RUMOURS has it that there is a supposed ban on withdrawing funds from the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) for Hajj purposes.
This claim has sparked concern, given its impact on those planning their pilgrimage.
Has the government really imposed such a restriction, or is this just another case of misinformation?
Verdict:
FALSE
Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying has confirmed that allegations about a ban on withdrawing funds from the EPF account to perform the Hajj are false.
According to a report by Bernama, Lim said that immediate action is necessary to prevent the spread of such false news, which could potentially trigger sensitive issues related to religion, race and royalty.
A police report has been lodged to investigate and take action against those who have spread this misinformation in an attempt to create racial tension.
"The involvement of the police is important in ensuring the spread of this fake news is stopped immediately," she said in a statement on Wednesday (Oct 30).
Lim further clarified in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 28 that the EPF Sejahtera Account remains accessible for prospective pilgrims under the age of 55, subject to specific conditions.
She emphasised that the policy, introduced in 2013, has remained unchanged regardless of government leadership.
