Another special EPF withdrawal not an option, says Umno Youth

FMT) – Umno Youth says another special Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal facility is not an option to help people overcome the rising cost of living, maintaining that the retirement fund should not be touched anymore.

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who was among the politicians who had pushed for the previous special withdrawal facilities, said Putrajaya should look instead to more holistic measures to address the rising prices of goods.

In a Facebook post, Asyraf said many had asked him to push for another EPF withdrawal facility, but he maintained that the one announced in March was the final one.

“EPF withdrawals cannot become the only way to resolve the rising prices of goods and cost of living,” he said.

Since 2020, Putrajaya has announced four special withdrawal schemes – with the first three dubbed i-Lestari, i-Sinar and i-Citra – with a total of RM101 billion withdrawn under the three facilities.

In March, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced yet another special RM10,000 EPF withdrawal facility, with the EPF saying this should be the last scheme.

Asyraf said Putrajaya should also look at doing away with red tape at the lower levels so as to help cushion the impact of the high cost of living, especially for those in the B40.

He said this was to ensure that all aid measures for the people, including subsidies, can be delivered effectively and without delay.