AS a kid, my mother always advised me against making decisions when I was angry. Decisions made in an emotion-driven state of mind often bring about awful results, be it starting wars or a pointless quarrel with a loved one. This is why we must exercise restraint and caution over calls to allow Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) depositors to withdraw savings from their Account I. While I can understand where the depositors are coming from, their requests, however, are often driven by a knee-jerk reaction.
First of all, I understand many EPF depositors now are going through tough times due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those in the lower income B40 and middle income M40 groups. Many have lost jobs, had their salaries slashed or face the prospect of either, with the pandemic showing no signs of abating until a vaccine is found. There is a sense of desperation and despair among those who find difficulty making ends meet, as the moratorium on bank loan repayments came to an end with savings in banks probably fast depleting, if they haven’t been used up completely already.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
