KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 – While Malaysia has seen a marked improvement in life expectancy in the last five decades, the country must also prepare itself to face the challenges of becoming an aged nation, said Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Nancy Shukri.
In her keynote address on Astro Awani’s special broadcast in conjunction with the International Day of Older Persons last October 1, Nancy said Malaysia will be recognised as an aged nation with 15.3 per cent of its population aged 60 and above by 2030.
“This milestone reflects both our progress and the urgent need to address the evolving needs of our ageing society.”
She said over the past five decades, Malaysia has seen a remarkable increase in life expectancy from 63 years to 76 years.
“This improvement is a testament to our commitment to better health care, social development and overall wellbeing for all.”
While this was cause for celebration, the minister said it would be remiss to not confront the forthcoming challenges of becoming an aged nation, which will require a unified approach.
“Multi-agency collaboration is essential with all relevant stakeholders involved in crafting blueprints, roadmaps and resource allocations to support our ageing population effectively,” she said.
Nancy added that numerous surveys indicate that Malaysians prefer to age in place, valuing the familiarity and comfort of their own homes.
“It is therefore a whole nation’s duty to respect these preferences and uphold our cultural values, ensuring that our elderly receive the care and support they deserve within their communities.”
According to the minister, the government is undertaking various efforts at the national level to address critical issues related to ageing, specifically through the National Advisory and Consultative Council for Older Persons (NACCOP), which is in charge of overseeing the policy for older persons and its plan of action.
She added that through NACCOP, representatives of older persons in various fields will discuss and provide recommendations to address the challenges faced by older persons.
This includes the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which worsened the financial vulnerability of many elderly individuals who found themselves in dire straits at a time when economic opportunities were limited.
The minister also cited the rising number of the elderly suffering from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which leads to only 66 of the average 76 years of life spent in relatively good health.
She continued by highlighting the heavy toll of unpaid care work, which tends to fall disproportionately on women.
“The burden of unpaid care work, especially on women, continues to weigh heavily on our society. Many women are forced to balance multiple care roles, often leading them to exit the workforce.
“This results in older women being more vulnerable, both economically and socially, due to limited financial resources and the lack of accessible infrastructure for the ageing population.”
Nancy said the government will address some of these challenges by continuing to promote a healthy ageing lifestyle through its Senior Citizens Activity Centers, (Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas, PAWE) of which there are 169 in total.
Additionally, her ministry is working on finalising the draft of the Malaysian Care Industry Action Plan to address serious caregiving concerns.
“Though this list seems overwhelming, rest assured the government is committed to addressing the challenges one step at a time, but we cannot do it alone. We need the collective effort of the community as well,” Nancy said.
“The wellbeing of our senior citizens start from home, and all of us have a responsibility to inculcate a positive intergenerational environment for all members of the family.”
