the prime minister said the government would look into all projects under the Northern Corridor Economic Region after the revised budget for 2023 is tabled on Feb 24. 

"The menteri besar has sent a list of projects including Sanglang Port, Perlis Inland Port, food security… those are the matters to be focused on, but it would be best to hear the details in the corridor meeting after the (tabling of) the budget," he said.