Cuepacs has claimed that the government or the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) never consulted with its representatives over the move to provide loans totalling RM1.5 billion for housing for the poor who cannot get such a facility.

NONE Its president, Omar Osman ( left ), said although the civil service union has representatives on the EPF board, they were never consulted.

“It is always the case that we would not be consulted but when there is a problem then they will call us.

“That has been the problem with the government, as had happened with the Public Service New Remuneration (SBPA) scheme.”

Omar said there has not been any briefing by the EPF nor the government on the housing scheme to those who cannot seek loans from banks, and this is truly unfortunate.

The EPF money, he said, is to be used for savings and not to be spent on questionable investments.

“We must encourage savings and not spending. That has always been our contention,” he said.

‘Coming out like tigers’

However, the Cuepacs president said when there is a problem with the loan then do not expect us to come up like deer.

“We will come out like tigers as they did not want to consult with us in the first place. This is the people’s savings that we are talking about.”

“If they want to go ahead and do it because they think it is for the good of the people then go ahead.  Don’t manage the fund sporadically without proper consultation and in the end it would affect the depositors as this is their savings.”

NONE Omar said although there are only seven government agencies where workers deposit their money in EPF, it should be used carefully.

He said that EPF contribution has been increased by 13 percent following the announcement of the budget and this is for the long run.

“I do not want to see the funds being deposited but retrieved for some dubious scheme. In the end there will be nothing,” he said.

Asked whether he supported the loan programme, Omar admitted that any loans have their risks.

He said there must be a full detailed feasibility study by the EPF, if they want to go ahead with the scheme.

“They should not be hasty in giving out the loan and the risk is high,” he said.

'Provide three options for privatisation'

Earlier, when meeting the National Sewarage Department, whose staff of 139 people comprising engineers and technicians are facing the prospect of privatisation, Omar said Cuepacs wants to see that the 139 staff members be given three options to consider for their future.

NONE “At present and since 2002 following the government’s move towards privatisation, they only offer two options and this has caused a lot of problems especially to civil servants as they joined with the expectation of getting pensions,” he said.

“Certainly if I give this option to the minister or the chief secretary to the government, they would also be stumped. Be fair to civil servants. I will meet with the chief secretary of the government regarding this matter,” he said.

The two offers, he said, are joining the privatised company and face the risk of being employed or not, or retiring early.

“I want a third option to be included that these 139 people be given the option to join other government departments or ministries. They have the expertise and their service are still needed and they should not be left in the lurch,” he said.

 

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