KUALA LUMPUR:People who are really desperate should be allowed to make withdrawals from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) because that is their right, said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said, in principle, he himself did not quite agree because the money is for the future.
But, the Port Dickson MP said the people should be given flexibility if they are really squeezed by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“The Prime Minister (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) has mentioned, if it is up to him, he does not agree but has to because of the people's insistence.
“The Prime Minister does not understand, the people chose to withdraw the EPF because they had to. I understand if you ask me, I do not agree because in principle, the EPF money is for their retirement. But if they are desperate because of hardship, let them withdraw their own right,” he added.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said this while debating the Supply (Budget) Bill 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Last Friday, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Mohd Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz when presenting the Budget said, the government has agreed to allow the withdrawal of EPF Account 1 savings as a targeted measure starting next year.
He said the withdrawal was specifically to help members who lost their jobs and was expected to ease the financial burden of 600,000 affected members.
Commenting further, Anwar said, he suggested that higher withdrawal limits be allowed, as it is unreasonable for some cases where a family head with five to six children, can only withdraw RM500 a month.
Apart from that, he also suggested that the government consider issuing bonds or sukuk with an estimated value of RM4 billion so that these funds can also be given partly to EPF contributors and truly desperate Malaysians.
He added that the issuance of sukuk is expected to only increase the government spending deficit by only 0.3 per cent.
Firdaus Azil
Mon Nov 09 2020
Anwar said he suggested that higher withdrawal limits be allowed as it is unreasonable for some cases where a family head with five to six children, can only withdraw RM500 a month. AWANI file pic
Belanjawan 2025: Cuepacs seru penjawat awam tingkat komitmen perbaiki sistem penyampaian
Penjawat awam diharap memberi komitmen penuh dalam memastikan iltizam kerajaan untuk menambah baik sistem penyampaian perkhidmatan awam kepada rakyat, dapat dilaksanakan dengan berkesan.
Kadar gaji minimum RM1,700 beri manfaat bagi pekerja dan majikan
Peningkatan kadar gaji minimum adalah usaha kerajaan untuk memastikan kebajikan pekerja terutama mereka yang berpendapatan rendah lebih terjamin.
Messi tidak tolak kemungkinan beraksi di Piala Dunia 2026
Messi menekankan bahawa dia lebih fokus untuk mengekalkan prestasi terbaiknya berbanding risau tentang pencapaian masa depan.
Jumlah mangsa banjir di tiga negeri meningkat malam ini
Di Perak, jumlah mangsa yang berlindung di 12 PPS meningkat kepada 1,587 orang berbanding 1,459 orang petang tadi.
Consider This: Budget 2025 (Part 1) — Balancing Progress & Prudence?
Budget 2025 was tabled in Dewan Rakyat today, and now the crucial evaluation begins. Does #Belanjawan2025 successfully balance progress and prudence? On this episode of #ConsiderThis Melisa Idris speaks to Danial Rahman, CEO of Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI), and Doris Liew, Economist & Assistant Research Manager at IDEAS Malaysia's Public Finance Unit.
Dialog Anak Muda: Belanjawan 2025: Macam mana ok?
Rasionalisasi subsidi RON95, kadar baharu gaji minima dan pemerkasaan TVET antara tumpuan dalam pembentangan Belanjawan 2025. Analisis isu-isu ekonomi diteruskan dalam Dialog Anak Muda 8.30 malam ini.
AWANI Tonight: Belanjawan 2025: What are the hits and misses
Bait al-Amanah's Benedict Weerasena shares his thoughts on the hits and misses of Budget 2025, which sees an allocation of RM421 bil, a 3.3% increase from the previous year.
AWANI Tonight: Key highlights from Belanjawan 2025
Key highlights from Belanjawan 2025, which includes increased allocations for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), tax reliefs for first home buyers, and cash aid for singles, among other reforms.
PDRM pastikan insentif Belanjawan 2025 dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya - KPN
PDRM akan memastikan semua perkara yang diumumkan dalam Belanjawan 2025 untuk pasukan keselamatan itu, akan dimanfaatkan sepenuhnya.
AWANI Tonight 18 Oct 2024
#AWANITonight with @_farhanasheikh
1. Belanjawan 2025: PM unveils record RM421 bil expenditure
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Belanjawan 2025: PM unveils record RM421 bil expenditure
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
Belanjawan 2025: Nak masuk Universiti? Ini cara kerajaan bantu anda
Belanjawan MADANI memperlihatkan komitmen Kerajaan dalam meningkatkan sektor pendidikan tinggi negara.
Belanjawan 2025: Kementerian Komunikasi akan pastikan semua maklumat sampai kepada rakyat - Fahmi
Lebih daripada 50 ikhtiar diumumkan dan di pihak kementeriannya, beliau memberi jaminan semua inisiatif itu akan disampaikan kepada rakyat.
Belanjawan 2025: Penjawat awam tidak dilupa, ini manfaat untuk mereka
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, ketika membentangkan Belanjawan 2025 mengajak penjawat awam menerapkan budaya kerja baharu untuk menambah baik kecekapan tahap perkhidmatan kepada rakyat.
Belanjawan 2025 mengangkat martabat, junjung hak rakyat - Fadillah
Fokus utama belanjawan adalah kesejahteraan rakyat dengan tumpuan kepada perlindungan golongan rentan, menambah baik prasarana asas dan menangani ketirisan.
Belanjawan 2025: Ini 12 inisiatif penting untuk usahawan
Dengan landskap ekonomi yang semakin mencabar, kerajaan memperkenalkan pelbagai langkah untuk memastikan usahawan kekal relevan, berdaya saing, dan mampu berkembang di peringkat tempatan serta global.
Belanjawan 2025: Duti eksais minuman bergula dinaikkan secara berfasa
Hasil yang diperoleh akan dimanfaatkan untuk rawatan diabetes di negara ini serta menyediakan rawatan dialisis bagi pesakit buah pinggang.
Belanjawan 2025: RM1 bilion tangani kos sara hidup
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata, ia meliputi Program Payung Rahmah yang ditingkatkan peruntukan kepada RM300 juta berbanding RM200 juta sebelum ini.
Belanjawan 2025: Bantuan Awal Persekolahan kekal, kerajaan peruntukkan RM800 juta
BAP merupakan salah satu daripada 17 bantuan pendidikan yang terus disediakan dengan peruntukan RM5.3 bilion.
Belanjawan 2025: Bantuan Warga Emas naik kepada RM600 sebulan
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata kadar bantuan kebajikan bulanan kepada rakyat miskin akan ditingkatkan.
Belanjawan 2025: Gaji minimum ditingkatkan kepada RM1,700 sebulan
Anwar berkata, penstrukturan ekonomi hanya dianggap berjaya apabila rakyat meraih gaji dan upah yang bermakna untuk menjalani hidup dengan lebih selesa.