WITH flood victims still struggling to get back on their feet, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) urged the Government to increase the aid money worth RM1,000 to RM10,000.
“We emphatise with their predicament and, as such, call upon the Government to provide RM10,000 to the affected households.
“This is a better alternative compared to them dipping into their old age retirement savings in the Employees Provident Fund (EPF),” said its Penang chapter secretary K Veeriah.
In the aftermath of devastating floods that hit parts of the Peninsula Malaysia, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had announced RM1,000 to those affected.
However, many quarters have complained that the sum was too little, with his party leaders such as Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki calling the premier to allow those affected a one-off withdrawal of RM10,000 from the EPF.
However, Ismail Sabri had dismissed the calls saying there were banks that were offering interest free loans to those affected by the floods, with a payment moratorium attached as well.
Touching on the matter, Veeriah said that he had received reports that several EPF contributors had gathered at the EPF office in Jalan Raja Laut yesterday to demand for the RM10,000 withdrawal to be allowed.
However, the veteran unionist was against the move given the fact that 6.1 million contributors have less that RM10,000 in their pensions fund, with 306 million of them having less than RM1,000.
“In his inaugural speech after ascending the premiership, Ismail Sabri stated that we need to stand together to save our family under the Malaysian Family concept.
“Therefore, please practise what you preach by coming to the aid of those who are facing tremendous financial difficulties due to the recent massive floods.
“And, as such, we call upon you to announce an immediate financial assistance of RM10,000 to all parties concerned,” Veeriah concluded. – Jan 1, 2021
