EPF dividend likely to be lower than 5%

EMPLOYEES’ Provident Fund (EPF) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Halim Ali hinted in a speech that dividends to its members this year could be below last year’s 5% as low interest rates have hampered the fund’s ability to reap better returns from its investments.  

He said with 75% of EPF funds invested in fixed income bearing instruments, the low interest rate environment would “impact upon the EPF’s ability to pay dividends at rates comparable to those of previous years.”