KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25): The Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) overseas investment made up 29% or RM759.78 billion of the retirement fund's total investment as at June this year, said the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

In a written Parliamentary reply today, MoF said out of the total overseas investment, less than 20% or RM152 billion are invested in the US.

"Nevertheless, in terms of return on investment to EPF, it (the US portion) is consolidated under the portfolio of overseas investment, with a rate of return of 9.73% in 2016," MoF said, adding that EPF's exposure to US investment begin since 2006.

The ministry was responding to a question by PKR lawmaker Sim Tze Tzin, who asked for the total investments into the US stocks and bond market by EPF, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP), the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) and Lembaga Tabung Haji.

Sim, who is also Bayan Baru Member of Parliament, also asked since when these funds have begun investing in the US and what are their respective returns.

For KWAP, MoF said the fund's investment in the US equity market begin in July 2017, with a total investment of RM286 million and no return yet as it is a new portfolio.

"For asset class under private equity, (KWAP's) investment begin in 2012 with a total investment of RM244 million while under Global Sukuk mandate, KWAP's investment has begun since 2014 through foreign fund manager with a total investment of RM16 million," the ministry said, adding that returns for both of these asset classes were 6.72% in 2016.

MoF said both LTAT and Tabung Haji do not invest in either stock or bond market in the US.