August 2026
18Aug

Malaysia’s pension fund investment income jumps 48 pct in H1

Malaysia's state-owned pension fund, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), recorded investment income of 57.50 billion ringgit (14.16 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2026, up 48 percent from a year earlier, helped by strong global equity markets, the fund said Monday. Investment income for the second quarter also rose 44 percent year-on-year to 29.77 billion ringgit, the retirement fund said in a statement. EPF Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn said the fund benefited from strong global equity markets...

August 18, 2026
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June 2026
30Jun

Economists Say Growing Government Pension Costs Are Putting Malaysia’s Economy At Risk

Economists have described the government's proposed revamp of the civil service retirement scheme as a vital structural reform According to the New Straits Times, the shift is seen as crucial to preventing rising pension liabilities from undermining the country's long-term fiscal health. The government is currently refining the proposed mechanism, known as the "contributory permanent appointment" scheme, to balance long-term fiscal sustainability with the need to attract and retain top-tier talent. Sunway University economics professor Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the current...

June 30, 2026
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May 2026
29May

Should Malaysia expand its social pension? Global evidence, design issues and options

By World Bank Group This study examines whether Malaysia should expand its social pension coverage and adequacy by drawing on global experiences and comparing them to the Malaysian context. It explores the impacts of social pensions on various social indicators and addresses key design issues for expansion. The paper concludes with recommendations for reforms, emphasizing the need to balance welfare and equity impacts with fiscal considerations. Get the report here

May 29, 2026
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18May

How comprehensive, holistic financial planning is addressing an ageing Malaysia

A retired teacher scrolls through hospital bills on her phone while discussing inheritance plans with her daughter; a small-business owner considers whether the house he has lived in for 30 years could be used to support future medical costs; a retiring couple wonders whether their EPF savings will be enough for a retirement that may stretch across two or even three decades. These are no longer private anxieties; they are becoming central concerns for many Malaysians. With 14% of the...

May 18, 2026
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November 2025
28Nov

Retirement Planning among Female Workforce in Malaysia and China

By Jing Yuan, Kim Mee Chong, Ivy Siaw Hung Hii & Hao Lun Li A phenomenon has emerged whereby the life expectancy of women is 74.2 years, and men's is 69.8 years. Hence, it is crucial to encourage early retirement planning among women.  This study aims to explore the factors that influence retirement planning awareness and readiness among women in Malaysia and China. A self-administered online questionnaire was completed by 100 Malaysians and 200 Chinese. Using IBM SPSS and SmartPLS,...

November 28, 2025
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October 2025
07Oct

Later retirement expected in 2026 budget as Malaysia tackles economic pressures

Malaysians may be asked to retire five years later at 65 but should be spared any sharp tax rises in Friday’s budget, economists say, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces an economy hampered by an ageing population, high youth joblessness and surging living costs at the halfway point of his administration. About 8 per cent of Malaysia’s 34 million population are aged 65 and older, according to government data, firmly placing the Southeast Asian nation in the ageing nation category. At the same time,...

October 7, 2025
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May 2025
20May

Malaysia. Framework for gig workers to thrive

THE gig economy has rapidly grown in Malaysia, providing flexible work opportunities to millions of individuals across various industries. Gig workers, including ride-hailing drivers, food delivery riders, freelancers and digital platform workers, play a crucial role in the country’s labour market. However, despite their significant contributions to the economy, many gig workers face job insecurity, lack of social protections and unfair treatment due to the absence of a legal framework governing their rights. Recognising these challenges, the government is set to introduce...

May 20, 2025
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March 2025
12Mar

Malaysia to mandate 2% pension fund contribution from foreign workers

Malaysia is set to require its 2.5 million foreign workers to contribute 2% of their monthly salaries to the national pension fund, with employers obligated to match the same amount. Foreign workers will earn dividends on their contributions and can withdraw their savings when they permanently return to their home countries, according to new regulations under the national pension scheme, Employees Provident Fund, which is set to take effect in the last quarter this year, according to The Straits Times. The 2%...

March 12, 2025
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July 2024
17Jul

Malaysia’s pension fund strengthens sustainable investment with new stewardship policy

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Malaysia’s pension fund, has published the EPF Sustainable Investment Stewardship Policy, becoming the first institutional investor in Malaysia to publish a standalone stewardship policy for sustainable investment. EPF said in a statement on Wednesday that the policy outlines the processes and guidelines the EPF follows to promote good sustainability practices among its investee companies and external fund managers. It said the stewardship undertaking has strengthened the EPF’s commitment to help build a better retirement future for Malaysians...

July 17, 2024
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April 2024
22Apr

Less than half of Malaysians are insured as we become an ageing society

Less than 50% of Malaysians are insured, according to insurance industry players. They said that getting insurance is especially important for the public to shield themselves from unexpected illnesses in old age as the country moves toward an ageing society. Insurance industry players said medical claim payouts had increased in the last two years, with a surge of 14.9%, from RM13.4bil in 2022 to RM15.4bil last year. They also pointed to the 41.4% hike in disability payments and a 26.2% rise in...

April 22, 2024
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