PETALING JAYA: Many Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors have expressed happiness over the early payout for the RM10,000 special withdrawal scheme.

       Civil servant Amir Shariffudin, 30, said that he had applied for the withdrawals on April 1 and was surprised to see that his application was approved.

       “I will be using some of the money for my house renovations and part of it for the Hari Raya celebration.

       “It will help lessen the financial burden for my family,” he said when contacted yesterday.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said EPF began disbursing payments for the RM10,000 special withdrawal from yesterday instead of tomorrow as originally scheduled.

       The special withdrawal scheme, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob last month, allows withdrawals of up to RM10,000 each by EPF members below the age of 55.

       It is the fourth and last in a series of withdrawals allowed from EPF members’ retirement account to overcome the economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

       Tang Chian Huey, 34, said she had applied to withdraw RM7,000 to settle her loans, including credit card loans.

       “I received the approval today (yesterday) and I will use it to pay all my loans.

       “I was so happy when I received the update from EPF,” she added.

       Mohd Amin Al-Hadi, 33, a manager, said he would use the RM10,000 to invest in stocks and Amanah Saham Bumiputra (ASB).

       “I hope that it will bring better returns for me in the future,” he said.

       In GEORGE TOWN, Abdul Manaf Md Noh, 51, who works at a shipping company, said the RM10,000 withdrawal from his EPF would help him cover expenses during Hari Raya next month.

       “With RM10,000, I can do a lot. Apart from buying essentials for Hari Raya, I can pay off my credit card debt and housing loans.”

       He said the special withdrawal comes at the right time as it can help people, especially those from the B40 group, to get back on their feet after two years of the Covid-19 pandemic.

       He said the extra money could also be used to finance his children’s studies in school and university.

       Azman Yahaya, 40, a clerk, is buying new clothes for his children for Hari Raya, adding that he will use the money to pay his credit card as well.

       General worker M. Mohana Sundaram, 51, said the special withdrawal is a life saver for him.

       “I don’t have a stable income every month, and I can be out of work anytime, so this money from EPF can help me to survive,” he added.

       However, several Malaysians took to social media over the delayed approval of their applications and disbursement of the funds.

       Twitter user Aiman Mustafa said he has to wait a while longer before the money will be deposited into his bank account on April 25.

       “The payout will be made only on April 25, which is the same day my salary comes in.“I need the money immediately. Why are they delaying it,” he wrote.

       Another user @yaphloy asked EPF why his application was still not approved.

       “Can EPF expedite it. I have no money left,” he said.

       Another user Dainim Amos claimed that the system to check the approval of the payouts was not properly managed.

       “Those who applied on April 3 got theirs approved but my application is still being processed.

       “Can you please process the applications more quickly,” said Dainim.

       It was reported on Sunday that EPF received more than five million applications under the Special Withdrawal facility after it was opened to members on April 1.

       EPF said as at 8pm on April 14, a total of 5.3 million members have applied for the facility.