EPF can afford more than 6.15% dividend

So, according to the bosses (Malaysian Employers), the Employees Provident Fund, EPF, can actually afford to pay more than the declared 6.15% dividend for 2012.

Looking at the impressive performance of the fund, who wouldn't agree with the employers federation's statement. In fact this should be the avenue for the government to show appreciation to the workers in the private sector. Also, to those who did not qualified for the BR1M sweetness. These contributors pay tax and part of the tax monies are given to Malaysians who earn RM3,000 and less.

Remember, this category of people (earning more than RM3,000) are actually left out of the BR1M and BR1M 2.0 payouts. They are discontented and some are cursing their 'luck' for earning RM3,001 and are unable to get the same benefit enjoyed by those earning RM2,999.

Why not give them a little bit more through dividend distributions? After all the dividend will be kept intact in the pension fund account as contributors cannot withdrawn them until they are retired.


Other thoughts on the 6.15% EPF Dividend declared for 2012 a new record.

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Dividend Should Be Higher
TheStar, Feb 19

PETALING JAYA: While welcoming the 6.15% dividend announced by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), several groups say an even higher amount should be declared.

Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said the return on investment stated in the EPF report was very impressive.

“However, based on those figures, we feel that the dividend paid to contributors should also be higher,” he said.

As a huge profit was made on investments using contributors' money, he said the dividend given should reflect this.

Fomca CEO Datuk Paul Selvaraj said EPF contributors had benefited from the sound investments made.
“As long as the EPF makes good investments with good returns, the contributors will continue to benefit,” he said.

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Mah Siew Keong, in a statement, said the high dividend rates should encourage more self-employed workers to contribute to the 1Malaysia Retirement Savings Scheme which provided the same benefits as EPF.

“It is indeed unfortunate to see many self-employed individuals such as hawkers, farmers, fishermen and even housewives being unable to enjoy what normal employees receive from the EPF,” he said. Mah urged EPF to create more awareness about the scheme to attract more workers without a fixed monthly income.

Meanwhile, EPF members are celebrating the 6.15% dividend declared for last year. Many logged on to their EPF i-accounts in the morning of February 18, after the declaration was reported.




Refer: The Star Online

6.15% EPF dividend for 2012 a new record

Dividend of 6.15% for 2012 is the highest since 2000. The last time it was more than 6% was in 1999 (6.84%) and highest dividends saw EPF distributing 8.5% to members every year from 1983 to 1986.

Starting Feb 18, 2013, members can get a statement of their accounts showing the credited dividends at EPF kiosks, counters or through i-Account while those aged 55 years and above can also withdraw the dividends.

               Year        Dividend

                2000     -    6.00%
                2001     -    5.00%
                2002     -    4.25%
                2003     -    4.50%
                2004     -    4.75%
                2005     -    5.00%
                2006     -    5.15%
                2007     -    5.80%
                2008     -    4.50%
                2009     -    5.65%
                2010     -    5.80%
                2011     -    6.00%
                2012     -    6.15%

*      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *      *

EPF declares 6.15 per cent dividend for 2012

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 17, 2013): The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend of 6.15 per cent for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2012, the strongest results in early millennium.

Its chairman, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman said the rate was 15 basis point higher than six per cent paid in 2011.

"It is also a new record for RM27.45 billion will be disbursed to EPF members, up 12.20 per cent from RM24.47 billion distributed the previous year.

"EPF also recorded the highest gross investment income of RM31.02 billion in 2012, an increase of 13.91 percent compared to 2011," he said in a statement.

He said despite increasingly complex investment environment, the EPF maintained a steady upward momentum to record the strongest results since the early millennium, supported by effectiveness of long-term investment strategy, and disciplined and prudent approaches.

In addition, he said in line with the Strategic Asset Allocation practised by the EPF, most of its asset investments continued to be confined to low-risk fixed-income and stable instruments.

He said equity investment made up 38.77 per cent of the total asset investment in 2012 while the remaining 3.59 per cent and 2.42 per cent respectively were in money market instruments, and real estate and infrastructure.

Samsudin said EPF investment assets as at 31 Dec, 2012 amounted to RM526.75 billion, surpassing half a trillion ringgit and increased 12.31 per cent from RM469.04 billion recorded the previous year. - Bernama

Source: The Sun Daily

EPF withdrawal stays at 55

I tried not to be overly critical to the people (hence the Government) who manage and run the country. In fact, you can find nothing in my previous 300 plus postings that is slanderous in nature. But the manner in which the current EPF issues is handled is quite ridiculous, or un-assuring if you like. Nobody seem to be assertive enough to give confirmation.

Let see what the executives responsible for handling it, have to say:

1. Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam advised EPF subscribers not to believe in rumours or speculations that those from the private sector could only make their EPF withdrawal after they had reached 60 years old. No decision has been made yet.. (June 18, 2012. Kuala Lumpur).
2. Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said “It is a consequential move. Once we raise the minimum retirement age, we have to raise the age of EPF withdrawal as well,”. Decision has been made...only a matter of time before the amendment is made.(The Star Online, July 17,2012)

This is what EPF Public Relations Manager, Nik Effendi Nik Jaafar said in today's local media, Daily Express:- "EPF withdrawal stays at 55 even if the retirement age is extended to 60 years old". 

Image capture is appended herewith, so that you can quote me.

Daily Express, July 19, 2012

So, which is which? A little clarification is needed. Thank you.

Retirement age is raised to 60 - Consequently EPF withdrawal is at age 60

Because retirement age is raised from 55 to 60, full withdrawal of your EPF can only be made upon attaining age 60. At least that is what I understand from what I read in the local mainstream media today.

Last month, Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam clarified to the media in Kuala Lumpur that no decision has been made by the government on the age limit for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal for private sector employees yet. He advised EPF subscribers not to believe in rumours or speculations that those from the private sector could only make their EPF withdrawal after they had reached 60 years old.

Today, The Star Online reported that Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said 'the decision had been made and it was only a matter of time' before the amendment would come into effect.

If you ask me, I would like to see options. If I retire at age 55 instead of the (would be) mandatory retirement age of 60, I want to be able to withdraw my contributions at that age. Not everyone would want to retire at 60, mind you.

Leaving us with no option is one thing. Government ministers issuing contradicting statements about the amendment is not less than embarrassing. If you force me to keep my money with EPF for additional 5 years, then I won't stage a war with you. Just do it professionally without making yourselves look like a dis-organised institution.


Re-cap of The Star Online report:
Full EPF withdrawal at 60
July 17, 2012

PETALING JAYA: The age for full withdrawal from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) by contributors will be raised to 60 years and partial withdrawal to 55.

The planned amendment to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act 1991 follows the passing of the Minimum Retirement Age Bill 2012 in Parliament last month which extends the minimum retirement age for private sector employees from 55 to 60.

“It is a consequential move. Once we raise the minimum retirement age, we have to raise the age of EPF withdrawal as well,” said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai.

He said the decision had been made and it was only a matter of time before the amendment would come into effect. Currently, contributors can make partial EPF withdrawal at 50 and full withdrawal of their savings upon retirement at 55.

However, Lim said they were looking at providing a transition period for contributors who have already planned to withdraw their contributions within the next few years.

“We have not finalised the transition period, but it will be between three and five years,” he said adding that during this period, contributors who reached the age of 55 could still make full withdrawals.EPF contributors had expressed concern about whether the age for full EPF withdrawal would be raised.

You can read further at: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/7/17/nation/11676473&sec=nation

EPF withdrawal at age 60: are you in favour?

"Don't believe a word. They're just rumours or speculations".

That was what the Human Resources Minister clarified to the media in Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday. According to him, no decision has been made yet by the government on the age limit for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal for private sector employees.

Daily Express, 19-06-2012

Re-cap of Bernama report

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 -- No decision has been made by the government on the age limit for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal for private sector employees, Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Dr S Subramaniam said today. He advised EPF subscribers not to believe in rumours or speculations that those from the private sector could only make their EPF withdrawal after they had reached 60 years old.

He said this in response to concerns raised by EPF subscribers over the age limit for EPF withdrawals, following the tabling of the Minimum Retirement Age Bill in Parliament last Wednesday, which set the minimum retirement age for private sector employees at 60, effective January next year.

Speaking to reporters after opening a seminar on improving the administrative system of Social Organisations here, Subramaniam said the ministry understood the concerns raised by subscribers and would discuss the matter with the EPF. In another development, he said the ministry was in discussions with EPF to introduce a special pension scheme for private sector employees to address the problems of poverty and the high cost of living once they retire.

"No decision has been made and we will continue to discuss the matter with the EPF," he added.


TheGreenMechanics' two cents:

The Minimum Retirement Age Bill should be a straight forward exercise which should not be complicated with tying it with the EPF withdrawal rules. Rumour has it that an employee would finish up his EPF retirement savings just after 3 to 5 years from the withdrawal date. If that is the reason for the rumoured extension of EPF withdrawal age to 60 then I feel it is very unfair on the part of the government.

You (the govt) have already extended the minimum retirement age from 55 to 60; meaning you've taken care  of additional 5 years of that employee's welfare. Moreover, during the additional 5 years of working the employee is fully contributing to his 'extended' retirement coffers.

Leave the man (and woman) alone. Let him withdraw at current age limit of 55, remember it's his money he's been saving according to the law till age 55. Don't amend the law to withhold what is rightfully his.

It's still a long shot but I want to state what I want for myself long in future: I want my money at 55 and not 60. I am fully entitled to it and I want and can manage it better than EPF does.