LETTER | EPF withdrawals saved my family

LETTER | Most Malaysians I believe are in the same boat as I am and do not own property, but merely renting.

Not all are lucky enough to earn enough to buy a property and raise a family.

I became a Grab driver after I lost my job when the Covid-19 pandemic hit our shores last year. I was earlier working as the head of security for a shopping mall.

When the pandemic hit, the mall was badly affected and after some time, there was also no longer any need for so many security officers.

When I lost my job, I was devastated and before starting my job as a Grab driver, my rent, which is RM800 a month went into two months arrears.

I was making about RM3,000 a month with my full-time job, while my wife made about RM1,800.

We have three children and live in Old Klang Road. What we earned was just enough to pay all our bills and put food on our table.

Our family car is a 2016 Perodua Myvi which we purchased second hand and pay about RM500 a month.

My house rental was two months in arrears and I owed the bank a one-month instalment for our car.

I was at a loss where to get the money to pay these arrears when I heard about the government's move to allow Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals.

Both my wife and I applied since we have been working for more than 10 years each and needed the money urgently.

Our applications were accepted and we managed to settle all our outstanding arrears and also have some leftover for other rainy days.

However, over time, we had to use up all that money as well and when the pandemic struck badly this year, things again took a turn for the worse.

Earlier, my wife just suffered a pay cut, but this year, she lost her job and Grab customers were also scarce.

Again, our rental and car instalments went into arrears. Thank God for the i-Citra initiative which once more helped us get back on our feet.

There is no fuss, if you ask me, about withdrawing our EPF when we really need it. It is after all our hard-earned money and our right to use it.

It is good that the government gives us this option - whether one wants to withdraw or not, it is up to them.

An extra RM1,500 a month for us certainly goes a long way and with that money, my wife has managed to set up a small stall selling curry puffs near our house.

Times are tough and I want to thank the government for this initiative. If not for the i-Citra and earlier i-Sinar withdrawals, I don't know how my family would have made it.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.