PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have greeted the new EPF dividends with mixed emotions, with many remaining hopeful of better tidings next year.
On The Star’s Facebook page, users Anantha Murugan and Yt Chong thought it was “better than nothing” while others, including Valerine Chew, John Mark and Raim Musa, noted that it was a “global slowdown”.
However, others were more critical. One commenter, Simon Lee, shared his opinion with those who cited the global slowdown for the rate.
“If EPF dares to announce how much salary, allowance and bonus are given to the investment team and board of directors a year, you might have a different thought.
“Year 2019, average commercial FD rate is 4% and as a depositor, you don’t pay a single sen of salary to the bank and you get 4% interest.
“EPF members pay so much to the investment team and board of directors of EPF and get only 5.45%, which is 1.45% higher than commercial bank’s FD rate,” he said.
However, Setven Ng said the news was not a big surprise to him as it was within his expectation of above 5% dividend.
“We have to be realistic with reality vs expectation. There’s always ups and downs. Example: you cannot expect your employers to give you six months bonus every year despite bad business,” he said.
Another to chime in was Somasundaram Venkateswaran, saying that “it is low but still higher than conventional bank deposits.”
Chong Weng Kit praised the fund: “It’s a fair result despite the poor market condition in 2019. Good job EPF!”
Mohd Hafiz Shamshuddin mused about the public response if the previous Barisan Nasional administration had announced such dividends. “Will they say the same thing they say now? It’s amusing how political views decide our opinion,” he said.
On Twitter, @raishussin tweeted: “Let us hope in 2021 we will have a better result.”
Another tweeter, @Bigsnorlax1985, said the rate was “not bad” given the economic situation in both global and domestic markets.
“Of course, the more the merrier for all of us. Please try to give us some happy surprises in 2021.”
On The Star’s Facebook page, users Anantha Murugan and Yt Chong thought it was “better than nothing” while others, including Valerine Chew, John Mark and Raim Musa, noted that it was a “global slowdown”.
However, others were more critical. One commenter, Simon Lee, shared his opinion with those who cited the global slowdown for the rate.
“If EPF dares to announce how much salary, allowance and bonus are given to the investment team and board of directors a year, you might have a different thought.
“Year 2019, average commercial FD rate is 4% and as a depositor, you don’t pay a single sen of salary to the bank and you get 4% interest.
“EPF members pay so much to the investment team and board of directors of EPF and get only 5.45%, which is 1.45% higher than commercial bank’s FD rate,” he said.
However, Setven Ng said the news was not a big surprise to him as it was within his expectation of above 5% dividend.
“We have to be realistic with reality vs expectation. There’s always ups and downs. Example: you cannot expect your employers to give you six months bonus every year despite bad business,” he said.
Another to chime in was Somasundaram Venkateswaran, saying that “it is low but still higher than conventional bank deposits.”
Chong Weng Kit praised the fund: “It’s a fair result despite the poor market condition in 2019. Good job EPF!”
Mohd Hafiz Shamshuddin mused about the public response if the previous Barisan Nasional administration had announced such dividends. “Will they say the same thing they say now? It’s amusing how political views decide our opinion,” he said.
On Twitter, @raishussin tweeted: “Let us hope in 2021 we will have a better result.”
Another tweeter, @Bigsnorlax1985, said the rate was “not bad” given the economic situation in both global and domestic markets.
“Of course, the more the merrier for all of us. Please try to give us some happy surprises in 2021.”
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