Members and registered employers of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) who are currently enjoying updates on their EPF accounts via the Short Messaging System (SMS) will be pleased to know that the EPF has introduced m-Akaun - a secure and interactive SMS service.

m-Akaun is offered to all activated i-Akaun holders only. It is available for subscription via the i-Akaun's main page. Once that is done, they need to activate the m-Akaun by typing ACTIVATE and send it to 36373. Subscribers will be charged 20 sen for every successful message they receive. However, there is no registration fee involved.

For more information on i-Akaun and m-Akaun, they can log on to www.kwsp.gov.my.

Targeted at members and employers who are constantly on the move, m-Akaun allows personalised EPF-related SMS to be received on mobile phones. The type of information accessible via m-Akaun includes members' profiles; view current and previous year's account balance; view combined contributions from member and employer, as well as members' withdrawal history. Employers will be able to view their profiles which include employer number, company registration number, name of company registered with the EPF and employer status.

The current EPF SMS service allows members and employers to receive static SMS on the following information only: locations of EPF counters, availability of employers' courses and seminars, as well as information on the EPF's facilities and forms.

The launch of m-Akaun is another pro-active move to ensure that the EPF provides excellent service for its members. Puan Rusma Ibrahim, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Organizational Development & Strategic Planning) of the EPF said, "With m-Akaun, members will receive SMS that are more personal in nature. This enhanced service makes the current version of the SMS a lot more interesting.

"The SMS service is essentially a quick, effective and easy-to-use communication channel between members or employers and the EPF. m-Akaun is part of EPF's continuous effort to enhance its service delivery channels," she added.

Members and employers can be rest assured that the EPF has put into place security measures to protect their interest.

About the Employees Provident Fund (EPF)

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is a national savings scheme, providing basic financial security for retirement. The Fund is committed to preserving and growing the savings of its members in accordance with best practices in investment and corporate governance. It will always be guided by prudence in its investment decisions.

As a customer-focused organization, the EPF delivers efficient and reliable services for the convenience of its members and registered employers.

The EPF continues to play a catalytic role in the nation's socio-economic growth, consistent with its position as a leading savings institution in Malaysia.

Date: 16 August 2006