The government is not implementing the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawal at age 60 for private sector employees although the minimum retirement age has been extended to 60 years from January next year.

Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said private sector workers could still withdraw their full EPF savings at age 55.

husni eon bank function 120310 ahmad husni "Following the government's decision to extend the retirement age in the private sector, there was talk the EPF withdrawal would be extended from 55 to 60 years.

"At this stage, the government does not intend to implement the system. If they have EPF accounts, they can withdraw their full savings when they reach 55," Husni told reporters in Ipoh today.

Earlier, he presented robe materials, dates and zam-zam water to mosque committee members at his Tambun parliamentary constituency in Jelapang.

According to the Minimum Retirement Age 2012 Bill that was passed by Parliament recently, the compulsory retirement age for private sector workers has been raised to age 60.

Under the Bill, employers cannot force workers to retire before reaching age 60 and offenders can be fined up to RM10,000.

On the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) in the 2013 Budget, Ahmad Husni said in the preparation of the budget, the government was studying various initiatives to ensure operating and development expenditure benefited the country.

"We are in the process of preparing the budget, BR1M is among the items being studied. The decision depends on whether the operating expenditure can be funded by government revenue, as well as the factor of the cost of living," he said.

- Bernama