Malaysia

Malaysia: Pension system in 2020

Private sector employees and non-pensionable public sector employees contribute to the provident fund, with social assistance paid to those with insufficient income.

Key indicators: Malaysia
		Malaysia	OECD
Average worker earnings (AW)	MYR	35 196	167 682
	USD	8 223	39 178
Public pension spending	% of GDP		7.7
Life expectancy	at birth	76.1	80.2
	at age 65	16.4	19.1
Population over age 65	% of working- age population	11.4	30.2

Qualifying conditions

The normal pension age is 55, but retirement is not necessary.

Benefit calculation

Defined-contribution

Employees pay 11% of monthly earnings to the provident fund according to wage classes, when aged up to age 60, and 5.5% between age 60 and 75. Employers pay 13% of monthly earnings according to wage classes for employees up to 60 years of age and earning under MYR 5 000 per month, and 12% for earnings above MYR 5 000 per month. Employer contributions are 6% for those aged 60 to 75 for earnings above MYR 5 000 per month and 6.5% below. There is no ceiling for the contribution. Insured persons can make voluntary additional contributions.

For those aged under 55 the contribution is made to two different accounts: 70% of contribution to Account 1 (funding retirement) and 30% to Account 2 (can be accessed early for education, home purchase, certain critical illness and other approved expenses). Once an EPF member reaches age 55, Accounts 1 and 2 are consolidated into a single account (Akaun 55), and a separate account (Akaun Emas) is created for contributions made after age 55.

It is possible to receive pension in a lump sum, monthly instalments or a combination of both. The minimum total amount to be paid in monthly instalments is MYR 250 with the minimum period being 12 months, with a minimum withdrawal at any time of at least MYR 2 000, or a combination of these options. For comparison with other countries, for replacement rate purposes the pension is shown as a price-indexed annuity based on sex-specific mortality rates.

The guaranteed minimum interest rate is 2.5% a year. If funds remain in the accounts after age 55, fund members continue to earn compound interest until age 100.

Old-age assistance

A monthly benefit of MYR 350 is paid to those aged 60 and assessed as needy (below poverty line), with no financial support from other family members.

Variant careers

Early retirement

It is possible to make a one-time withdrawal of savings at age 50 from Account 2.

Late retirement

It is possible to defer retirement and continue to make contributions after normal pension age.

Personal income tax and social security contributions

Taxation of workers

Mandatory and voluntary provident fund contributions up to MYR 6 000 a year are tax deductible.

Taxation of worker’s income

Individuals have a personal tax allowance of MYR 9 000 per year with additional income taxed as follows:

Individual Income Tax Rates (applicable to income from wages and salaries)
Chargeable income in MYR	Tax-rate (%)
0-5 000	0%
5 001-20 000	1%
20 001-35 000	3%
35 001-50 000	8%
50 001-70 000	14%
70 001-100 000	21%
100 001-250 000	24%
250 001-400 000	24.5%
400 001-600 000	25%
600 001-1 000 000	26%
1 000 001-2 000 000	28%
2 000 001 and above	30%

Social security contributions payable by workers

In addition to the EPF contribution employees below age 55 pay 0.5% of earnings up to MYR 4 000 a month to be covered by social insurance. The insurance does not cover old-age pension, but disability, survivor and other pensions and grants.

Taxation of pensioners

There is no additional tax relief for pensioners.

Taxation of pension income

Pension income is tax exempted.

Social security contributions payable by pensioners

Pensioners do not pay any social security contributions.

Pension modelling results: Malaysia in 2053 retirement at age 55 (men)

Note: Real rate of return 3%, real earnings growth 1.25%, inflation 2%, and real discount rate 2%. All systems are modelled and indexed according to what is legislated. Transitional rules apply where relevant. DC conversion rate equal 90%. Labour market entry occurs at age 22 in 2020. Tax system latest available: 2020.

Source: OECD pension model.

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