Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua has called on union leaders and professional representatives sitting on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Board to make clear if they are objecting to a mooted plan to use RM1.5 billion from the fund, for a low-cost housing loan scheme.

" We welcome the statement by the Malaysian Trade Union Congress ( MTUC ) secretary-general, Abdul Halim Mansor who objected to the plan by EPF ...

"We call upon the Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) to take an official position to strongly object the abuse of EPF funds in the EPF Board where the former is represented. MTUC president Mohd Khalid Atan sits on the EPF Board with three other members as representatives of employees.

vk lingam judge tape panel report 061107 lee lam thye "The others are National Union of Teaching Profession (NUTP) secretary-general Loke Yim Pheng, Hadiah Leen from the Sarawak Bank Employees Union (SBEU) and Sabah Commercial Employees Union (SCEU) general-secretary Azlin Awang Chee," he said in a statement today.

Three other professional representatives on the board, namely Lee Lam Thye ( right ), Heng Hock Cheng and Halim Din must also make clear their stand by calling a review of the scheme, he said.

"The representatives must voice their objections to the low-cost housing loan scheme which will put at risk Malaysian workers' savings and is in breach of the EPF Act.

Quoting EPF's website, Pua said the purpose of the fund is to preserve and grow the savings of its members in a prudent manner, in accordance with best practices in investments and corporate conduct.

"Thus it must not be exploited and risked in a low-cost housing programme for individuals with extremely poor credit ratings," he added.