NEWS: ‘MPs should be on EPF just like us’

Economist and UKM Research Fellow Muhammed Abdul Khalid says that Malaysia’s social protection needs a serious upgrade.

Transcript

00:00 We must have a social protection that covers everyone and all the stake.

00:06 Now in terms of labour for instance, Singapore about 99% of workers in Singapore are protected.

00:12 Contributed and protected. In Malaysia only 60% contributed.

00:17 Because if you are in the informal sector, it's not compulsory.

00:21 The government encourage, this is wrong.

00:25 Every worker, regardless of either informal sector, informal sector, machikya or you,

00:32 or business owner, citizen or non-citizen must contribute.

00:37 It's very important, social protection.

00:42 And the social protection must follow life cycle.

00:45 From birth, the first two years will be not short, unemployment insurance,

00:50 and when they retire, how do we increase? One question how do we increase? We cannot increase.

00:55 Only two ways. You increase contribution rate, which many Malaysians cannot afford,

01:01 or you increase wages, which you guys oppose.

01:07 This problem should not be created in the first place.

01:10 The former Minister of Finance, Zafrul Hamidin, I won't say it,

01:16 he should be punished for this silly decision.

01:20 He made a lot of people poor.

01:23 So social protection must be holistic, and it should be like a bounce in a circus.

01:29 It's not captured, but it bounce back.

01:33 And one resolution since media is here, and one resolution that you should put in your memorandum,

01:38 no more pension for MPs or Ministers.

01:43 They are self-owned, but here they get pension for them.

01:46 No. Every single of them, MPs, adults or Ministers should be on it.

01:53 So they receive more as justice.

01:56 [BLANK_AUDIO]