Wan Azizah: Wife’s EPF share comes from hubby’s
KUALA KUBU BARU: The proposed 2% Employee Provident Fund (EPF) for housewives will be from the existing contributions of spouses, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said she would be meeting EPF chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan this Thursday to discuss the mechanism for the housewives’ contribution.
“This is to give recognition to the wife. What is wrong with that?” she said at Rumah Ehsan Kuala Kubu Baru.
Details have not been worked out yet for stayathome husbands and those who have more than one wife, she added.
Yesterday’s event marked Dr Wan Azizah’s first visit to the social welfare centre which houses 109 residents with disabilities and ailments. They do not have family members to care for them.
She said the amount of financial assistance for the elderly and their caregivers would
only be increased if the ministry has funding.
“If we have sufficient budget, we would be able to increase the amount. However as of now, we have to spend within our means,” she said.
Currently, a RM350 monthly allowance is given to needy senior citizens while caregivers of chronically ill patients get RM300.
Dr Wan Azizah also said there is a need to counter the nationwide shortage of caregivers of senior citizens.
On a separate matter, Dr Wan Azizah dismissed a rumour her daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar would be getting married to Yang
diPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V
“As tag hf ir ulla hal azim( God be gracious ), don’t believe in rumours,” she said.
Nurul, who is Permatang Pauh MP, also denied the rumours on Monday and said there were more important matters to attend to.
“Please nip any fake news circulating in the bud. Thank you. Let us all focus on the work at hand – saving Malaysia’s economy,” she said via WhatsApp.
The rumour surfaced after her parents had an audience with the King’s mother, Tengku Anis Tengku Abdul Hamid, at Istana Mahkota in Kubang Kerian last Thursday.