PRESS RELEASE
Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek Glad to See Missouri State Employees' Retirement System Board Vote to Divest From China
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JEFFERSON
CITY, MO – Today, the Missouri State Employees' Retirement System (MOSERS)
Board of Trustees voted to divest the pension fund’s investments in China. The motion passed with a 9-2 vote. Treasurer
Malek, a member of the MOSERS Board of Trustees, issued the following statement
after the vote: “I am
grateful the majority of my fellow MOSERS Trustees have agreed that China is
too risky and unstable for investments of Missouri’s state retiree pension
funds. I’m glad we have made a better decision, which will protect the pension
funds for which we shoulder both legal and moral responsibilities of careful
stewardship. Investments in China simply carry a level of risk that is contrary
to the interests of our retirees, as well as the State of Missouri and the
United States. Today the MOSERS Trustees did the right thing.” In the days
leading up to the vote to divest from China, Treasurer Malek was grateful to
see Governor Mike Parson, United States Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.),
Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-3),
Congressman Mark Alford (MO-4), and Congressman Eric Burlison (MO-7) voice
their support for his effort. Treasurer
Malek said he hopes the MOSERS Board of Trustees vote will inspire the Missouri
General Assembly next year to take additional steps to ensure public dollars
are not invested in China. ###
Contact: Ray Bozarth, 573-298-1654
