Extension of current retirement age from 60 to 65 years old should remain optional: Malaysian experts
PETALING JAYA – The extension of the current retirement age from 60 to 65 years old should remain optional and fulfil the needs of the performing industries, say experts.
Prof Dr Balakrishnan Parasuraman from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan said the extension should only be for important sectors, especially performing ones, but a blanket implementation for all is needed.
'If you want to see Malaysia grow fast, you should allow senior citizens to continue working because they can help bring this country to the next level.
'For example, we have only some 3,000 professors, so we should allow those in this field to continue because they are contributing to research and development, and are passing on their skills and knowledge to others.
'In the civil service, it should be performance-based because you cannot just get rid of someone in this sector easily. Keep the ones who are really helping to shape and change the nation,' said the human resources and industrial relations expert.
He said countries like Vietnam, France, Denmark, Japan and Australia have all increased their retirement ages, while Malaysia is just getting into the conversation.
Balakrishnan also pointed out that it would be more beneficial to allow senior citizens to fulfil essential roles rather than relying on the younger generation to step up to the challenge.
When tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan at Dewan Rakyat recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the mandatory retirement age limit would be reviewed.
Currently, civil servants must retire at the age of 60. This is also the minimum retirement age for private sector workers under the Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012.
National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh said that extension of the retirement age should remain optional.
'It makes sense (to extend) because older people have certain experiences that should be preserved and continued; their skills can be passed on to the younger generations.
'Make it an option for folk who want to keep working. For those who want to retire, (the same) should also be allowed,' he said.
He added that wanting to extend the retirement age coincides with better health conditions among Malaysians and the country's increasing ageing society.
However, Soon pointed out that senior citizens must also keep upskilling and reskilling themselves to suit the current needs of the industries and market.
Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Business Associations vice-chairman Nivas Ragavan said Malaysia must carefully design policies that ensure both seniors and youth are empowered in the labour market.
Raising the retirement age, he said, is just one aspect of the solution – it must be integrated with reskilling frameworks, workplace inclusivity and youth employment strategies.
'There is growing hesitation among the youth about joining certain sectors or accepting lower entry-level salaries.
'On the flip side, older workers need to unlearn and relearn rapidly in today's fast-changing work environment.
'This dual challenge must be addressed through intergenerational workplace policies, flexible employment structures, including part-time or consultative roles for seniors and structured national reskilling programmes specifically tailored for older workers.'
In terms of employer readiness, Nivas says most employers are open to hiring seniors if they are skilled, adaptable and healthy.
But companies may be reluctant to invest in retraining without government incentives or a clear return on investment, he said.
A shared-responsibility model, where both government and employers contribute to reskilling costs, could make this more viable, said Nivas, who is also the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president.
On May 20, amid rising workforce concerns, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said suggested raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 65.
Following this, Anwar acknowledged the importance of the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age, stating that it requires comprehensive study before any decision is made.
In response, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said they are currently reviewing the proposal.
He added that the matter is being examined by a special committee to seek input and feedback from stakeholders, especially the public sector, workers and employers, during the study to ensure compliance with international best practices.
But the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) urged the government to provide civil servants the option to still retire at 60 if it plans to raise the mandatory retirement age to 65.
Its secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said while raising the retirement age may offer certain benefits, it could pose health, mental and physical challenges for some.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Attack on my son is ‘a warning' to silence me, says Malaysian MP Rafizi Ramli
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Former Malaysian Cabinet minister Rafizi Ramli (centre) said the attack was 'a warning to me not to speak out on certain issues'. KUALA LUMPUR – The wife of former Malaysian Cabinet minister Rafizi Ramli received two chilling messages just hours after a shocking attack on their son on Aug 13 in broad daylight. One of the WhatsApp messages read: 'Diam! Andai teruskan, Aids! (Shut up! If you continue, Aids!)' It was followed by three syringe emojis. The MP from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), which leads Malaysia's governing coalition, said the attack on his family was 'a warning to me not to speak out on certain issues'. 'While I will take steps to enhance security measures, I will not bow to any threats and will continue to carry out my duties as usual,' Datuk Seri Rafizi, 47, said at a press conference on Aug 14 at the Parliament lobby, surrounded by several PKR lawmakers. He has been using a weekly podcast and social media postings to lash out about corruption and governance issues in the last few weeks, after resigning as economy minister in May . The brazen attack on his 12-year-old son, carried out at about 1.45pm at a mall carpark in Putrajaya equipped with CCTV cameras, sent Malaysia reeling. This is because politically linked physical attacks are rare, despite the rough-and-tumble nature of domestic politics – and it is even more alarming this time as it involves a child. 'Blood in politics has been here for quite some time,' Professor Kartini Aboo Talib, a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, told The Straits Times. 'However, violent attacks targeting young children... this is the first time ever.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Bukit Merah fire: Residents relocated as town council carries out restoration works Singapore askST: What to do in the event of a fire at home Singapore Jalan Bukit Merah fire: PMD battery could have started fatal blaze, says SCDF Singapore askST: What are the fire safety rules for PMDs? Asia AirAsia flight from KL to Incheon lands at wrong airport in South Korea Opinion Could telco consolidation spell the end of attractive mobile plans? Singapore Change in law proposed to pave the way for public-private sector data sharing Singapore From quiet introvert to self-confident student: How this vulnerable, shy teen gets help to develop and discover her strength She was referring to the murder of a political rival in the 1980s by former Cabinet minister Mokhtar Hashim, the gruesome death of politician Mazlan Idris at the hands of bomoh Mona Fandey in 1993, and the unresolved killing in 2004 of Sabah lawmaker Norjan Khan Bahadar. Malaysians are already up in arms over the tragic death of a 13-year-old Sabah student on July 17, which has sparked national outrage and street protests. The authorities, who have been accused on social media of a cover-up, have been grappling with resolving the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir, a victim of suspected bullying in school. In the attack on Mr Rafizi's son, the boy and his mother were getting into their car to leave the shopping centre when the child was grabbed by an unknown assailant and jabbed with a syringe. CCTV footage showed that two men on a motorcycle had been trailing his wife's car. The duo was dressed entirely in black and wore full-face helmets. 'They had waited earlier and rushed to attack my son at the right moment,' Mr Rafizi said in a statement on Aug 13. His son was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, while police arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. The boy's condition is stable and doctors are trying to ascertain the contents of the syringe, he said at the press conference. 'It could be poison, drugs or viruses such as HIV, or just water. The process to find out what was injected into my son will take a few months but the first 24 hours is critical,' he noted. 'He will need to do blood tests for the next six months until we can rule out that he is safe. Currently he is under observation and he is not showing any symptoms. As a father, I think we can rule out poison,' he added, saying his son is in good spirits. Mr Rafizi, through his social media platforms, has alleged that several well-known figures were involved in possible graft and urged the government to carry out investigations. Well known for his tough stance against corruption during his two decades as an opposition politician, Mr Rafizi had largely kept quiet on corruption and governance issues in the past two years as he was a member of the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. But he began to speak out openly again after resigning from his Cabinet post, shortly after losing PKR's deputy presidency in its triennial election held on May 23. Mr Rafizi told the Aug 14 news conference that the attack on his only child occurred a few days after he met a group of whistleblowers over a scandal, which he declined to detail. 'This is a message telling me to back off. Last week, there was a group of whistleblowers who came to see me about a scandal. The culprit behind this attack knows that once I find a scandal, I will dig and dig and dig,' he said. Datuk Seri Anwar on Aug 14 condemned the syringe attack as a 'worrying and harmful' trend in the country, and said a thorough and transparent investigation would be carried out. 'I would like to express my sadness as we're seeing an extreme and harmful culture. We are seeing issues of bullying, and now the child of a Member of Parliament has been targeted.' The opposition is also standing with Mr Rafizi. Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional's chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan said in a statement on Aug 13 that what happened was a criminal act completely unacceptable in a civilised country. 'If it is true that the attack is a warning to stop Mr Rafizi from speaking out on certain matters, then this incident signals thuggish political behaviour that is a threat to the country's democracy. 'Political differences should never be translated to threats and physical violence, especially when it involves children,' he said. Singapore Institute of International Affairs Senior Fellow Dr Oh Ei Sun said: 'The real question is perhaps which particular parties are sending out such a warning, as Mr Rafizi has revealed many scandals in his political career, perhaps inadvertently stepping on many toes.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
‘Ham' sandwiches, socks with the word Allah, and now, upside-down flags
Asian Insider: Malaysia Edition helps you connect the dots on the biggest stories playing out in Malaysia every week. Sign up here to get the newsletter in your inbox. Last week, our correspondent Hazlin Hassan wrote about the most recent political developments in Malaysia – from playing mediator successfully in an Asean border conflict, to engaging proactively with the United States on trade talks, to having a re-energised opposition. There was, indeed, never a dull moment in the roller-coaster ride faced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. But it's not just politics that constantly spices up the lives of Malaysians. For workers commuting in the north from Kedah and Perlis to commercial centres in and close to Penang, there is always a chance of getting to work late, thanks to rampant cable theft that forces the only train service to slow down to snail's pace for safety reasons. There's also the mysterious death of 13-year-old Zara Qairina Mahathir at her school dormitory in Sabah. She was allegedly a victim of bullying. But it was only after public uproar and a string of protests that the authorities decided to exhume her body for a post-mortem, prompting howls of a cover-up. So here's the thing about Malaysia – inevitably, everything comes back to politics. Zara's case is not the first of bullying in schools. But the widespread outrage it sparked had forced government leaders including Datuk Seri Anwar to respond. It comes just weeks ahead of an expected dissolution of Sabah's legislature, paving the way for a heated election between bitter rivals set to test the cohesion of the multi-coalition Anwar administration. The same goes with a series of gaffes ahead of Malaysia's National Day celebrations. A Chinese vernacular school had inadvertently raised the Malaysian flag upside-down. The same happened at a hardware shop run by an ethnic Chinese. And Umno youth chief Akmal Saleh promptly jumped on it, just like he did before with socks bearing the word Allah and 'ham' sandwiches. These incidents are unfortunate. But the reaction from the likes of Datuk Akmal and those who believe the mistakes are intentional do nothing to promote national unity. The irony is that Umno is a key member of Mr Anwar's so-called unity government. And in the two-and-a-half years since he came to power, it is hard to argue that Malaysians are any less polarised than they were at the election that saw him end a 24-year exile from government. Read on for more of ST's coverage on the latest developments in Malaysia. If you have a suggestion or feedback on stories you would like to see our bureau in Kuala Lumpur cover, feel free to send me a note. Thank you for reading The Straits Times.
Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Asia News Network
Extension of current retirement age from 60 to 65 years old should remain optional: Malaysian experts
August 6, 2025 PETALING JAYA – The extension of the current retirement age from 60 to 65 years old should remain optional and fulfil the needs of the performing industries, say experts. Prof Dr Balakrishnan Parasuraman from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan said the extension should only be for important sectors, especially performing ones, but a blanket implementation for all is needed. 'If you want to see Malaysia grow fast, you should allow senior citizens to continue working because they can help bring this country to the next level. 'For example, we have only some 3,000 professors, so we should allow those in this field to continue because they are contributing to research and development, and are passing on their skills and knowledge to others. 'In the civil service, it should be performance-based because you cannot just get rid of someone in this sector easily. Keep the ones who are really helping to shape and change the nation,' said the human resources and industrial relations expert. He said countries like Vietnam, France, Denmark, Japan and Australia have all increased their retirement ages, while Malaysia is just getting into the conversation. Balakrishnan also pointed out that it would be more beneficial to allow senior citizens to fulfil essential roles rather than relying on the younger generation to step up to the challenge. When tabling the 13th Malaysia Plan at Dewan Rakyat recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that the mandatory retirement age limit would be reviewed. Currently, civil servants must retire at the age of 60. This is also the minimum retirement age for private sector workers under the Minimum Retirement Age Act 2012. National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations Malaysia president Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh said that extension of the retirement age should remain optional. 'It makes sense (to extend) because older people have certain experiences that should be preserved and continued; their skills can be passed on to the younger generations. 'Make it an option for folk who want to keep working. For those who want to retire, (the same) should also be allowed,' he said. He added that wanting to extend the retirement age coincides with better health conditions among Malaysians and the country's increasing ageing society. However, Soon pointed out that senior citizens must also keep upskilling and reskilling themselves to suit the current needs of the industries and market. Meanwhile, Federation of Malaysian Business Associations vice-chairman Nivas Ragavan said Malaysia must carefully design policies that ensure both seniors and youth are empowered in the labour market. Raising the retirement age, he said, is just one aspect of the solution – it must be integrated with reskilling frameworks, workplace inclusivity and youth employment strategies. 'There is growing hesitation among the youth about joining certain sectors or accepting lower entry-level salaries. 'On the flip side, older workers need to unlearn and relearn rapidly in today's fast-changing work environment. 'This dual challenge must be addressed through intergenerational workplace policies, flexible employment structures, including part-time or consultative roles for seniors and structured national reskilling programmes specifically tailored for older workers.' In terms of employer readiness, Nivas says most employers are open to hiring seniors if they are skilled, adaptable and healthy. But companies may be reluctant to invest in retraining without government incentives or a clear return on investment, he said. A shared-responsibility model, where both government and employers contribute to reskilling costs, could make this more viable, said Nivas, who is also the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry president. On May 20, amid rising workforce concerns, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said suggested raising the minimum retirement age from 60 to 65. Following this, Anwar acknowledged the importance of the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age, stating that it requires comprehensive study before any decision is made. In response, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said they are currently reviewing the proposal. He added that the matter is being examined by a special committee to seek input and feedback from stakeholders, especially the public sector, workers and employers, during the study to ensure compliance with international best practices. But the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) urged the government to provide civil servants the option to still retire at 60 if it plans to raise the mandatory retirement age to 65. Its secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said while raising the retirement age may offer certain benefits, it could pose health, mental and physical challenges for some.
