The largest shariah fund of its kind will be created when the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) offers a shariah compliant investment option for its members beginning 2017, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said the move will further reinforce Malaysia's position as a frontrunner in the Islamic financial hub.

EPF has employed consultants to study the possibility of establishing the first state-backed pension funds dedicated entirely on shariah compliant investments.

Najib also gained applauds when he said EPF members will retain their right to withdraw their money at the age of 55 during the Invest Malaysia 2015 conference earlier today at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

READ: EPF withrawal age remains at 55, Najib says

READ ALSO: EPF to start consultations on full withdrawal age


EPF on April 20, offered four new initiatives to its contributors in improving its current scheme.

Contributors are then given two weeks to respond and offer their ideas on the four initiatives which include:

1. Adjust the current full withdrawal age of 55 to 60 to go along with the government’s minimum age of retirement.
2. Maintain the current age for full withdrawal at 55.
3. Extend dividend payments for contributors who choose to maintain their money in the fund, from age 75 to 100
4. Introduce a Syariah-compliant retirement savings plan