KUALA LUMPUR: Applicants for the i-Sinar facility under the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will have to wait until March 8 before they are able to check on their approval status.
In a statement today, EPF said the delay follows the latest announcement made by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz to remove all previous criteria set for the withdrawals.
EPF said members below the age of 55, who have applied for i-Sinar will be given approval beginning March 8.
"This, including new applications received after that date, are subject to their available balance in their Account 1.
"The removal of the i-Sinar criteria also means that the interim payment of RM1,000 implemented last month will no longer be effective," it said.
For members who have not made any application for the i-Sinar previously and intend to do so, the EPF suggested that they defer their application until the revised i-Sinar facility comes online on March 8.
It said by doing so, it will reduce the processing time and speed up crediting of the funds to the applicants.
"The fund appreciates members' patience and understanding while these changes are being implemented, as the amendments to the i-Sinar facility as announced on Feb 11, 2021 involves substantial changes to the system, process, and governance required for i-Sinar Online.
"However, withdrawal amount and the maximum six-month payment schedule will remain the same as before," it said.
To date, EPF has returned RM18.5 billion to its members under the i-Sinar program introduced in December last year, benefitting 3.3 million of its members.
For further information, members may contact the i-Sinar hotline at 03-8922 4848. For general enquiries, members can contact the EPF Contact Management Centre at 03-8922 6000 or refer to the EPF website at www.kwsp.gov.my.