Ageing nation needs policy overhaul, not patchwork fixes, says Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today called for an overhaul of public policy to meet the challenges of an ageing population, saying that longevity is not just a passing trend.
Speaking at the EPF's International Social Well-being Conference (ISWC 2025) here today, Anwar said living to 100 was no longer an exception but an emerging norm.
'The real question is not whether we are ageing, but whether we are adapting,' he said in opening the conference.
Anwar cited the Global Longevity Economy Outlook report, which projected that the global longevity economy would exceed US$65 trillion by 2030.
'If Malaysia is to be an initiative-taking leader, we must invest in health systems, social care, housing, financial tools and industries that serve an ageing society,' he said.
While Malaysia's average life expectancy is 76 years, Anwar said 67 of those years would typically be spent in good health.
As such, he said, it underscored the need for a shift from disease treatment towards preventative health and promoting wellness.
Malaysia is projected to become an aged nation by 2040, with more than 17% of its population aged 60 and above.
On a related note, Anwar defended the government's policy of mandating medicine price displays.
The move, he said, was meant to promote transparency so that consumers, particularly the poor and elderly, could make informed decisions about their medical expenses.
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