Friday July 30, 2010
EPF members will be able to use their future and current savings to apply for a larger housing loan beginning Sunday.
EPF chief executive officer Tan Sri Azlan Zainol said the Flexible Housing Withdrawal facility is designed to give those who qualified greater purchasing power. “Members will now have a chance to realise their dream of a better home for their families via increased home loan eligibility. “What’s more, Flexible Housing Withdrawal does not in any way affect a member’s retirement savings as the sum that has been set aside under this facility will continue to earn yearly dividends paid by EPF,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
He said members could transfer part of their savings under Account 2, which is utilised to buy a house or reduce a housing loan, to the Flexible Housing Withdrawal account, followed by a monthly transfer of a specified amount of contribution.
“Savings that have been set aside under the facility cannot be withdrawn or utilised for any other pre-retirement withdrawals, such as Housing, Education or Medical before the end of its term. “However, members can still utilise the remaining savings in Account 2 for other pre-retirement withdrawals,” he said. Azlan said the facility was in support of the Government’s objective to enhance the quality of life of the rakyat in the spirit of 1Malaysia. “To date, Maybank and Public Bank have confirmed their participation in the facility and we expect more banks to follow suit,” he said.
Under the facility, EPF members, who have not withdrawn their savings under Account 2 to purchase a house or reduce a housing loan, can apply for their current and future savings to be taken into consideration when applying for a housing loan with a financial institution. The facility was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when tabling the Budget last year.
Azlan said the facility was available to EPF members below the age of 54 and must be applied together with their application for a withdrawal to purchase or build a house or reduce a housing loan. Each application is to be submitted by the EPF member to the financial institution from which he is obtaining the loan. All application forms would then be submitted to EPF by the banks. Those who wish to cancel the Flexible Housing Withdrawal facility can only do so after a year from its commencement date and upon consent from the respective financial institution.
For more information, visit the nearest EPF branch, contact its call centre 03-8922 6000 or go to myEPF website at www.kwsp.gov.my
extracted from thestar.com.my
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