EPF funds used as BN pocket money, says PKR

PKR has bashed a move to use RM1.5 billion from the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) to help finance those unable to obtain bank loans to buy low-cost public housing units.

"Even banks are not prepared to give the loans. What is the EPF's investment panel doing?

"Why is EPF money being used as BN's pocket money?" asked party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar (right) at a press conference today.

At least four banks were brought in to help draft the financing agreement, Nurul Izzah said, and asked why EPF's funds were being used if commercial banks did not deem the scheme financially sound.

"We don't want a situation like the subprime mortgage crisis in the US, where borrowers could not service their loans, but with the EPF instead of banks (in trouble)," she said, adding that EPF funds were also used to finance the light rail transit (LRT) project.

"The government can't go vote-buying on a whim simply because elections are around the corner.

"You (the government) can help the Public Housing Project (PPR) community, but don't use EPF funds for that purpose," the MP for Lembah Pantai added.

On Monday, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin had reportedly announced an "easy financing scheme" for 20,000 eligible PPR tenants and potential buyers who could not obtain bank loans.

DAP's publicity chief Tony Pua has also objected the move, saying that EPF's role is to ensure the financial security of the retirement funds of its contributors.


Both Pua and Nurul Izzah suggested turning to Bank Rakyat and Malaysia Building Society Bhd for the purpose instead.

Dana KWSP diguna bagi wang saku BN

PKR hari ini menyelar tindakan kerajaan untuk menggunakan RM1.5 bilion daripada dana Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) bagi membantu mereka yang gagal mendapatkan pinjaman bank bagi membiayai pembelian rumah awam kos rendah.

"Malah bank-bank juga tidak bersedia memberi pinjaman. Apakah yang dilakukan oleh panel pelaburan KWSP?

"Mengapa wang KWSP yang digunakan sebagai wang saku BN?" soal naib presiden PKR Nurul Izzah Anwar (kanan) pada sidang media hari ini.


Sekurang-kurangnya empat bank telah diminta membantu menggubal draf perjanjian pembiayaan, kata Nurul Izzah sambil menyoal mengapa dana KWSP digunakan jika bank komersial sendiri tidak menganggap skim itu sebagai berdaya maju.

"Kita tidak mahu situasi seperti krisis pajak gadai subprima di Amerika Syarikat, di mana peminjam tidak dapat membayar ansuran mereka, jadi KWSP bukan bank (dalam kesusahan)," katanya, sambil mengingatkan bahawa dana KWSP juga telah digunakan untuk membiayai projek transit aliran ringan (LRT).

"Kerajaan tidak boleh membeli undi sesuka hati semata-mata kerana pilihan raya semakin dekat.

"Awak (kerajaan) boleh membantu Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR), tetapi jangan gunakan dana KWSP bagi maksud itu," kata Nurul Izzah yang juga ahli parlimen Lembah Pantai.
 
Isnin lalu, Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan dan Kesejahteraan Bandar, Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin dilapor mengumumkan "skim pembiayaan mudah" untuk 20,000 penyewa PPR yang layak dan bakal pembeli yang tidak layak mendapatkan pinjaman bank.

Ketua Penerangan DAP Tony Pua juga menyelar tindakan itu dengan mengatakan bahawa peranan KWSP adalah memastikan pencarum mempunyai simpanan yang mencukupi apabila mereka bersara kelak.

Kedua-dua mereka, Pua dan Nurul Izzah mencadangkan Bank Rakyat dan Malaysia Building Society Bhd mengambil-alih tanggungjawab itu.

source:malaysiakini

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