MUKAH: Tellian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo wants Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to set up its office here.
He said the request to have EPF office in Mukah was made a few years ago during the opening of Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) office here.
“EPF should have its office in Mukah for the convenience of businesses, private companies and individuals.
“This is because the location of the nearest EPF office is only in Sibu,” he said yesterday, in reaction to a news report in a local English daily on Saturday.
On Jan 4, it was reported that it was time for EPF to set up an office here for the benefit of thousands of contributors.
The nearest office is in Sibu, and it is learned that all this time — probably for decades past — contributors had to travel to Sibu, some 160km away, to deal with EPF.
Former state Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Akit Sebli also concurred with Yussibnosh on the matter.
He argued that there were enough business activities in Mukah Division now and the need for EPF services was growing.
Akit, a pensioner in his sixties, added this would ease the burden of contributors and companies that presently had to travel to Sibu for services such as withdrawal, consultation and basic information.
Mukah Division today houses companies like Press Metal Sarawak Sdn Bhd in Balingian, several oil palm plantations firms (in Mukah, Balingian, Dalat and Igan), and hotels, which employ numerous workers.
