Happy enough to retire at 60

The Star

18 hours ago

IPOH: For these newly retired folk in Ipoh, a place long known as an ideal destination for retirees, their time now is spent relaxing at home and taking care of themselves.
'I go jogging every day. And I can do things freely without the stress of deadlines,' said Amran Mokhtar who retired three months ago at 60 after working in a bank for about four decades.
When the news came out about the government looking into the possibility of raising the retirement age of 60, retirees like Amran have a different view.
To them, it is a case of 'thanks, but no thanks' as they are of the view that the golden years should be cherished.
Amran believes that setting the retirement age at 60 is 'more than enough'.
'From the age of 60, many will face illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.
'How will they cope with the work pressure? There are many people who retire early because of stress,' he said.
Furthermore, he said a higher retirement age could impact young job hunters.
During the tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan in Parliament last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the retirement age would be reviewed in line with Malaysia's demographic shift toward an ageing nation.
The Public Service Department is said to be studying a proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age for civil servants from 60 to 65.
Azuidah Abdul Wahab, 57, who retired in March after 34 years in the civil service, said the retirement age of 55 would be a better option.
'When you get older, your energy decreases, your work gets delayed and your stamina drops.
'You cannot catch up as quickly, even if you are skilled.
'It is better to pass the baton to the next generation, who can adapt faster,' she said.
She cited professions such as teachers and policemen who have to deal with people and heavy workloads, which would be unsuitable for those retiring at 65.
Azuidah said there should be a thorough study involving workers from various sectors before the government decides to push the retirement age to 65.
'If you retire at 55, you still have about five years to enjoy life before turning 60, when your energy really starts to decline,' she said.
Self-employed Iman Abdul Rahim, 39, also called for a complete study before any policy changes were made.
'They must look into work performance and quality of work.
'While many older employees have valuable experience, their quality of work could decline, especially among seniors due to their age,' he said.
The former lecturer also said that when older employees continue working beyond the age of 55, fresh graduates would have fewer opportunities.
'Some would end up waiting for years to secure a job in the government sector,' he said.
'After 60, health deteriorates, which poses another challenge for some. I think the right age to retire is at 55,' he added.
Baker K. Malini, 43, said the period between 55 and 60 years old was the best time to retire.
'I've heard complaints that young people can't get promoted because senior employees hold on to their positions,' she said.
Housewife V. Subaseni, 43, who spent a decade in customer service before leaving the workforce, said there were both advantages and disadvantages to extending the retirement age.
'On one hand, it is good for older workers who still have financial responsibilities, like supporting their families or raising young children.
'They have no choice but to work to cover for their commitments.
'On the other hand, the move could be an obstacle for younger employees to further progress in their career,' she said, adding that the drawback is that it slows down career progression for the younger generation.
'Promotions become rare and the chance to take on leadership roles gets delayed.
'Young people need opportunities to grow and if older staff hold on to positions longer, it can make that climb up much harder,' Subaseni said.