Putrajaya, 1 March 2026 – Malaysians are showing stronger confidence in the country’s economic outlook by boosting contributions to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) under its voluntary i-Topup scheme, according to Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Data for the year ended 31 December 2025 shows that i-Topup contributions surged by 26 per cent, with total voluntary top-ups reaching RM19.2 billion, a sign that more Malaysians are willing to set aside additional savings beyond the statutory rate for retirement.
The i-Topup scheme allows both employees and employers to contribute above the standard 11 per cent or 12 per cent contribution rate, subject to an annual cap of RM100,000.
Dividend and Broader Economic Signals
The EPF also announced a dividend rate of 6.15 per cent for 2025, with total payouts of RM79.6 billion for members across both conventional and Shariah-compliant accounts. Distributable income for the fund was RM82.7 billion, up 9.5 per cent from the previous year.
Amir Hamzah said the strong growth in voluntary contributions reflects high public trust in Malaysia’s financial institutions and economic reforms, suggesting that many Malaysians now have surplus income to direct toward long-term financial security.
“The willingness of the public to top up their retirement savings above statutory requirements is a positive indication of confidence in the country’s economic trajectory,” he said, adding that the trend aligns with the government’s efforts to ensure inclusive and sustainable national prosperity.
Inclusion of Gig and Informal Workers
The minister also highlighted a significant 50.8 per cent increase in contributions under the i-Saraan scheme, which targets gig economy and informal-sector workers, rising to RM4.0 billion in 2025. This indicates that more non-traditional workers are participating in structured retirement savings, buoyed by robust domestic economic activity.
Amir Hamzah noted that despite ongoing global uncertainties, trends such as rising EPF contributions, steady wage growth and sustained member registrations demonstrate that economic benefits are reaching a broad segment of the population.
