KUALA LUMPUR: Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors have ample time to apply for the i-Lestari withdrawal from their Account 2.
Its chief executive officer Tunku Alizakri Alias said EPF contributors have until Apr 30, to make their applications for the withdrawal facility.
“There is no need to rush and ‘flood’ EPF’s website, as we have a month to do so,” he said in a Bernama TV programme yesterday.
Tunku Alizakri said EPF has increased the capacity of its website four times than normal; however, it was still not enough as more contributors were trying to access the website to make their applications, which commenced yesterday.
He said as the application process is being done online, all EPF branches would continue to remain closed until April 14, following the extension of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“We are not trying to make it difficult for the contributors, but it’s for their safety and health.
“Just stay at home, which is more comfortable, and make the application online.”
Earlier, a video of people crowding outside one of its branches went viral, causing worry amid the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country.
Asked if late application means late in processing, Tunku Alizakri said as long as the applications received by EPF were completed and all the details were accurate, the payment will be made starting May 1.
He said as of yesterday, more than 110,000 contributors have applied for the withdrawal facility.
On March 23, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that EPF contributors can apply to withdraw a maximum amount of RM500 monthly for 12 months, starting Apr 1.
The move was to lessen the burden of the people affected by the enforcement of the MCO and the Covid-19 crisis.