Mp Questions High Epf Dividend Utilising Nearly All Of 2024 Income

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Opposition lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) has questioned the high dividend payout by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), alleging that the move could be aimed at currying favour among the public.
Despite the 6.3 percent dividend being the highest in seven years, he said this is irrelevant as the total payout of RM73.24 billion consumes almost all of EPF’s RM74.46 billion investment income for 2024.
“Nearly the entirety of EPF’s income last year was paid as dividends totalling RM73.24 billion.
“Pakatan Harapan Youth should question why EPF is willing to set an extraordinarily high dividend rate this time,” the Machang MP said at a press conference in Parliament today.
“I also want to ask whether (the high dividend rate) is because there is growing criticism of EPF’s management by the opposition, causing EPF to attempt to pacify contributors?
“The high dividend rate is also a one-off, as said by the (EPF) CEO previously,” he added.
‘Sue us’
Previously, Harapan Youth information chief Ammar Atan had accused Wan Fayhsal and MCA president Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) of incessantly triggering panic by alleging that EPF was in a critical position and likely to pay low dividends.
Ammar called on the duo to retract their allegations against the government as well as issue an apology to the rakyat and EPF.
He had also called on EPF to take legal action against Wan Fayhsal and Wee.
In response, Wan Fayhsal today denied Ammar’s allegations.
“When did I and Ayer Hitam (Wee) ever raise in our debates the issue of MAHB (Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd) share sales putting EPF in a critical position and resulting in lower dividends?
“Please check (Parliament’s) Hansard. If it’s true that Ayer Hitam and I are in the wrong and slanderous, I challenge Harapan Youth to sue us as soon as possible,” he added.
MPs can’t be sued for remarks made inside Parliament. - Mkini

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