WHILE Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had dismissed calls by certain quarters to allow flood victims to withdraw monies from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), it seems that one of his own party members was unhappy about it.
UMNO youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has claimed that during his visits to help flood victims, he was constantly asked by the latter to continue pressuring the Government to allow more withdrawals from EPF.
“Many have come to me during the gotong royong session and urged me to continue fighting for allowing contributors to withdraw money from the pensions fund.
“May God ease our work as much as we try our best to make everyone’s lives better,” he wrote on his Facebook post.
However, netizens were unimpressed with Asyraf’s assertion and hit back at him for taking advantage of the people’s suffering to score brownie points.
User Redzuan MA echoed Tay’s sentiments, adding:
Yesterday, the premier stood by his decision to not allow EPF withdrawals by flood victims and urged the latter to consider the interest-free loan offer to up to RM10,000, offered by Bank Simpanan Nasional. The loan also comes with a six-months moratorium.
Gov’t should help
In addition, The Bera MP also urged victims to consider Tekun Nasional, which is also offering businesses an interest-free loan of RM10,000, with a one-year repayment moratorium.
It is to note that the EPF withdrawals allowed during the movement control order (MCO) period came up to RM100 bil.
The pensions fund cautioned both the Government and public that about six million contributors only have less than RM10,000 left in their accounts, with 3.6 million of them having less than RM1,000.
On that note, user Shiva Kumaran said the Government should be providing flood victims with financial aid, instead of getting them to dip into their old age savings.
Netizen Chiew Soon How retorted by asking a cryptic question: “Choose between die now or die after retirement?” – Dec 27, 2021
