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Govt's EPF move hailed

Mar 26, 2020

The Malaysian Institute of Economic Research has welcomed the government’s decision to allow EPF contributors to apply for the RM500 monthly withdrawal from their Account 2, during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Its senior research fellow Dr Shankaran Nambiar told us that this is a good measure by the government to help the public cushion the financial impact of the MCO:

“The government would make available, RM130 mil to state governments and MOH, that is of course useful. I'm sure, there will be other measures that will be instituted, for longer-term purposes, but as a short-term measure, as an immediate measure, I definitely think this will be useful. It might not be all that the government would be doing to alleviate the problem of reduced consumer spending.” 

He also noted that other countries are working out similar measures, Australia for example is allowing withdrawals from their equivalent of the EPF. 

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MOH won't let JP Morgan's COVID-19 tally become a reality

The Health Ministry is working to ensure a prediction by JP Morgan’s research house of 6,300 infections by mid-April does not happen in Malaysia. 

It's hoping additional preventive measures by the government will be sufficient to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, and not reach that many cases. 

Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says the Ministry is likely to start using antigen rapid test kits to screen for COVID-19 starting tomorrow. 

Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll has climbed to 20, following the death of a 76-year-old man from Kelantan, who attended a religious event at the Sri Petaling mosque in KL late last month. 

Still on the matter, the IGP says 95% of those who attended the recent religious gathering have come forward for tests and screening.

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Beware of fake Bank Negara website

Members of the public have been cautioned about a fake Bank Negara website. 

Fact-checking portal, Sebenarnya.my says this website will steal all your banking information and install malware on your device. 

It stressed that Bank Negara will NOT ask for your personal banking info via website, email, phone call or SMS.