Mazlynda Md YusufMohamad Yazis Ali BasahYumn Suhaylah Yusoff2024-05-282024-05-282014Mazlynda Md Yusuf, Mohamad Yazis Ali Basah, Yumn Suhaylah Yusoff., Pre-Retirement Withdrawal in EPF: An Exploratory Study of Employees in Malaysia. Aust. J. Basic & Appl. Sci., 8(3): 439-444, 20142309-8414http://www.ajbasweb.com/old/ajbas/2014/March/439-444.pdfhttps://oarep.usim.edu.my/handle/123456789/7453Volume: 8 Issue: 3 March 2014 (Pages: 439-444)Background: The increase in life expectancy along with the demographic pattern moving towards ageing population especially among women has exposed women to face higher risk of poverty in later life. Employees Provident Fund in Malaysia is a defined contribution plan that provides benefits during retirement based on the amount saved in the fund. However, the allowance of making pre-retirement withdrawals during employment leads to problems in the adequacy of retirement income and this in turn gives impact upon the quality of life in retirement. Objective: The objectives of this study are to examine the impact of pre-retirement withdrawals on income during employment and to identify either men or women would face higher risk of poverty during old age. Results: The results has found that with pre-retirement withdrawals, women are unlikely to maintain their standard of living under the present retirement scheme due to low replacement rates and they face higher risk of poverty compared to men. Conclusion: In conclusion, the implementation of pre-retirement withdrawal exposed women to face higher risk of poverty in old age. Therefore, the policymaker should review the implementation of this policy by giving options to employees in Malaysia in order to balance a comfortable living during employment and after retirement.en-USWomen in Malaysia, Retirement Benefits, Pre-retirement withdrawals, Employees Provident Fund (EPF), PovertyArticle43944483