Govt studies proposal to extend EPF i-Sayang scheme to non-citizen wives

The Finance Ministry said any expansion of the EPF i-Sayang scheme must consider retirement savings protection, legal requirements and the programme’s sustainability. — Picture by Choo Choy May

First Published: Thursday, 12 Nov 2026 10:34 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The government, through the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), will continue to study a proposal to expand the scope and coverage of the EPF i-Sayang scheme to allow Malaysian husbands to make voluntary contributions for their non-citizen wives.

The Finance Ministry (MOF) said the proposal would be studied carefully, taking into account the importance of protecting families’ retirement savings and ensuring the programme’s sustainability.

“The government takes note of the proposal to expand the eligibility criteria for i-Sayang recipients to allow non-citizen wives to receive transferred contributions from their Malaysian citizen husbands. The proposal requires careful consideration to ensure that any expansion remains aligned with the original objectives of i-Sayang and the EPF’s retirement savings policy framework.

“In this regard, the suitability of its implementation must be carefully assessed, including its implications for retirement savings protection and objectives, as well as legal, governance, operational and programme sustainability aspects, before further consideration is given,” the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply published on Parliament’s website yesterday.

The MOF was responding to a question from Rodziah Ismail (PH-Ampang) on the strategies and implementation mechanisms for the proposed expansion of the EPF i-Sayang scheme to allow Malaysian husbands to make voluntary contributions for their non-citizen wives, given that non-citizen husbands are already allowed to do so for their Malaysian citizen wives.

i-Sayang is a government initiative that allows husbands to voluntarily transfer two per cent of their employee contributions to their wives’ EPF accounts.

Since its introduction in March 2023, a total of 233,371 husbands nationwide have registered as contributors, involving 233,547 wives as recipients.

As at August 31, 2026, a total of RM563.6 million had been transferred through i-Sayang. — Bernama