KANGAR: The government will have to balance between pressing needs of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) depositors as well as their future survival before deciding on the pleas for another round of EPF special withdrawals.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was concerned over the small amount of remaining savings among the majority of EPF depositors, which could jeopardise their future.
"If we look at the savings in their EPF accounts, the amount is very low.
"As such, I will have to strike a balance between their current needs and their future.
"I am very worried about their future, so the government will look for options to assist them," he told reporters after delivering a special address to 1,200 civil servants from federal agencies in Perlis here today.
Present were Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli and Perlis State Secretary Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad.
Earlier today, Anwar was granted an audience with Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail at Istana Arau.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, was responding to a memorandum submitted by Pertubuhan Aktivis Rakyat Malaysia (ProRakyat) yesterday.
The group has asked the government to approve another round of EPF special withdrawals of up to RM30,000.
The memorandum was submitted by its president Khairul Anuar Othman to Anwar's political secretary, Azman Abidin in Kuala Lumpur.
Khairul was quoted as saying the early withdrawal was needed as a short-term solution for those who suffered hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that many EPF contributors have pending bank loans that need to be settled, while those who had obtained new jobs or have ventured into small businesses after losing their jobs during the pandemic needed cash injection urgently as applying for loans was not the best solution at the moment.
ProRakyat was among several groups that have been urging the new Putrajaya administration to consider allowing another round of one-off EPF withdrawals.