A Malaysian man recently shared a conversation with his colleague that left many netizens reflecting on their own retirement plans.
It started as a normal chat at the office. His colleague, an Indian manager in his mid 30s, casually mentioned that he was planning to resign.
Not because of conflict. Not because of a toxic environment. But because of salary.
“The increments here are too small”
According to the post, the colleague said the annual increments at their company were minimal.
“It feels like it only goes up by one or two ringgit,” he joked.
When asked why he was so determined to leave, he explained that staying too long would slow down his life goals.
That was when he revealed his target.
A clear retirement number in mind
By the age of 55, he wants to have at least RM1.5 million in his EPF savings.
At first, the man who shared the story thought his colleague was joking. But he was completely serious and even did the calculations on the spot.
RM1.5 million with a 5 percent annual dividend would generate RM75,000 a year.
That works out to roughly RM6,000 a month.
“I’ll just take the dividends and not touch the principal,” he explained.
If his house and car are fully paid off by then, RM6,000 a month would be enough to live comfortably, he said.
That was when the original poster realised the difference in mindset.
We wait for increments. He chases opportunities. We think about next month. He thinks about 55.”
For context, the colleague is currently 35 years old, holding a manager position and earning an estimated RM7,000 to RM8,000 per month.
Netizens share their own EPF experiences
The post sparked discussion online, with many sharing personal stories and financial realities.
One netizen said her friend, who worked in high end retail as a boutique manager, retired at 65. When she helped her download the KWSP app, she discovered that her EPF savings were just RM1,800 short of RM1 million.
Others pointed out that reaching RM1 million or more in EPF is not easy for the average Malaysian.
“Majority of Malaysians are underpaid, especially Malay and Indian workers in the private sector. To have RM1 million in EPF by 55 or 60, you would likely need to start earning at least RM4,000 right after graduating at 22,” one comment read.
Some netizens shared their own projections.
“If I live until 55, maybe I can hit RM1.5 million. If I push until 60, maybe RM2 million,” one joked.
Others offered practical advice.
“If you earn RM10,000 a month, it is possible to reach RM1 million by retirement. Just do not withdraw from Account 2.”
Another highlighted the option of voluntary contributions.
“You can contribute up to RM100,000 voluntarily to EPF. You can also add up to RM3,000 for EPF and PRS contributions to offset income tax. It helps to catch up.”
While some admired the manager’s long term planning, others questioned whether such goals are realistic given stagnant wages and rising living costs.
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