The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) will increase the haj withdrawal limit to RM10,000 effective 1 January 2026. Haj refers to the religious pilgrimage to Mecca performed by Muslims, which involves significant travel and living expenses.

The change is part of a broader set of policy and product enhancements announced by EPF to strengthen retirement adequacy, expand social protection coverage, and improve the overall member experience.

Higher Haj Withdrawal With Simpler Application Process

The increased haj withdrawal limit is intended to help members better manage the cost of performing the haj in line with current financial needs.

EPF will also remove the requirement for members to verify their Tabung Haji savings balances when determining the eligible withdrawal amount. This simplifies the application process and allows members to plan their haj expenses more effectively.

i-Saraan Plus Introduced For E-Hailing And P-Hailing Drivers

EPF will also introduce a new voluntary contribution option known as i-Saraan Plus. This facility is designed specifically for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers to help strengthen their retirement savings.

Building on the existing i-Saraan programme, i-Saraan Plus offers a higher government matching incentive of up to RM600 per year, subject to a lifetime cap of RM6,000.

Extended Eligibility Age For i-Suri

The eligibility age for the i-Suri programme will be extended to 60 from the current limit of 55. This adjustment aligns the facility with Malaysia’s national minimum retirement age.

EPF also confirmed that the government matching incentive for i-Suri contributions will continue in 2026 at 50% of annual contributions, capped at RM300 per year and RM3,000 over a lifetime.

Greater Flexibility For Members With Savings Above RM1 Million

In line with the Enhanced Savings level, EPF is enhancing its withdrawal policy for members with savings exceeding RM1 million. This allows members below the age of 55 to manage excess funds after meeting their retirement needs.

To ensure a smooth transition, the increase in the excess savings threshold eligible for withdrawal will be implemented gradually, rising by RM100,000 each year over three years, starting at RM1.1 million in 2026.

Changes To Members’ Investment Scheme Thresholds

EPF will align the eligibility threshold for the Members’ Investment Scheme with the Basic Savings level. The minimum savings required for eligibility will be revised in stages.

This is intended to ensure that excess savings used for investment do not affect members’ basic retirement needs and supports more balanced long term retirement planning.

New Names For Voluntary Contribution Options

EPF has also renamed its voluntary contribution facilities. Self-Contributions will now be known as i-Simpan, while Voluntary Excess contributions will be referred to as i-Topup.

Both i-Simpan and i-Topup complement EPF’s existing range of voluntary contribution options, which include i-Saraan, i-Sayang, i-Suri, and Akaun Persaraan Top-Up Savings.

What Members Should Know

All announced changes have been confirmed by EPF and will take effect according to the stated timelines. Members may wish to review how these updates fit into their retirement and long term financial planning.

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