KUALA LUMPUR (May 3): The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) is looking at increasing its equity-based assets as the pension fund aims to "deliver real growth for our members and investors," chief executive officer Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said.

Shahril said the EPF's goal is to ensure its rate of return is above Malaysia’s annual inflation rate.

“Apart from the 2008 financial crisis, EPF has always gone above and beyond our promise of delivery of real returns," Shahril said at a media conference in conjunction with the launch of the EPF's 2015 annual report here today.

EPF deputy chief executive officer (investment) Datuk Mohamad Nasir Ab Latif had said in 2015 that equities made up 59% of EPF's investment income, although only 44% of its assets were equity-based.

Nasir had said this was because equities generated higher returns, as compared to other assets.

In geographical terms, Shahril said he expected the EPF to focus more on domestic investments due to poorly-performing foreign markets, as well as the 26% limit EPF had on its investments globally.

The EPF's annual report revealed 52% of its investment income had come from foreign investments. This was despite overseas assets constituting 25% of the EPF's total assets.