Sarawak women have launched a Facebook petition against the federal government's decision to raise the age limit of EPF withdrawals.
KUCHING: The women in Sarawak are upset at the federal government’s arbitrary decision to raise the age limit for the full withdrawal of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to 60 years.
“It is a blatant disrespect for the people because the government made the decision without taking the feedback from us and it involves our money directly,” said Voon Shiak Ni, a lawyer here.
Voon was commenting on the statement by Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim Siang Chai who said that the age for full withdrawal from the EPF by contributors will be raised to 60 and partial withdrawal to 55 years.
The planned amendment to the EPF Act 1991 follows the passing of the Minimum Retirement Age Bill 2012 in Parliament last month, which extends the minimum age for private sector employees from 55 to 60.
Lim had reportedly said the decision was “a consequential move”.
“With the minimum retirement age, we have to raise the age of EPF withdrawal. The decision has been made and it is only a matter of time before the amendment will come into effect,” he said.
Voon, who is also PKR national vice-women chief, yesterday hit out at Lim saying it is unfair to those who had been working for 20 and 30 years.
“Why are they suddenly freezing the withdrawals of EPF at age 55?” she said.
Demanding that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak explain to the people the rationale behind the move, Voon said it was doubtful whether the decision took into consideration the “habits” of the private sector .
“Many will not work until 60 with a private company… the contribution of EPF involves the private sector too.” she added.
Facebook petition
Voon said she would galvanise the public to voice their dissatisfaction with the decision.
“We are going to set up an online petition in Facebook calling on the government to review its decision and to give the people an option to withdraw the money at 55 or 60 for those who already had an EPF account.
“We call on to the public to sign the online petition and send it to the prime minister,” she added.
Meanwhile, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, who launched the petition campaign yesterday, said the unilateral decision by the government is another example of “high-handed” administrative action.
“Najib, please walk the talk. The people are against this. There was no consultation with them whatsoever.
“Imagine people who have worked for years and people who will be working for years to achieve a retirement goal, then suddenly when the goal is in sight the government conveniently ‘moves the goal posts’.
“This is completely unacceptable. Sign the petition today, and make your voices heard. Together we can,” said See.
By Joseph Tawie
i fully support this... where to sign the petition and whats the facebook page ?
ReplyDeleteThis is unacceptable... I'm a middle income person. The government have been spending soooo much lately with their 1M activities... How does this help the middle income people ? And now, even our retirement funds they want to put their hands into...
HOW SABAH SARAWAK FEEL THE PINCH A THOUSAND TIMES MORE THAN MALAYANS AFTER UMNO STOLE THEIR OIL & GAS REVENUE
ReplyDeleteA comment from Hornbill Unleashed
http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/32055/#comment-39853
LINKS TO INFORMATION ON HOW UMNO USED SABAH & SARAWAK OIL & GAS MONEY TO DEVELOP MALAYA
22 July 1963 is supposed to be Sarawak’s Independence Day but by 16 September it was annexed into Malaysia under Malayan rule. The British like to look good despite many sly dirty tricks to cheat colonial subjects everywhere. So we remained a colony.
The Malayanization (instead of Borneonization) process began right away and by 1974 the Petronas Development Act was passed to seize control of Sabah and Sarawak oil.
Sabah CM Harris Salleh and Sarawak CM Rahman Yakub and dirty nephew Taib were the traitors who signed away our oil rights.
As a reward- they may be receiving secret royalties through unaccountable companies getting Petronas contracts. They were “smart arses” and would have asked for something in return (including the freedom to strip our timberland) We do not have the facts- yet.
These are video links courtesy of Reuters on where our money has gone- it may not include money into the pockets of the UMNO members like Mahathir and the abovenamed crooks.
VIDEO on Petronas: http://link.reuters.com/zav98s
GRAPHICS links:
Map of Petronas holdings worldwide: http://link.reuters.com/huk78s
Petronas capital expenditures and revenue by region: http://link.reuters.com/muk78s
Petronas payments to the Malaysian government: http://link.reuters.com/kuk78s
These show where most of the oil revenue being 80% from Sabah & Sarawak disappears instead of being used to “develop” the 2 colonies.
Comment by ANTI-MALAYAN COLONIALISM — July 19, 2012