KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has announced that the quantum for the basic savings will be revised from RM196,800 to RM228,000 effective Jan 1, 2017.

The amount will be set as the minimum target EPF savings members should have when they reach age 55, it said in a statement here today.

The basic savings refer to the amount that is considered sufficient to support members’ basic retirement needs for 20 years from age 55 to 75 aligned with the Malaysian life expectancy.

The new quantum is benchmarked against the minimum pension for public sector employees, which has been raised from RM820 to RM950 per month from age 55 to 75.

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“The EPF basic savings quantum is revised periodically according to the minimum pension for public sector employees, or every three years, whichever is earlier, with the last revision having taken effect in 2014,” said Head of Corporate Affairs Department, Nurini Kassim.

In view of the escalating cost of living, longer life expectancy and higher inflation rate, the EPF has made the decision to revise the basic savings upwards to RM228,000 from RM196,800.

“Accordingly, members will now be required to have higher savings in their EPF accounts in order to be eligible to participate in the EPF Members Investment Scheme (EPF-MIS),” she said.

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The scheme provides members with an option to enhance their retirement savings through placing a portion of their EPF savings in Account 1 to be invested in unit trust funds or via private mandate managed by the appointed Fund Managers Institutions (FMI) under the EPF-MIS.

Nurini added that the basic savings will be used as a guide for members to determine the amount permitted to be transferred for investment under the scheme.

Effective Jan 1, 2017, the eligible amount members will be allowed to invest under the EPF-MIS has been increased to up to 30 per cent in excess of their basic savings from Account 1, from the current 20 per cent.

“Before participating in the scheme, EPF members should read the prospectus and disclosure documents to fully understand the investment product and should consult professional financial advisers.

“Members with i-Akaun can also refer to the EPF-MIS Information Portal for details on unit trust funds offered under the scheme, as well as the FMIs managing these unit trust funds,” said Nurini. — Bernama