Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul advised that EPF savings should not be relied upon to tackle challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic or floods. While special EPF withdrawals via i-Lestari, i-Sinar, and i-Citra were short-term measures, further withdrawals could harm retirement savings, especially as Malaysia will become an ageing nation by 2030. He stressed that 50% of contributors have less than RM10,000 saved, and the government has already provided financial aid to support those affected.