STEPS FORWARD TO GO, MORE TO GO

 

The writer acknowledges that Malaysians are fortunate to live in a country where women’s rights are recognised. However, she notes that work still needs to be done towards increasing women’s participation in sectors like political and corporate leadership. — Freepik

My mother’s generation grew up in the World War Two era when women had no voice, no official role to play in society. They were the family nurturer and caregiver, roles thrust upon them which they accepted without complaint or protest.

Being meek and submissive were much sought-after virtues in young women of those days. Many didn’t even have a say in who they wanted as their life partner. Their parents or professional matchmakers made the choice for them.

They were brought up to be seen, not heard.

I recall a quote which compares women to a bonsai tree. It alludes to how, when society keeps women small, and restricts their growth, their branches can shelter no birds and their wood is never allowed to reach its strength. A similar sentiment was expressed by poet Marge Piercy, in her poem A Work Of Artifice, in which she uses the metaphor of the bonsai tree to describe how a woman’s growth is often deliberately curtailed by social expectations and patriarchal norms.

Women were like ornaments if they were pretty, much like the trophy wives of today. But if they were poor and rough, they were like work-horses. That was the worth of women in the old days.

The women from my mother’s era were mostly tough physically and mentally, often raising as many as 10 children singlehandedly, and managing all the housework literally with bare hands, while the men went out to work. And when the men returned home, the women looked after them too.

They were multi-skilled and could handle several diverse roles equally well – from doing the laundry, cooking, cleaning, feeding, nursing, disciplining and inculcating values in their children. It was a life of daily sweat, toil and stoicism.

The true emancipation of women came with access to education, from school right up to university. The women from my generation of Baby Boomers were the first to benefit from this. Paper qualifications opened the door to better jobs and financial independence. Women learned to drive and that gave them the freedom to venture further afield, explore more opportunities, develop confidence and cultivate a spirit of adventure.

Education opened up not only their eyes but more importantly, their minds. Women began to change their mindset and shed of their “I’m not good enough” mentality. They stopped viewing themselves as good only for child-bearing, housekeeping and bed-warming. They realised that given the right opportunities and support, they could excel in anything they chose.

The Malaysia Gender Gap Index (MGGI), 2025 records a small but positive rise in women’s participation in almost every sector. The exception is political empowerment where women represented only 16.1% of ministerial positions, and 13.5% in the House of Representatives. This disparity is significant and highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving gender balance in political leadership in Malaysia. As we shall see, this has ramifications in passing legislations to protect vulnerable women – those identified as poor, single, elderly, without much education, and unable to fend for themselves.

It’s also an uphill task for women to shine in the corporate sector.

Opportunities are there but limited, and gender discrimination is still practised. There is always this nagging concern that it’s money down the drain to train women and groom them into captains of industry. Once they are in the family way, they either go on extended maternity leave or opt out of the work force altogether to raise their children. It is no wonder young women opt to delay marriage and having children for as long as possible, or choose to remain single. Career and financial security come first.

Formidable force

Along with jobs came earning power and purchasing power. Today women consumers are a formidable force that cannot be ignored. They spur growth in the market and the economy. Among older women, the power of female ­consumers is even more profound as they are now reaping the benefits of having their retirement savings at their disposal.

Women are born shoppers. Women shop not only for themselves, but also for their children, their husbands and for their home. They decide what household appliances to buy, what groceries and health supplements for the family.

Increasingly, they are shopping for technical products too, such as laptops, mobile phones and other gadgets.

It is common knowledge from decades of observations that in most family ­households, it is the lady of the house who wields considerable influence on her husband when making decisions on big item purchases. A joint account also gives women more freedom to make purchases. They are often the ones who do the bookings, make reservations and handle the family’s accounts and budget. The rise in the number of single professional women as well as single moms further enlarges the pool of female consumers.

Indeed, women are making their numbers count in almost every sector of the economy and industry. More younger women are emerging as successful entrepreneurs, with many running their own online businesses.

We are fortunate to live in a country where women’s rights are recognised and the government places importance on the safety and protection of women and children.

Senior women (and one male ally) at the recent ‘Women in Tech: Innovating, Leading, Transforming the Future’ conference held in Kuala Lumpur, in conjunction with International Women’s Day recently. — LILY FU

Yes, we have come a long way since my mother’s World War Two days, thanks to decades of advocacy by women leaders like Zainah Anwar, Maria Chin Abdullah, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and Ivy Josiah. We are indebted to women-led NGOs like WAO (Women’s Aid Organisation), AWAM (All Women’s Action Society) and SIS Forum (formerly Sisters in Islam). They have remained strong defenders of women’s rights.

The United Nations’ theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.”

The fact that the UN sees the need to choose this theme is an indication that there is still work to be done to stop violence, discrimination and exploitation of women and girls.

We need to push for reforms in the protection of older women and men. According to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, almost 16% of the 30,228 cases of domestic violence from 2020 to January 2025 involved elderly victims. This is probably the tip of the iceberg. Official cases cannot be relied on as many abused elderly do not make reports, especially when the abuser is a family member.

With less than 16% women leaders in ministerial posts, it will be a long slow wait for legislation to be passed to protect our elderly against abuse and neglect. It has been more than 15 years since the Maintenance of Parents Act was brought up. Every year we are told the Senior Citizens Bill will be tabled, read in Parliament and passed. Well, there is still no sign of it.

How many more years do the elderly have to wait? Many are already in their twilight years.

The overall report card on the role of women going forward is fairly positive. Both the private and public sectors should be prepared and be ready to adjust projections for the 2030s and beyond.

Whether it’s on the domestic front, in social and corporate circles, in the economy, in aged care and retirement homes, the future is definitely female. And it’s not only because women enjoy longer life expectancy, it’s because they are making their presence felt in almost every sphere and walk of life. They are proving their worth after a history of suppression, repression and servitude. They are finally coming out on their own. There are still miles to go but there is momentum, there is acceleration, and that is an encouraging sign.

We have learned to appreciate small blessings, however slow they are in coming.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in the print edition of The Star on Wed 11 March 2026. It can be accessed HERE.)

FINDING FULFILMENT IN RETIREMENT

 

I retired in 2005 after teaching at the same school for 30 years. The first two years of retirement were blissful. I enjoyed the freedom of not having to wake up at dawn to get to work by 7am.

I had plenty of time on my hands to do what I wanted, go where and when the travel bug took me. After two years of self-indulgence, a certain emptiness, even boredom, started to creep in. I simply couldn’t see myself spending the next 20 years or more aimlessly drifting from one interest to another, searching for something that would ignite a passion in me.

I attended enrichment courses, signed up for personal development workshops and the like. I was searching, waiting, for what I didn’t know at the time. In the process I obtained certificates, one after another, qualifying me to conduct training workshops in leadership skills and language mastery. Still the vague feeling of something missing in my life remained.

I am sharing this as I know most newly retired seniors will experience this initial joy of freedom from work responsibilities and stress, like I did, and later on discover that retirement can be a long period of adjusting to a new chapter of life and plenty of searching for that elusive “meaning in life”.

How we handle this period of uncertainty will determine how our retirement years will turn out. With longer life spans, we need to find something that captures our interest and sustains it long enough to keep us looking forward to each new day. Otherwise, retirement can be long endless days of boredom. The days will stretch into weeks, months and years of emptiness, eventually leading to loneliness, depression and health issues. More so for those in their 80s, and living alone. One can see why some reach a point of saying they have nothing left to live for.

Where hope resides

I am a firm believer in hope, and in never giving up. Where there is hope, something will come our way. That was what happened to me.

In 2008 I read in the newspapers about a four-day programme for pre-retirees and retirees to help them “find purpose in the golden years”. It caught my attention. This was exactly what I was looking for.

It was an open invitation for Malaysians aged 50 and above to participate in the MIM-RAMLEA Life Enrichment programme, organised by the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) and supported by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Germany. The Raja Mohar Life Enrichment Awards (RAMLEA) Programme was named after the late YABM Raja Tun Mohar Raja Badiozaman, who served as the second MIM President.

It was just the opportunity for me, as I was still in search of my life’s purpose.

I immediately sent in my application and was fortunate to be among the 30-odd men and women selected for the free residential programme which ran from Oct 16-19, 2008 at the Flamingo Hotel in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

It was an intensive four days of talks, discussions, field visits and fellowship, beginning at 8.30am with the first talk of the day, and ending at 10.30pm with a group discussion and reflection.

The participants came from all walks of life. The common denominator was their age group. All were retiring or retired senior citizens, with the oldest aged 70. We were there probably for the same reason – to find out how we could render our services to society. To help us discover our purpose in life, the MIM-RAMLEA programme raised our awareness in areas such as community development, environmental conservation and volunteerism.

A week before the programme commenced, participants were sent a collection of required readings centered on Universal Values and Human Renewal. These included extracts from the speeches and writings of world luminaries like Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Hans Kung, Amartya Sen, Konosuke Matsushita, and our very own Harun Hashim. I found the readings intellectually stimulating.

To those wanting to work for the betterment of society, it was imperative that they understood universal values such as human rights, rule of law, and global ethics.

We had group discussions to brainstorm each of the readings, and came up with a list of 15 universal values and 15 concerns that mattered most to us as fellow Malaysians. Top of the list for universal values (in no particular order) were integrity, love, compassion, understanding, respect, and wisdom. Corruption, disharmony, poverty, environmental degradation, injustice and indifference were among the main concerns.

It made sense to me personally, that before we could even begin to help others, we should start with ourselves. Do we have the right mindset, the right attitude and the right attributes to embark on a mission to help the less fortunate in society? How serious are we in volunteering to help? Do we know enough of what’s at stake? If our answer to all these questions is no, then our contribution in terms of our dedication, time and effort would not be sustainable. We would soon give up after the initial enthusiasm of doing good.

We were introduced to the selfless work of NGOs such as Nasam (National Stroke Association of Malaysia) and Salam (Yayasan Salam Malaysia). We also paid a visit to the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB). The latter was an eye-opener for many of us. We wondered whether we had in us the same level of commitment and passion shown by volunteers like Puan Rosnah Alimuda, who had spent 35 years of her life (at the time) teaching visually-impaired children to read, write and count using Braille.

Participants were given a basic test to check their vital statistics for optimal health. Imagine our shock when we were told that the majority of us (including the thinnest) were classified as obese! It was truly a wake-up call for us to take better care of our health.

We tend to emphasise the importance of having good health, but often overlook the importance of cultivating a healthy mind. Participants went through a meditation session where we learned how to calm our mind. We were given an insight into how being mindful can positively impact our lives. Recommended reading were Eckhart Tolle’s two books: The Power Of Now and A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose.

Thanks to the MIM-RAMLEA programme, I finally found my purpose and direction in my golden years – to commit my time, energy and resources to serving the community, in particular, the community of senior citizens. Being one myself, I could relate to the needs and problems they go through.

A chosen path

Once my future direction was clear, everything fell into place. As I have often shared in my talks and conversations with the young and not so young alike, never give up even when the path you have chosen is fraught with challenges. Keep going.

When your passion is strong, it acts like a magnet drawing the right people to help you, attracting the resources to sustain you. It has worked extremely well for me, and it will work for you too.

Why am I sharing the above? It is to encourage retirees to do something constructive with the time they have. There are many NGOs that need more hands, more funds. Choose one that gels with you: Wildlife conservation, animal protection, recycling, preserving cultural heritage, mentoring youths, elder care, advocacy.

It can be helping out at soup kitchens or spending time cheering up the elderly at an aged care facility. We can also come up with projects to help raise much-needed funds for welfare organisations. If we can’t donate money, we can donate our time, our energy, our expertise. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing that we have helped. Volunteerism benefits us too. It promotes social interaction, builds confidence, and leads to overall wellbeing. It gives us a sense of achievement to know that we are not idling away, complaining of boredom and loneliness.

Let’s ask ourselves what we can do to help. Then go and offer it. We will find a sense of purpose and meaning in our retirement years. A sense of pride and peace too.

Trust me. It’s been an 18-year journey of community service and advocacy for seniors. I am still waking up each morning in anticipation of what the new day will bring, and what I can do to make it a good day for others too.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in the print edition on Wed 11 Feb 2026. It is accessible HERE.)

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS

 

It’s easy to say that age is just a number but when faced with the reality of our reflection in the mirror, we can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness and regret. — GRACE WILLIAM

Another new year has begun. Another year older for all of us. While the young eagerly look forward to a year full of possibilities, the old wish they could slow down the merciless march of time.

It’s easy to say that age is just a number but when faced with the reality of our reflection in the mirror, we can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness and regret. Can’t we slow down time? Can’t the hours stretch a bit longer? Can’t the earth spin a little slower?

A friend remarked this morning in our chat group that it’s quite depressing for seniors to be reminded that we will be one year older, and one step closer to kicking the bucket.

It’s true Baby Boomers are looking much younger than their age these days. After all, 60 is the new 40, they say, thanks in part to cosmetic aids and medical advances.

However, there are certain parts of the body that reveal our real age, that no amount of clever cosmetic tricks will cover up for long. Let’s leave aside surgical procedures that enhance one’s physical appearance. After all, how many of us have the financial resources to go down that expensive route to looking “youthful”?

This tongue-in-cheek post is dedicated to those among us to whom “60 is the new 40” does NOT apply. We look our age, and for some, even older than our age!

Facing the hard truth

Ageing doesn’t arrive all at once. It settles gradually into different parts of the body, sometimes so subtly we barely notice. While these changes are natural and deeply individual, some areas tend to reflect age more clearly than others. This list looks at 10 body parts that often reveal how time leaves its mark.

1. Face

No prizes if you got this right. The lines on our face tell the truth – that we are no spring chicks. More like autumn turkeys if you know what I mean. The lines reveal our age just like the rings on a tree tell how long it has been around.

2. Knees and elbows

From years of wear and tear, the skin covering these joints resemble the roughness and toughness of elephant skin or alligator skin. Take your pick.

3. Skin

Like the migratory birds that fly south during the winter months, our skin goes south too. Unfortunately for us, it is a permanent southward migration. In old age, our skin loses its elasticity and literally “hangs loose”.

4. Eyes

From “dreamy eyes” to “droopy eyes”. If only we could iron out those laughter lines or “crows feet” that surface each time we laugh out loud. No wonder we seldom see older women react to jokes no matter how hilarious!

5. Neck

Now you know why older women wear scarves or opt for clothes with a high collar despite the discomfort in our hot weather. The dreaded “turkey neck” syndrome afflicts all of us, sooner or later.

Our wrinkled, gnarled hands are often a dead giveaway of our age. — Pexels

6. Hands

There is no way we can hide our wrinkled, gnarled hands. They are a dead giveaway of our age. When my grandson was four, he was fascinated by the folds on my hands and kept trying to see if he could smoothen them out!

7. Hair

Not only does our hair turn grey, silver, white, it goes into free-fall whenever we brush it. The horror of removing clumps of hair from the hair brush and from the bathroom floor. See a senior man wearing a cap, you can bet he’s hiding a bald patch.

8. Teeth

The number dwindles with advancing age. Only solution – dentures or implants. That explains why most older folks prefer soft foods, and why they avoid showing teeth when they smile.

9. Breasts

This affects women more than men. No longer firm and perky, the breasts now swing freely and resemble a certain elongated fruit – papaya. Padded bras are the cheaper alternative for those who can’t afford breast implants or dread surgery of any kind.

10. Private parts

This body part in older men spends more time hanging down than pointing up. No amount of massage or Tongkat Ali will revive it to its former glory. Fortunately, there’s the little blue pill – a life-saver for grandpas that still want some action.

Look beyond the signs of ageing

Depressing, isn’t it? We miss how we used to look. No wonder many of us avoid looking in the mirror, especially a full-length one. The years do take a toll on our body.

If we look at ourselves in the mirror when we wake up on the first day of the new year, and especially on the morning of our birthday each year, if all we see are sagging skin and greying hair or a bald patch, no wonder we feel depressed.

The secret is to switch our focus, to look beyond, or deep inside that reflection in the mirror. We will see that youthful, playful spirit still dwelling within all of us. Try it. I have, and I can tell you it works!

Growing old is natural and inevitable. So why fight it or try to reverse it? We should look at our wrinkles as life-lines of experience, and our greying hair as threads of wisdom.

Begin each day with a smile at ourselves in the mirror. Say “Hi” to that person smiling back at us. Not only does smiling make us look younger, it also brightens up our day. No need for Botox fillers or cosmetic surgery. Share that smile with the people we come into contact with during the day.

Or would we rather wake up grouchy and whining about our aches and pains, and complaining about how the world owes us our happiness? Do we want to spend the whole day spreading misery to those around us, and looking for people to wallow in self-pity with? What an utter waste of precious time! No wonder we are poor company for our friends and grandchildren!

And we wonder why young people see us as decrepit old fogies ready to crumble into dust or ashes any minute. That’s how many of us see ourselves too. Is that why we avoid looking at the mirror unless we have our make-up on? A smile works much better than cosmetics – it lifts up our face instantly and pushes back the years.

Let’s focus on our many blessings. We should be grateful we can wake up to greet each new dawn and enjoy each beautiful sunset. As is often said, growing old is a privilege denied to many. This is so true as we all know of friends who have left us way too soon.

Looking great has a lot to do with feeling great. It’s more important to remain young at heart and in spirit than looking young in appearance. A truly loving spouse or friend will see beyond the external and look deep into that beauty of soul and spirit that still reside inside all of us. We must continue to nurture that inner youthfulness and keep it forever young.

It’s really up to us, isn’t it, how we want to live each day, each year. Let’s not smile only for the camera. Let’s have a smile in our hearts too. Smile more and spread smiles as we welcome another new year.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in the print edition on Wed 14 Jan 2026. It is accessible HERE.)

MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE TO MY ROLE MODEL - TERESA HSU

Teresa with adopted son Sharana Rao

The first time I met Singapore’s supercentenarian, Teresa Hsu, was on Oct 20, 2008, a day after attending the MIM- RAMLEAN life enrichment programme. I had just spent four days from 16-19 Oct with 32 senior citizens ranging from 50 to 70 years of age. We were all looking to discover meaning and purpose in our sunset years, and here was a 110-year old woman who had already found her calling early in life.

Teresa had been invited by YPO (Malaysia Chapter) for a dialogue session on “Healthy at 110”. 110 and still actively involved in community work and traveling around to give motivational talks. How does she do it? I most certainly wanted to find out from her.

My daughter, Belle, with Teresa after the talk.

I was half expecting to see a frail, wrinkly old lady with fading eyesight and hearing loss. When I finally met her, I was completely bowled over by her clarity of vision, her infectious laughter, her natural wit and her mental agility. She could have easily passed for 40 years younger.

Teresa’s life story makes for fascinating reading. Born in 1898 in Guangdong, China, she has lived in three different centuries and seen more than she wanted of the horrors of war, hunger, poverty and disease.

(Image: Singapore Remembers)

From the age of four, Teresa learned to make herself useful with a broom. Her world was one of constant sweeping, cleaning and doing housework. She was deprived of an education in China where only males were allowed to attend school. But when her family moved to Penang in 1927, she managed to persuade the nuns at the convent where she was working as a cleaner to let her study with the children. Four years later, she passed her Senior Cambridge. With that under her belt, she left for Hongkong, and later Chongqing to work as a stenographer and bookkeeper with a German news agency.

In 1937, she quit her job and volunteered to help the injured soldiers during the Sino-Japanese War. When World War Two broke out, Teresa was once again witness to the suffering of the sick and wounded. Determined to learn nursing so that she could better help those in need of medical attention, she left for London in 1947. Despite being overaged at 47, her sincerity and dedication helped her gain acceptance into the Royal Free Hospital where she developed her nursing skills over the next eight years.

While in London, she joined the International Voluntary Service for Peace and travelled around Europe to help the needy and promote peace. Hearing about her willingness to serve in return for food and lodging, Bruderhof, a German charity group, invited Teresa to work with German Jewish refugees in hospitals and homes in Paraguay. She was to remain there for the next eight years.

Teresa and her volunteers dishing out food for the poor
and hungry. (Image: Singapore Remembers).

.

In her mid-50s, Teresa returned to Malaysia to see her ailing mother. While there she also helped her brother start the Assunta Foundation in Ipoh. She later went on to establish three homes for the elderly and two homes for young girls and the neglected, all in Ipoh.

In 1961, Teresa went to live with her older sister, Ursula, in Singapore. Seeing how devoted Teresa was to helping the less fortunate, Ursula bought a piece of land with her savings from her work as principal of the Convent for the Holy Infant Jesus in Bukit Timah. There Teresa started Singapore’s first Home for the Aged Sick in 1965 at the age of 67.

(Image: Wikipedia)

In 1970, with the increase in the number of inmates and the lack of funds to keep the Home running, the sisters signed over the deeds of the Home to the Rotary Club which then took over the management of the Home. It was renamed Society for the Aged Sick. Teresa stayed on as matron till 1980 when she was asked to retire at age 83.

(Image: Wikipedia)

Not one to settle for passive retirement, Teresa started the Heart-to-Heart Service with her co-worker Sharana Yao from her sparsely-furnished house next to the Society for the Aged Sick. Today she remains actively involved in the weekly distribution of food and provisions to the elderly in need.

A keen practitioner of life-long learning, Teresa continues to expand her knowledge by reading and learning new skills. She has a collection of more than 2000 books all donated, and is currently reading the Bhagavad-Gita for the eighth time. It’s incredible that at her age she reads without the aid of glasses. At 69, she learned yoga and has incorporated it into her daily rituals. At 90, she embraced Buddhism. At 100, she picked up Mandarin and now speaks it fluently. She also speaks Malay, French, German, Spanish and four Chinese dialects. At present, Teresa is busy learning Sanskrit.

When asked about her longevity, Teresa attributes it to a spartan lifestyle, a vegetarian diet, healthy habits, and a positive outlook on life.

Some quotable quotes from Teresa:

"I never harbor negative thoughts as this will distract my focus in getting on with life and work."

“There are no naughty children – only naughty parents.”

“When you greet people with a smile, people will feel happy and smile back. If you pull a long face, people will not feel happy and pull a long face back at you.”

“Crying wastes tissue paper, and cuts down trees. It’s better to laugh.”

“If you see someone fall, you do not ask him why he did not see the stone. You help him up and ask him to be more careful next time.”

“If I’m married, I make only one man happy. If I’m not married, I make many people happy.”

“The answers are not from me. They are just out there.”

“The world is my home, all living beings are my brothers and sisters, selfless service is my religion.”

“I prefer to laugh than to weep. Those people who cry to me, I say is your body full of water? I always tell them it is better to laugh than to use tissue paper, as laughing is free but tissue paper costs five cents. 'Ha ha ha' costs no cents.”

“If I stay at home, I just ha-ha to myself. If I go out and ha-ha with 20 people, I make 20 people happy.”

“I don’t give. Giving means I have and you don’t have. I share – I share all I have, except ice cream and durians!”

“The whole world is one big family. All human beings are related to me. We may not have the same surname, but we share the same universal surname – human beings. And that’s good enough for me.”

“What do I think about death? I don’t know. I haven’t been there yet. Have you?”

"No one has ever explained religion or spirituality satisfactorily to me. My religion is my conscience, and my conscience guides me."

“If you think old, you are old. If you think young, you are young. Even when you are 100+, you can still do a lot.”

“Why am I a vegetarian? Do you want to cause pain for your pleasure? Ask yourself that, and you won’t dare to put a knife to their (animals and fish) throat.”

Over the years, Teresa has received numerous accolades in recognition of her humanitarian work. But she remains humble, preferring to shift focus from herself to her work at Heart-to-Heart Service.

Teresa was delighted with the pen Belle gave her.

My daughter, Belle, and I recently spent one whole morning with Teresa and Sharana in Singapore. Teresa graciously welcomed us into her home and even sang a jolly German song and a traditional Cantonese nursery rhyme to entertain us! Teresa enjoys laughing and we had plenty of it that morning.

She was delighted when Belle gave her a pen from an Anthony Robbins seminar she had attended. Teresa amazed us when she proudly read aloud the small inscription "Living is Giving". No need for eye glasses. "I like that," she said simply of both the pen and the inscription.

Later, we joined Teresa and Sharana on their weekly visit to distribute provisions to some elderly ladies in Chinatown. It was a truly enriching and inspiring experience for us to be in Teresa's company and listen to her words of humour and wisdom.

Teresa distributing essential items to the elderly in Chinatown. (Pic: Lily)

Teresa is proof that it really doesn’t take much to live a long, happy, healthy and fulfilling life. As for Teresa herself, she says, “I hope to live till 250! In this world, there are still many poor people who need help from others. I can't leave too soon!"

Teresa loves to read. Here she's browsing
Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now". (Pic: Belle)

May you enjoy double happiness and double longevity, Sister Teresa!

POSTSCRIPT: The above article has been updated and revised from the original written in December 2008. My daughter Belle and I developed a friendship with Teresa till she passed on in December 2011. Our three years with her were fulfilling ones for all of us. Belle helped to make her wish come true - she had wanted to visit her nursing school in the UK one more time. Belle was able to secure a business class return air ticket from Singapore Airlines for Teresa. She accompanied Teresa and Sharana for the entire visit.

Teresa was all smiles to revisit Royal Free Hospital for their centennial.

Like a little girl flying her first kite. A picture of pure joy!

The above photo taken by Belle remains one of my all-time faviurite photo of Teresa. She was eager to try new experiences like flying this beautiful kite. Belle also invited her to watch the night Grand Prix from the hotel where we were staying. On another occasion we introduced her to Anthony Robbins and his wife Sage. They were in Singapore for their 'Unleash the Power Within' event.

Anthony Robbins was honoured to meet Teresa.
(Pic: Belle)

Camera shy. Visiting Teresa at her home.

I have been asked countless times in interviews and by friends what made me start SeniorsAloud, who my role model is, and what drives my purpose in life. This is my reply below.

I started SeniorsAloud blog in May 2008. Blogging was popular then. Facebook was in its early years. It was tough going and a challenge for me to carry on as I was also recovering from a major operation in June. I was ready to give up my plan of starting a seniors community. It was destiny that a few months later in October, I met Teresa. She became my inspiration, and has remained my role model to this day.

On looking back over the years, I owe Teresa my inner strength, my passion in serving the elderly, and my continuing journey in active living and lifelong learning.

THE FIGHT FOR DIGNITY IN LATER LIFE

The United Nations Human Rights Day falls on December 10 every year. The Bar Council has been organising the Human Rights Festival since the first one in 2022. This year, the event was extra significant as Chief Justice Datuk Seri Utama Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh was there to launch the MyBar Pro Bono Hub. The initiative offers a range of services, including support to help seniors access their legal rights.

These rights (or principles) cover the right to independence, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.

Let me comment on each of these five rights. My views come from my personal interaction with the homeless elderly during the months filming on location in the inner-city areas, and from my conversations with members of my senior community.

The right to independence

Older persons should have the right to decide for themselves, where they want to live in their old age, what to eat, how to dress, who to go out with, how to spend their time and money, and which aged care home to move to.

This also extends to their will and legacy, who and what to bequeath to; their relationships, whether they should get married again or just co-habitate with someone they like. In short, any decision that concerns them. Their adult children and well-meaning friends may offer advice, but the final decision rests with them.

Independence also covers end-of-life decisions including how they want to depart i.e. burial or cremation, what religious rites or none at all, indeed, all decision right down to the choice of obituary photo. It is their life and they should have a major say in it, as long as they are still capable of making decisions on their own.

The right to participation

Senior citizens looking for a job should not be discriminated against based solely on age. If they meet all the job specifications, they should be given a fair opportunity to be considered for the job. The same applies to participation in learning. Registration for workshops, courses and training should be open to all, including older persons.

If the learners are all older persons, the instructor should be familiar with geragogy – the principles of teaching older learners with age-related limitations, for example, hearing loss and vision impairment.

Participation also extends to retirees who may want to volunteer their service to NGOs or help out at community events and projects. They want to be useful, to do their bit for society. Give them the opportunity to do so. They should also be allowed to start an association, an enterprise or a movement if they have the required capabilities and skills.

Government resources like scholarships for further studies and upskilling opportunities should be made available to retired persons too.

Our booth at the 3rd Human Rights Festival. You can view our documentary 'Meniti Senja' on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVruZrBSr7Y&t=53s

The right to care

Every human being, from cradle to grave, deserves care. It should come not only from the family, but also from the community, society and government. Care goes beyond healthcare.

It extends to protection, safety and support, shelter and food. When a family no longer cares for its elderly members, that’s when the latter ends up in welfare homes or on the streets.

Take a walk in the downtown city areas, you are bound to come across heart-breaking scenes of elderly men and women rummaging through garbage bins looking for plastic bottles or aluminum cans, or collecting discarded cardboard boxes to sell for a pittance.

These seniors should be enjoying their golden years pursuing their passions and playing with their grandchildren, not eking out a living.

It is hard to understand how anyone could be all alone in the world, with no family members or friends to turn to in times of need.

No one wants to be in a situation like this. No one deserves to be in a situation like this.

It can happen to anyone. Even the wealthy can end up poor and homeless if an unexpected calamity befalls them.

Having good relationships with family and friends reduces the risk of abandonment and social isolation in old age.

The right to self-fulfillment

Think only the young have dreams? Older persons have them too. Retirees now have the time and financial means to make their dreams come true. Some go back to school to earn a degree, some sign up for courses to turn their passion into income, some look for opportunities to improve their singing, dancing or music talent. One senior I know took up a course in Cantonese opera performance. The sky is not even the limit for unfulfilled dreams. Another found his calling in doing commercials.

Love to travel? Go for it. If you have always wanted to travel to Antarctica, go join Yusuf Hashim’s tour group. He’s 79 and has been there several times.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too old to do something or that you lack the ability to do it. You know yourself best. As oft repeated, If not now, then when? At our age, opportunities don’t come knocking often, not even twice.

The right to dignity

No one should victimise, ridicule or disrespect anyone on the basis of age. Older persons should not be the brunt of ageist jokes or be made to feel worthless just because they may not be well educated or earning an income. In the same breath, seniors must also be deserving of respect in their actions, speech and attitude towards others.

Respect is earned through our behaviour, how we treat others and how we react to situations. We can do better – treat others with respect even when they may not respect us. Life is not a tit-for-tat. Revenge and other toxic emotions should never have a place in our heart. They can poison our health, both physical and mental.

To me, the top three evils that older persons should be protected against are the 3As: Ageism, Abuse, Abandonment. It takes a whole-of-society and a whole-nation approach to stamp out such violations of human rights. In our youth, we helped build the country. When we are no longer in our prime, we should not be marginalised, ignored, forgotten, and worse of all victimised.

We can’t force others to uphold these human rights, but we can start with ourselves. Let’s begin the new year with the commitment to respect others and be a better human being, to care for others, to forgive and forget and to move on, to live life as best as we can, to take care of ourselves and those who can no longer care for themselves. If you can’t do it alone, join a community group or start our own. It’s never too late, and we are never too old to do good.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in The Star on Wed 17 Dec 2025. It can be accessed under the title 'A Matter of Rights' at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/12/17/the-fight-for-dignity-in-later-life)

The Age of Financial Uncertainty

What most older working Malaysians look forward to besides retirement is withdrawing their EPF savings. Quite understandable. After all, retirement is sweeter when we have money to spend on what we have been planning for.

We have worked long years and have diligently contributed to Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Finally, it is time to enjoy the fruits of our hard labour!

It came as no surprise, therefore, when World Bank Malaysia recommended recently in their report that the EPF withdrawal age be raised to at least 60, there was swift public outcry to this proposal.

The main thrust of the World Bank Malaysia Report was to argue the case for expanding social pensions and providing coverage for a rapidly ageing population. By 2030 an estimated 15% of our population will be 60 and above. There was an urgent need to ensure no one falls below the poverty line.

Social pension refers to financial support given to the elderly. Eligibility could be means-based or age-based, with contribution coming from government revenues. A good example is the current Bantuan Warga Emas (Senior Citizens Assistance) where eligible elderly receive RM600 a month.

Is this sum adequate? Can the government afford to expand the recipient base? Where would the funds come from? What are the trade-offs?

However, the immediate reaction from the public was not to address the above questions.

These would best be left to the economists and policy-makers, but rather it was aimed at the proposals to raise the EPF withdrawal age from the current 55 for partial withdrawal to 60 for full or monthly/flexible withdrawal. It was also proposed that the retirement age be raised from the present 60.

These proposals did not go down well with EPF contributors.

The World Bank Malaysia Report argued the case for expanding social pension and provide coverage for a rapidly ageing population. The report can be downloaded at 
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/publication/should-malaysia-expand-its-social-pension-global-evidence-design-issues-and-options

Cool heads needed 

The outcry was not unexpected. Any proposals to delay access to their savings would meet with opposition. We need to have cool heads to reflect on this issue.

First of all, the average life expectancy has gone up to 76. Retirees in their 60s and even early 70s are generally fitter and able to continue working if they choose to. Countries like India and China have raised their retirement age to 60. For Denmark, Australia and the Netherlands, it’s 67. The rest of the world is likely to follow suit.

How would the proposal to expand social pension coverage and adequacy benefit the elderly?

It would certainly help towards poverty reduction for the recipients and their households. It would also reduce financial inequality in the population. Aid recipients will have an option to stop working and help out with the family, for example, in minding the grandchildren.

Relief from the necessity to work will translate into better physical and cognitive health for the recipients – less stress and depression, and improved overall wellbeing.

If the retirement age is raised, workers can save more with EPF, and with compound interest, they can amass a decent nest egg for their old age. This would lighten the financial responsibility for adult children to support their parents. The latter would remain financially independent for a longer period.

It is simple math to estimate how much we need upon retirement based on our current monthly expenses. Multiply that by the number of years we expect to live, and we can get a rough figure. Check that against what we have in our EPF and we should be able to gauge our financial position and decide whether to go back to work. Hence the worldwide trend for countries to raise the retirement age. If we decide to quit the work force at 60 (many even earlier), guess who will have to support them in their old age? Their adult children and the government.

Let’s not forget informal workers such as family helpers, street vendors and gig workers who do not contribute to any institutional savings fund, and therefore have no financial support in their old age.

Even with EPF savings, only around 36% of active contributors meet the existing Basic Savings level of RM240,000 at age 55. Is that sufficient to live on for the next 15 to 20 years?

Based on EPF statistics, 6.3 million members under the age of 55, or 48 per cent, have less than RM10,000 in their accounts. That works out to a retirement income of less than RM42 per month for a period of 20 years! Reflect on that, and we can understand why there is urgent need to expand social pension coverage in Malaysia, as recommended in the World Bank Malaysia report.

Financial literacy

Prudent money management is vital when it comes to ensuring our savings can support us through the years of retirement. Whether we are in the B40 or M40 group, money is never enough. We could always do with more. But where do we draw the line?

Having access to EPF savings or receiving social pension does not necessarily mean we have sufficient funds to see us through our retirement.

For one, we can’t afford to help our grown children with huge sums of money. Remember, retirement funds are for our retirement, and not for expensive weddings, luxury holidays, and children’s tertiary education. While it’s fine to donate small amounts to charity, it’s not okay to be paying for our adult children’s housing mortgage, post-graduate studies, car loans, and credit card debts. They are old enough to fund their own plans and pursuits, and deal with any financial commitments themselves.

Some adult children become so used to parental support that they expect their parents to step in whenever they need an injection of funds. The financial aid has to stop once the children start earning.

With longer life expectancy comes the need for retirees to look after their elderly parents who are in their 90s. That could mean paying for their healthcare and medical expenses.

If there is one single item that will swallow up all our hard-earned savings at one go, it has got to be medical expenses. Long-term care can drain our retirement funds. We are fortunate to have access to free or minimal charges for the elderly at public hospitals and clinics. We should appreciate that.

The smartest tip for retirees to stretch their savings is to invest in an active and healthy lifestyle.

Last week I met with some families with elderly members living in government low-cost apartments (PPR). I wanted to find out how they were managing their household expenses.

For those living alone with minimal savings, receiving RM600 a month is hardly enough. They have been told the current rental of RM124 for their apartment would soon be raised to RM250. They worry about whether they would be ­evicted if they are unable to keep up with rental payment. They had no knowledge of the proposals in the World Bank Malaysia report. For them, their main concern was bread-and-butter issues and receiving government subsidies, which they say do not adequately cover their living expenses. Still, they are grateful for any support.

A few said they did not receive any financial aid from the government and asked how to apply for it. Not all were aware of the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) one-off RM100 cash assistance for Malaysians aged 18 and above to purchase certain provisions effective from November to December this year via their MyKad. There should be a more effective system of keeping the elderly informed of government aid, and how to apply for it.

This is the reality on the ground for these families in the B40 group.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in the print edition of The Star on Wed 19 Nov 2025. The online version can be accessed at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/11/20/the-age-of-financial-uncertainty)

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN OUR AGEING SOCIETY

 

There's a poignant adage that while one mother can care for ten children, ten children often struggle to care for one mother.

Personally, I feel we can no longer bring this up each time there is a discussion about elderly neglect, abuse or abandonment. In the first place, it is becoming a rarity these days to find a family with more than five children. The demographics show a steady decline in the fertility rate. It currently stands at 1.9, down from a high of 2.9 in 2000. The average of one or two children is becoming the norm now for young couples.

Furthermore, children will eventually leave the family home to further their studies or seek employment elsewhere either locally or abroad. The end outcome is the rise in the number of empty nesters. An estimated 10% of our senior citizens live alone. This trend is continuing. Smaller family size means fewer siblings to share the financial, physical and filial responsibility of taking care of their elderly parents.

Not all children will support their parents in their old age. Some can afford to, but choose not to because of long-standing family friction. Many have their own financial commitments to grapple with and a young family to raise. Whatever the case or circumstances, the fact is elderly parents have to fend for themselves.

If they have sufficient savings to see them through the retirement years, well and good. But with advancing age comes a host of health issues, especially non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, stroke that require long term care. The situation is further compounded by soaring medical costs and insufficient or no medical insurance coverage.

Living long, living well

Unless we enjoy good health in our golden years, we’d rather not live to “a ripe old age” if our days are filled with pain and total dependence on others. That’s why we often hear the elderly say it’s better to die than to have no quality of life and be a burden to others.

With longevity, it is not uncommon to find an elderly couple looking after each other in their twilight years. One frail elderly caring for another who is just as frail or worse. Longer life expectancy also means having two sandwich generations – adult children in their 40s looking after their parents in their 70s. And retirees in their 70s looking after their parents in their 90s!

If we factor in the elderly in-laws, that’s a total of at least eight elderly members from both sides and two young children to be responsible for. That’s enough to make young people think thrice about marriage and raising a family.

Reflect on that, and perhaps we can understand why the government is hesitant about introducing a Maintenance of Elderly Parents Act. It has been brought up now and again during the past 20 years or so. But till today, nothing concrete has materialised as far as the Act is concerned. The government is reluctant to hold adult children fully responsible for not taking care of their parents. They may want to but their financial situation may not allow them to do so.

When it comes to taking care of mum and dad, the role of the primary caregiver invariably falls on the daughters, more often than not, on the unmarried daughter. She becomes the obvious sole or primary caregiver. It is a 24-hour responsibility. She does not get any respite, any relief unlike professional staff or relief workers in aged care facilities. They get to enjoy shift work, and go home when the work day is done. They get to destress and recharge for the next day.

It helps if the sole caregiver is able to take a break. That is why we encourage everyone to have a small inner circle of close friends, that can drop by on a regular basis to chat, play a game of mahjong or bridge or have a cookout. Buddies will do that for one another. Looking after an elderly person for a sole caregiver can be lonely and depressing, more so if the elderly person has health issues, is cranky and requires assistance with daily activities. Caregivers need a break from the demanding routine of care duties to avoid burnout.

The columnist (second from left) took part in the recent Care Summit at KLCC which brought focus not only on eldercare, but also care for special needs children. — LILY FU

Available, accessible, affordable

Aged care facilities, daycare centres andhome care services are available but not easily accessible or affordable to every family with an elderly member that requires looking after. Eldercare must meet these criteria: Availability, accessibility, affordability.

All three can be found where we live. It is time for residents’ committees together with the property management team to step up and work together, to go beyond just overseeing the place and collecting maintenance fees.

It’s time to promote the community spirit of neighbours helping neighbours by organising activities to encourage interaction, cooperation, and build trust among residents so that they can reach out and offer assistance whenever a call goes out for help. This can be easily done via a residents’ WhatsApp group to connect a resident looking for a daycare companion for her elderly mother, and a resident who can provide that service. Housewives and retirees make excellent companions for the housebound elderly.

This arrangement can be done on a voluntary basis or for a fee. For the daughter who has full-time job, it means welcome relief to know her mother is safe at home in the company of a neighbour whom she knows and trusts.

Another proposal is to have eldercare services at the work place. Childcare facilities are already available at certain workplaces. This service can be extended to include eldercare. Adult children can leave their parent there rather than leave them alone at home. In fact, retired older persons who are still fit and mobile can be a great help at these facilities either as volunteers or staff members. We have seen in our own families how grandparents and grandchildren enjoy a special bond.

As for the sole caregiver, it is of paramount importance that she has access to outlets and opportunities to destress. A stressed-out caregiver will not only suffer physical and mental health issues, but may inflict physical and psychological abuse on the care recipient. A burnout carer will do more harm than good.

She can join a caregivers’ support group, for example the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia (ADFM), and participate in the activities. She gets to meet other caregivers, share their stories and support one another. Siblings can take turns to do shift duty and look after their elderly parent. It’s a whole-family hands-on approach to caregiving. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Hence the need for out-of-the box ideas that may or may not work, but are worth a try.

The Selangor state government should be commended for taking the lead in organising the Care Summit from Oct 9 to 11 at KLCC. It brought focus not only on eldercare, but also on caring for OKU and special needs children. Equally welcomed is the emphasis on caregivers, to seek solutions to support them in their caregiving role.

The researchers have done their work in collecting and ­sharing data, the conference speakers have raised awareness through their talks and the ministry representatives have given their feedback to the policy-makers. Let’s hope it doesn’t stop there. The proposals raised should not languish at the various ministries gathering dust before they finally see the light of day, if at all.

All of us have parents. All of us will grow old one day. We can’t wait for something drastic to happen before we take corrective action. If bureaucratic red tape is unavoidable, let us take the initiative to introduce some of these proposals to our communities, and volunteer to get them implemented. It’s time to act.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The online article is accessible at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/10/22/the-power-of-community-in-our-ageing-society)

Happy Merdeka, Malaysia Day ... but where are the seniors?

Seventeen days of national celebrations from Aug 31 to Sept 16, including four straight days of holiday for those working, and one week school break. No wonder this year’s Hari Merdeka and Hari Malaysia celebrations were the grandest ever and hard to beat.

Malaysians came out in the tens of thousands at wee hours of the morning to claim the best spots for viewing the parade. And what a spectacular parade it was! A magnificent display of our nation’s progress at Dataran Putrajaya.

A well-deserved round of applause to the organising committee and special mention must be made of the instructors behind the excellent co-ordination of the 2000 “human graphics”. Two thumbs up to all the parade participants. They must have put in countless hours of practice, sacrificed time and sleep to ensure a spectacular parade for all to enjoy. Kudos to all of them.

The parade was truly an impressive showcase of how far Malaysia has come since it achieved independence in 1957. Whether at Dataran Putrajaya or at home viewing the live broadcast on TV, Malaysians watched the parade with pride. The thousands of uniformed men and women smartly marching in step, the dancers in their colourful ethnic costumes, the marching bands, bagpipes included, the show of military might and weaponry from the various armed forces, and the breathtaking aerial formation from the fighter jets. What a show! The corporate sector and GLCs were part of the procession as well.

Yes, Malaysia has certainly come a long way since independence.

However, one group was completely left out from the parade at Dataran Putrajaya. Perhaps it’s only seniors like me who noticed it?

Our warga emas was nowhere to be seen in the parade. Yes, they were there but only as bystanders. Oh, pardon me, I forgot there is now a new term for seniors – warga berusia or “the elderly”.

Probably more appropriate given how the golden retirement years have lost much of the glitter.

A letdown for seniors

The exclusion was a huge disappointment for me. Was there a good reason for it? The very generation that had contributed the best years of their lives, that worked hard to help build the fledgling nation from its birth. They were not acknowledged in the Independence Day Parade!

The young men and women of the 1950s and 1960s – the teachers, doctors, engineers, railroad workers, tin miners, rubber tappers, farmers, clerks, shopkeepers. They had put their shoulders to the plough to build the nation. This post-WW2 generation are now in their late 70s and 80s. Their years of contribution to nation-building should never be forgotten.

They had toiled together regardless of race and religion to build a future for their children in the newly independent country. It was a time of true harmony in diversity in the towns and villages. There was no need for slogans to remind them that they were all satu keluarga, satu negara (one family, one nation). Just ask the neneks and datuks.

So how is it that there was no visible participation of senior citizens in the Merdeka Day parade at Dataran Putrajaya?

Was it an honest omission, an oversight? Perhaps the organisers were not aware of the existence of NGOs for senior citizens, such as the National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia (NACSCOM), Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) and University of the Third Age (U3A) Malaysia, to name a few.

These groups could have participated in the parade. Perhaps the organisers felt senior citizens were too frail and weak to participate in a parade that would require long hours of rehearsal?

If the hunky men from the Fire Department units could participate riding on their fire engines, the elderly representatives from the NGOs could have done the same. No need to march or walk.

Children from primary schools were part of the procession, so were cats, dogs and horses. But senior citizens? No sign of them among the 14,000 that took part in the parade.

There were contingents from the various ministries including Defence, Communications, Housing and Sports, all proud to be part of the parade. I could be wrong but I didn’t see any representation from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. Yet another exclusion.

It would have been easy enough to have a decorated float carrying some OKU, senior citizens, mothers and children, all smiling their brightest, and waving to the crowds at Dataran Putrajaya.

Likewise, at the gala concert following the official launch of the five-day Pesta Budaya Malaysia by PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Taman Titiwangsa. Well done to the organising team.

It was a monumental undertaking to put together a concert of this magnitude to showcase the rich cultural diversity of Malaysia. Each performance segued seamlessly to the next without a nanosecond pause or technical hitch.

The audience was treated to a scintillating smorgasbord of dance, song and fashion. There was something for everyone to enjoy and applaud. Malaysia, Truly Asia.

Youth culture was not forgotten. More than a dozen teenagers in street fashion came on stage and awed everyone with their hip hop and breakdance moves. Its not exactly Malaysian culture but probably to show that our culture is age-inclusive. Is it, really?

Where were our veteran singers, dancers and musicians? Their heydays may be gone, but they can still perform and entertain. Veteran singers like Datuk Khadijah Ibrahim, Datuk Sheila Majid, Datuk DJ Dave, Datuk Zainal Abidin should have been invited.

It is unfortunate that senior citizens are often lumped into a single broad category of those aged 60 and above. And that could mean up to 100 years old. But there are huge differences between the young-old (60 to 75) and the old-old (90 and above).

It would be most helpful if policy-makers be familiar with the different needs and abilities of each senior age group. We should not view all senior citizens as ‘too old’ to be employed. The young-old in their 60s and 70s are still economically productive, still able to contribute to nation-building. Their vast experience should be tapped.

My point in mentioning these examples is this – if we exclude our seniors in major national events and continue to sideline them, we are perpetuating the negative perception of seniors as too frail, too senile to play an active role in the public sphere. No wonder ageism still exists in our society!

Such archaic views explain why seniors are not taken seriously. Their voice is often not heard, even though their numbers are growing.

Don’t write off the young-old, especially those in their 60s and 70s. They are still economically productive and with their vast working experience, they are a potential source of manpower.

Unity in diversity should include diversity in age. Any national-level celebration, whether in a parade, a TV promo, or a print ad should also feature senior citizens and not only children and young adults. Be inclusive.

We have a fast-growing ageing population that needs to be acknowledged and appreciated in ways other than in aged care.

Let’s not sideline our warga berusia. Involve them. They are part of the Malaysian family too.

Is that too much to ask?

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is the founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to connect and enjoy social activities for ageing well. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.

(The above article was first published in the print edition on Wed 24 Sept  at this link: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2025/09/28/happy-merdeka-malaysia-day--but-where-are-the-seniors)