KUALA LUMPUR – A total of 1.12 million Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members have made voluntary contributions amounting to RM14.13 billion as of August, according to the Finance Ministry.
The ministry said several initiatives are in place to help Malaysians build sufficient retirement savings through matching incentives, expanded voluntary schemes, and financial planning awareness programmes.
Under Budget 2025, the i-Saraan programme has been enhanced with a 20% matching incentive, capped at RM500 per year and RM5,000 throughout a participant’s lifetime.
“The enhancement, effective 1 January 2025, benefits both existing and new i-Saraan participants,” the ministry said in a written reply today.
It added that contributions totalled RM2.8 billion from 487,375 members in the first half of 2025, a 74% increase in value and a 48% rise in participation compared to RM1.6 billion from 330,196 members during the same period last year.
The reply was in response to a question from Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who asked about government efforts to encourage more Malaysians to open EPF accounts.
The ministry also said the i-Suri programme’s 50% yearly matching incentive will be extended for 2025. The scheme benefits eligible housewives under 55 years old listed in the e-Kasih database, with incentives capped at RM300 annually and RM3,000 over a lifetime.
Meanwhile, the i-Sayang programme allows husbands to transfer 2% of their monthly EPF employee contribution to their wives’ accounts.
“Since its launch in March 2023, 158,000 husbands have participated, involving total contributions of RM309.4 million as of August 2025,” the ministry said.
The statement added that EPF members with active employers can opt to contribute above the statutory 11% employee rate at any time.
As of August 2025, 227,000 members have registered to increase their employee contribution rate.
“The EPF provides multiple channels for voluntary contributions,” the ministry noted, listing the i-Akaun app, online banking, bank agent counters, and EPF counters nationwide among the available options. – October 29, 2025