Mohamad Suhaimi Mohd Salim never expected that a hand injury sustained while peeling a durian with a knife at home would make him eligible for benefits under the Social Security Organisation’s (PERKESO) LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme.
The incident occurred at 5.26 pm on July 17 at his home in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, severing a tendon between the thumb and index finger of his left hand. The injury required the 42-year-old sales representative at a private company to undergo follow-up treatment at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian, Kota Bharu, and take 23 days of medical leave beginning July 18.
Unaware that he was eligible for PERKESO benefits, Mohamad Suhaimi decided to try his luck by submitting a claim through the organisation’s portal. He was surprised to find his application approved.
Under Section 2(14A) of the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969, the incident was classified as a non-employment accident that occurred outside working hours and was personal in nature, making him eligible for the scheme’s benefits.
As an active contributor to the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme, Mohamad Suhaimi received a Temporary Disablement Benefit (FHUS) payment of RM680.80, as well as RM451 in medical bill benefits.
His case illustrates the principle behind LINDUNG 24-Jam: social protection should not end when a worker leaves the workplace.
The LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme, implemented by PERKESO on June 1, 2026, provides round-the-clock protection to eligible workers against non-work-related accidents.
EARLY BENEFICIARIES
The importance of the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme was also highlighted in a case involving a five-vehicle accident in Simpang Renggam, Johor, on June 1.
Two drivers who were injured, Husnizam Hisamudin, 43, and Muhammad Amirul Hazim Misnon, 22, were confirmed as the first recipients of benefits under the scheme following its implementation on the day of the accident.
Both men were eligible as active contributors under the Employees’ Social Security Act.
The next of kin of the three people who died in the accident were also eligible for the relevant benefits under the scheme.
Arnold Nathanael Lister, 24, from Kampung Kaambazan Kolopis in Penampang, Sabah, was also among the scheme’s earliest beneficiaries. He suffered serious injuries in a fall while descending the stairs at his home on June 6.
The accident occurred at about 5.20 am as Arnold was getting ready for work. He sustained a spinal fracture and underwent surgery to have implants inserted to stabilise his spine.
The baker received Temporary Disablement Benefit along with other assistance provided by PERKESO to support his recovery and help him return to normal life.
For contributors such as Arnold, the protection extends beyond covering medical expenses following an accident. It also helps ease their financial burden while they undergo treatment and are unable to work.
PERKESO records show that during the first three months of implementation, from June 1 to Aug 31, the organisation received 6,330 claims under the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme, averaging about 69 cases a day.
Benefit payments disbursed to contributors during the period amounted to RM9.97 million.
The government had initially decided to make contributions to the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme compulsory for all workers in Malaysia from June 1. However, the policy was subsequently revised, making participation voluntary instead.
CHANGING CONCEPT OF SOCIAL PROTECTION
Commenting on the scheme, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia senior lecturer in the Actuarial Science and Risk Management Programme Associate Prof Dr Mazlynda Md Yusuf said the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme has transformed the concept of social protection in Malaysia.
She said social protection has traditionally been associated with accidents occurring in the course of employment or while commuting to and from work. Under the new scheme, however, coverage has been extended to 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including public holidays.
“The scope of protection now covers accidents occurring outside working hours, including during weekend recreational activities, holidays and family activities at home.
“This represents a major development in the country’s social security landscape, particularly for PERKESO contributors,” she said.
More than just a safety net for workers who suffer mishaps, LINDUNG 24-Jam may also reduce the reliance of lower-income groups on government assistance, family members or non-governmental organisations, Mazlynda said.
“For lower-income families, this support is particularly meaningful as it helps ease their financial burden, especially when contributors are unable to work for a certain period due to injuries or disability,” she said.
She added that the contribution rates are also affordable as deductions are calculated based on percentages set by the government, meaning that workers earning lower salaries would pay less each month.
EXPANDING SOCIAL SAFETY NET
Mazlynda said the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme also differs from existing insurance policies in Malaysia, particularly in how contributions and coverage are determined.
She explained that insurance policies usually adopt a “risk-based pricing” approach, whereby premiums and coverage benefits are determined by an individual’s risk profile and the amount of coverage selected.
This approach allows policyholders to choose coverage according to their respective needs.
However, she said the monthly premiums could pose a challenge for some individuals, particularly those with limited financial means.
Contributions to the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme, on the other hand, are calculated as a percentage of workers’ salaries, with rates ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 percent, subject to a salary ceiling of RM6,000.
“I see this initiative as part of the government’s efforts to expand the social protection safety net, enabling more workers to obtain protection against non-employment accidents at contribution rates linked to their income and affordability.
“In my view, this coverage helps narrow the protection gap, particularly among lower-income individuals who want insurance or takaful protection,” she said.
Mazlynda added that LINDUNG 24-Jam should be viewed as a complement to private insurance or takaful, rather than a competitor.
“The scheme also provides certain benefits that may not be available under private insurance or takaful policies, such as coverage for non-employment accidents. In this regard, it serves as an affordable means of strengthening the financial protection of workers and their families,” she said.
INITIATIVE BY PERKESO TO PROTECT WORKERS
Meanwhile, PERKESO Group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said LINDUNG 24-Jam was introduced to ensure that workers and their families remain protected by the social security safety net, recognising that accidents and misfortunes could occur anytime, anywhere and under any circumstances.
He said social protection systems need to keep pace with workers’ increasingly dynamic lifestyles and should not cease once working hours end.
“Accidents do not happen only at the workplace,” he said, adding that before LINDUNG 24-Jam was introduced, a total of 38,676 accident claims were rejected between 2015 and May 2026 because they fell outside the scope of employment-related accidents.
“This scheme was therefore introduced to ensure that the social security safety net remains with workers wherever they go and whenever they need it.”
Mohammed Azman added that coverage under the scheme is not limited to work-related incidents but also extends to accidents in everyday life, including those occurring at home, while on holiday, during sports or recreational activities, and when travelling for personal reasons within Malaysia, subject to the prescribed eligibility requirements.
He cited a case involving a worker who suffered an injury after being bitten by a stray cat, leaving the bone in his finger exposed. The incident was also covered under the scheme.
Mohammed Azman also said that according to the latest statistics, more than 11 million workers in Malaysia, including local and foreign workers and domestic workers (such as housemaids and gardeners), are covered by the Employees’ Social Security Act and eligible for protection under LINDUNG 24-Jam.
He also pointed out that formal-sector workers in Malaysia spend only about 33 percent of their total time in a year working, with the remaining 67 percent spent outside working hours.
“The remaining 67 percent, equivalent to about 244 days a year, does not change a person’s status as a worker, even when they are on leave. If they suffer an accident outside working hours that affects their ability to earn a living, what happens to their income and socioeconomic well-being?
“For this reason, social security protection in Malaysia should not be confined to the workplace or working hours, but should instead be more comprehensive,” he said.
CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM PERKESO
Mohammed Azman also stressed that LINDUNG 24-Jam is not a one-off payment scheme but provides ongoing support to safeguard the livelihoods of contributors and their families.
He said contributors who suffer injuries in accidents are entitled to various benefits, including income replacement through the Temporary Disablement Benefit for the duration of their approved medical leave.
PERKESO also provides medical benefits, including coverage for implants, while contributors who suffer permanent disabilities are entitled to receive Permanent Disablement Benefit as well as physical and vocational rehabilitation services to help them return to work.
For severe disability cases, where contributors are unable to care for themselves, an allowance is available to support their caregivers. In the event of a fatal accident, eligible dependants can receive the Funeral Benefit and periodic Dependants’ Benefit payments to help sustain their livelihoods.
He said LINDUNG 24-Jam was established to ensure that no worker is left without protection when faced with unforeseen circumstances.
According to studies, about 96 percent of Malaysia’s B40 group has no insurance coverage, raising concerns about how they and their families would cope financially if an accident or misfortune affects their ability to work.
“LINDUNG 24-Jam is a national social security instrument founded on the principle of solidarity. We share the risks to ensure that workers, including those who may not be able to afford private insurance policies, still have basic protection.
“PERKESO’s safety net can be regarded as the last line of defence against workers falling into poverty following an accident or misfortune. Private insurance, meanwhile, can serve as an additional layer of protection based on an individual’s needs and financial capacity,” he said.
SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS, SUBSTANTIAL PROTECTION
Mohammed Azman said PERKESO expects the number of claims to increase in line with accident trends in Malaysia.
Between June 1 and July 31, 2026, PERKESO received 2,751 claims under the LINDUNG 24-Jam scheme, of which 2,504 were approved, averaging about 45 applications a day.
During the same period, benefit payments amounted to RM4.69 million, including RM3.69 million for rehabilitation equipment and implants, and RM909,800 in Temporary Disablement Benefit payments.
He said the figures did not include long-term benefits paid to 64 recipients, comprising dependants of contributors, who received a total of RM2.1 million during the period.
“Among the incidents covered were road accidents during personal journeys, including trips back to one's hometown, as well as accidents during recreational and sporting activities.
“These figures demonstrate that expanding coverage enables more workers to receive the assistance they need, rather than risk being left without protection when misfortune strikes,” he said.
He added that workers’ concerns about the monthly contributions should be assessed in terms of the value of protection received, rather than simply the amount deducted from their salaries.
For example, a worker earning RM3,000 a month would contribute about RM22.15 monthly. If the worker is involved in an accident and is granted six months, or 180 days, of medical leave, the Temporary Disablement Benefit could amount to RM8,490.
The amount would be equivalent to approximately 32 years of contributions, illustrating how relatively small monthly payments could provide substantial protection when workers need it most, he said.
“I do not see contributions merely as money deducted from our salaries. Instead, they are small amounts we set aside today to ensure that we and our families have protection if something unexpected happens.
“Think of the contributions as an investment rather than a burden. We always hope to be spared from misfortune, but at the same time, we need to be prepared should something untoward happen in the future,” he said.
UNDERSTANDING THE SCHEME
Describing the public's initial resistance to LINDUNG 24-Jam as stemming from a lack of understanding, Mohammed Azman said PERKESO is addressing the issue through greater public education and awareness efforts.
“Initially, public reaction focused more on the amount they have to pay than on the value of the protection and benefits they could receive if misfortune struck. Various opinions and interpretations of the scheme shared on social media also influenced public acceptance.
“However, following intensified outreach and explanatory efforts, more people have begun to understand the importance of LINDUNG 24-Jam,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of contributors ensuring that their employers registered them correctly, while keeping track of their contributions and understanding the benefits available should they suffer an accident.
“I always look at it this way… we do not wait until a house catches fire before looking for a fire extinguisher. The same applies to social protection. We need to know our rights and the protection available to us before misfortune strikes.
“Efforts to improve public understanding of LINDUNG 24-Jam and PERKESO’s social security protection will therefore continue to be strengthened to ensure that more Malaysians understand their rights, benefits and the protection available to them,” he added.
-- BERNAMA