LETTER | The decision taken by the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to introduce Account 3, where contributors can make withdrawals from it at any time is a serious failure on the part of the government.

The reason why such a mechanism has been instituted is because it is acknowledged that a good number of contributors cannot survive economically based on their income levels.

Wage levels have been depressed for decades, and it is done knowingly through an unholy alliance between big business and the government.

By the government, I mean the different administrations that have been in place and it includes the current coalition government.

Where workers, the B40 and M40 communities are concerned, there has been no reform which has benefited them. It is unfortunate as the coalition government has failed to introduce reform to deal with the acute cost of living crisis afflicting the poor.

The Human Resources Ministry seems bereft of ideas on how to upgrade the living standards of the working poor.

It is now evident that the ministry, despite its pro-worker rhetoric and sloganeering, has adopted a neoliberal agenda. The wealth and income divide will only continue to grow. It’s a short-sighted view on the part of the government.

What is most disappointing is that for decades many of us have waited for a change in government, and actually agitated and worked for it. Little did we know that when the same parties we supported and sacrificed for assumed power, they would be no different from the previous administrations.

It is said history does not repeat itself, but it rhymes. The voices, needs and cries of workers will eventually find its way to overthrow any regime that works against it.

It is always just a matter of time.

The writer is the international labour adviser at the Social Protection Contributors’ Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.