IS THERE A RIGHT RETIREMENT AGE?

Here we go again. Yet another round of viewpoints regarding increasing the retirement age. This came after Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said suggested that the government consider raising the retirement age to 65.

It was her personal opinion but it opened the flood gates of debate from the public on whether this was a good or bad idea.

My view on this? Neither good nor bad, but unavoidable, inevitable.

The number of countries opting to raise their retirement age is growing. In the majority of countries in Europe, the retirement age is 65 and above, with Denmark and Norway leading at 67.

What about Asia? Singapore is following suit. It plans to raise the statutory retirement age from 63 to 65 and the re-employment age from 68 to 70 in 2026. For Japan, it’s 65. For Korea, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand, it’s 60 but it will likely be raised in the coming years. China is also joining the lineup.

For decades since 1950, the retirement age in China has remained at 50. It recently raised retirement age for the first time from 50 to 55 for women in blue-collar jobs, and from 55 to 58 for those in white-collar jobs. For men it will be increased from 60 to 63.

Two sides of the coin

The main argument against increasing the retirement age is that it deprives young job seekers of employment.

While this may be true to a certain extent, it’s primarily technology and mechanisation, not older workers, that is taking away jobs. Let’s not forget AI. It is already replacing workers in white-collar jobs. All this has nothing to do with the retirement age.

Based on DOSM figures, the unemployment rate stands at 3.1% for May 2025. The government is committed to ensuring unemployment is kept low. It does this by taking on the role as employer of last resort.

Malaysia has the largest civil service in the world in terms of ratio of civil service workforce to population: Over 1.6 million-strong to serve its 34.1 million population. The government will not be able to continue paying pension to an ever-growing number of pensioners. Currently there are an estimated 930,000 pensioners from the civil service, judges, former servicemen and senators.

The government is finding it a huge challenge to keep up with pension payments despite raising the retirement age from 55 to 60 in 2013. Hence the moveaway from pensions to EPF contributions.

The family structure has changed so drastically that parents can no longer expect their adult children to support them in their old age. Family size has shrunk, and with the grown children moving out to work or settle elsewhere, retired couples are often left to fend for themselves.

It’s a good idea to sit down at the family table and have a heart-to-heart discussion about the future scenario for the family 20 years down the road. What would it look like?

Here’s a very likely scenario: The adult children are now in their late 30s. Their parents are retirees in their early 60s, and their grandparents are in their early 80s. The adult children have to see their teenage children through further education, and still have to support their retired parents as well as their elderly grandparents.

Three-four generation families are becoming common. The longer life expectancy is both a boon and a bane. What this means is that the adult children have to support their parents as well as grandparents. Multiply that by two.

They mustn’t leave out parents-in-laws and grandparents-in-law. In total, the couple has to support eight older persons on top of supporting their own children! To top it, they have fewer siblings to share the cost of caring for the elderly family members.

This is already happening in many families now. It’s not a future reality. Our fertility rate is declining, as in most countries. Young people are delaying marriage.

When they do, they delay starting a family. When they are finally ready to have children, they want only one or two. The result – fewer siblings to share the heavy financial responsibility of supporting six to eight elderly family members.

Faced with such a reality, perhaps those in the 30s and 40s will not protest against increasing the retirement age.

Their parents will be able to work longer and be self-supporting. With their salary, they will be able to contribute financially towards supporting the family members, both young and old.

Thanks to better education and awareness of staying active and healthy, a growing number of those in their 60s, (and even 70s) are still hale and hearty. They are capable of working another five years or more. Give them the option to do so. Some may want to retire, let them. Some may need to continue working as their adult children are unable to support them, or they may need to help their adult children who are unable to find a job, or keep up with their financial commitments.

Stop gap solution

This is a temporary stop gap solution. No one wants to work indefinitely. Who doesn’t want to enjoy freedom from work, to have time to pursue their personal interests and not be at the beck and call of their boss.

What it comes down to is that family life and work life as we know it have changed drastically. This has impacted every aspect of our existence. We have to adjust, adapt and accept.

This is one way of looking at progress. Or survival. Quite similar to how we now look at the digital world. Adapt or be left behind while the rest of the world marches on.

This is the message to both young and old alike. And to countries too.

Governments simply can’t afford pension payouts when the older population keeps growing due to longer life expectancy and the younger population keeps shrinking due to lower fertility rate. Demographic changes have a huge impact on the economy, indeed on all aspects of life, and also on the family support system.

China abandoned their 1979 one-child policy in 2015 when they realised the adverse implications it had on support for the growing older population.

Whether we want to or not, whether we like it or not, the retirement age will continue to be raised. We don’t have to work till we drop dead, but at least allow older workers to continue working for as long as the retirement age allows them to. They will know best whether they are physically and mentally fit enough to continue working.

Employers also have the option to offer early retirement or not hire workers who do not satisfy the health requirements for the job.

Let’s not forget the social benefits of working longer. There are retirees who miss the social connections at work. When they stop working, life can become lonely. They miss their former colleagues. They miss the daily chat, the company outings and social functions. Isolation and loneliness can affect the mental health and wellbeing of older people.

If these retirees were your parents, wouldn’t you want them to continue working a few years longer and to remain independent longer? For young people who oppose raising the retirement age, be thankful that your working parents are self-supporting, and not a financial burden to you.

Regardless of whether the retirement age is 60, 65 or 70, everyone reaches that age one day. Everyone has parents and grandparents. Think of them when you think of whether to support the proposal to raise the retirement age. We need to look at the issue both objectively and subjectively, from the government’s point of view, from the employers’ stand and also from the perspective of both the young and the old. Perhaps then we can have a clearer picture of whether raising the retirement age is a “good or bad” idea.

We know what the answer is.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well.

(The original print version was published on Wed 4 June 2025 in the column 'Grey Matters'. The online versionn can be accessed at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/06/06/is-there-a-039right039-retirement-age)

MALAYSIA NEEDS A MORE SENIOR-FRIENDLY PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

 

Information about bus routes is not easily available at our bus stops. — LILY FU

My friends are amazed at how I have been able to move around the city and the suburbs without a car. I have been relying mostly on public transport and my two faithful legs since 1998. They say they wouldn’t have a clue how to take public transport to where they want to go. They intend to keep on driving for as long as possible.

There is currently no mandatory upper age limit on driving. But as age creeps up on them, the day will surely come when they have no choice but to hang up their car keys for good.

They will have to rely on friends to pick them up or opt for e-hailing rides. Or take public transport.

When that happens, they should be thankful our public transport has improved vastly. The horror days of the pink mini buses driven by wannabe Grand Prix drivers are long gone. So have the dirty stage buses that plied the streets polluting the environment with their exhaust fumes.

They have been replaced by buses and trains that are air-conditioned, comfortable and clean. There are free shuttle buses serving Kuala Lumpur city centre, Petaling Jaya and Penang.

Senior citizens aged 60 and above enjoy 50% off all RapidKL buses and LRT/MRT/Monorail trains. The trains run on time. Waiting time is generally short with an average of five minutes. Women’s coaches have been added for their safety and comfort. However, there is still room for improvement, especially for bus transport. It is the weak link in the overall public transport system.

Cater to our silvers too

According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) and research data, in 2023, there were 3.8 million citizens aged 60 and above. By 2030 this number is projected to reach 5.8 million (ageing nation status), and 6.4 million by 2040 (aged nation status).

This means a potential huge increase in elderly ridership. Has the government been busy making preparations to cope with this surge?

The World Health Organisation has a check-list of essential features of age-friendly cities. The section on public transportation covers various aspects such as availability, affordability, reliability and frequency, destinations, accessibility, and security. How does our public transport fare against this checklist?

Easy accessibility and convenience take top priority. Older people rely on public transport to get to community centres, health services and social functions. They walk to the nearest bus stop and take the bus to the nearest train station to get to their destination. Are the roads and walkways safe for them to do so? Overhead bridges are fine for the general public but a challenge for the elderly to climb up the steps.

Traffic lights at pedestrian crossings should be timed to allow older people ample time to cross busy roads. The traffic lights at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) pedestrian crossing stay green for only 30 seconds. It’s a mad dash across six lanes, even for young people, what more for senior citizens?

Information about bus routes is not easily available. Instead, there are all kinds of notices and advertisements plastered on the bus-shelter boards, for example, room to let, job vacancies and plenty of graffiti.

At some bus stops, route information is accessed through a laminated QR-code displayed on the board. Think about it, how many elderly have the QR-code scanner app installed on their mobile phones?

Those who do, how many actually know how to navigate the app and understand the instructions and directions?

The design of buses also leaves much to be desired for the elderly. The steps are too high for them to board easily. Bus drivers should get down and help those in wheelchairs to get on the bus. I have seen only one instance of a bus driver doing this. No wonder we hardly see anyone in wheelchair out on their own in the city.

Many drivers are impatient and start driving off without waiting for the elderly passengers to be safely seated.

It is imperative for bus drivers to show courtesy and follow procedures. They are supposed to stop the bus close to the kerb to pick up passengers.

This would make it easy for them to board the bus. They just step off the kerb onto the bus. In practice, the bus stops some distance away from the kerb. Passengers have to walk to the bus. During a downpour, this means walking through puddles of water to get on the bus.

Buses remain a vital link to the last mile destination. Yet they remain a poor cousin to the trains when it comes to overhauling or upgrading the public transport system.

Education is always key

Educating the public about respecting the elderly is also important. How many young people would give up their seats on the train for a senior citizen? They may do so for the disabled or a pregnant woman. But for an elderly? The priority seating sign is in every coach and announcements are made every few minutes, but few pay heed.

Younger commuters often remain seated, ignoring the elderly person standing in front of them. Sad to say, this happens all the time on trains and buses.

While the newer MRT lines and stations are a source of pride, the older LRT trains and stations need upgrading, especially the washrooms.

It is common to find at least two not in use due to water leakage or faulty flush. The taps at the wash basins are either loose or dry. And maintenance is sporadic.

It is the small inconveniences to the elderly that are often ignored or overlooked as being trivial or too inconsequential to pay attention to. But it is precisely the little things that matter.

It doesn’t take billions of dollars to make our public transport services and facilities age-friendly. Courteous and helpful drivers and station staff makes the travelling experience pleasant.

Sometimes one can’t help but wonder whether our city fathers and policy-makers are in touch with the realities on the ground. In focus groups, discussions, older persons who are regular commuters should be invited to give their views and suggestions. They know what is lacking and what needs improving.

Age-friendly facilities benefit everyone, not just the older population.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well.

(The above article was first published in the print media on Wed 7 May, 2025. The online edition can be accessed at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/05/07/senior-friendly-public-transport-system-needed)