SARAWAK EPF BRANCHES PROVIDED WITH TRUCKS TO CARRY OUT OUTREACH PROGRAMMES
SIBU, Jan 9 (Bernama) -- The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will provide three trucks to its three branches in Sarawak, to carry out outreach programmes in rural and highly populated areas in the state.
EPF chairman, Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir said that it would enable the EFP teams to provide more comprehensive mobile services to communities in those areas.
“The Sarawak team will receive two more four-wheel drive vehicles, three power generators, two VSAT (satellite telecommunication system) devices, as well as IT (information technology) and non-IT devices,” he said when officiating the EPF Sibu branch office at Jalan Kampung Datu 5 here, today.
He said the equipment can help the team provide services to EPF members and potential contributors.
Speaking to reporters after the event, EPF Sarawak regional manager, Halim Boweng said the outreach programmes are expected to start in Bintulu in March.
“Our outreach team in Kuching will serve the Lubuk Antu and Sri Aman areas, the team in Sibu will serve the Mukah and Kapit areas, and the team in Miri will serve the Bintulu and Belaga areas,” he said.
The forward approach will be implemented as planned, to target self-employed sectors, such as farmers, fishermen, and e-hailing drivers, to start saving for old age, he added.
According to Halim, the programme also aims to bring back inactive members as contributors.
He said that, for example, civil servants, who contributed to EPF at the beginning of their service before opting for a pension scheme after five years and becoming inactive members.
“We want to get them to contribute to the EPF again on a voluntary basis so they will have savings for their retirement later,” he said.
Currently, Sarawak has 950,000 members, but only 550,000 are active.
Halim said the state EPF hoped to increase the number of active members to 600,000 through the outreach programmes.
-- BERNAMA
