Amir Hamzah urges EPF to adapt to changing work patterns
Malaysia's Finance Minister II said the fund should measure its future role by more than size while protecting members' retirement savings.
Malaysia's Employees Provident Fund (EPF) needs to respond to shifts in employment so that more Malaysians can save enough for retirement, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said. He also called for the fund to maintain sustainable returns.
Speaking at a gala dinner marking EPF's 75th anniversary, Amir Hamzah said its ambitions should extend beyond expansion. He called for a more inclusive institution that remains relevant to members without losing sight of its duty to protect their retirement savings.
He said the fund needed to recognise members' changing circumstances, including the responsibilities of raising children and supporting ageing parents, rather than viewing them only as contributors.
Amir Hamzah, who led EPF before becoming Finance Minister II in 2023, linked adequate retirement savings to national resilience. He said household financial security supported economic stability, while long-term savings underpinned investment and growth.
EPF chairman Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said the fund must adapt as Malaysia changes while honouring members' trust. He said EPF had faced economic crises, technological shifts, changing employment patterns and the Covid-19 pandemic over its 75 years, with its responsibility to members remaining constant.
