Raising the retirement age comes with challenges of its own. — Photo The Star/ANN

PETALING JAYA — As discussions intensify around the proposal to raise the retirement age to 65, experts say a better health plan should be in place first to ensure individual well-being.

They said any move to lengthen work span must go in tandem with improvements in healthcare.

Others said that if the proposal were to be implemented, the career progress of young workers should not be overlooked.

They pointed out that although Malaysians were living longer than before, many were not enjoying good health in their later years.

Malaysian Dietary Supplement Association President, Datuk Dr M. Rajen, said that raising the retirement age must go hand in hand with improving Malaysians’ healthspans.

“Although people are living longer, many are not ageing well enough to remain in the workforce beyond 60.

“This will force companies to retain unfit workers, which means it could strain both employers and the public healthcare system,” he said.

He urged the government to promote health from an earlier age, starting in schools and workplaces, and to engage religious and community institutions in spreading a culture of wellness.

Dr Rajen also called for supplemental tax relief to make preventive care more affordable for the B40 group.

Healthy Ageing Society Vice-President, Dr Wong Teck Wee, believes the current retirement age of 60 is a practical cut-off for most, though some in less demanding jobs may continue working longer if their health allows.

He urged retirement policies to be based on healthspan rather than age alone, with flexible models, such as phased retirement.

“There is a need for early lifestyle interventions, preventive healthcare, workplace wellness programmes and age-friendly urban planning to support healthy ageing across the population,” he said.

Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Datuk Dr NKS Tharmaseelan said Malaysia’s ageing population can remain productive well into their 70s, thanks to the country’s strong healthcare system.

He believed older Malaysians, especially in white-collar roles, bring valuable experience and maturity to the workforce.

However, he stressed that retirement extensions should be optional and based on individual health status, with mandatory health screenings to ensure fitness for continued work.

“Healthy ageing begins early – those who maintain balanced lifestyles from a young age are more likely to avoid chronic illnesses.

“Changes made only after retirement are unlikely to extend one’s healthspan significantly,” he said.

Health expert Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said raising the retirement age has been widely adopted in developed nations, with countries like Belgium, the United States and Britain gradually increasing the threshold to 65 or above.

She said if Malaysia were to follow suit, it could help elderly workers with limited savings sustain their livelihoods.

“However, suitable roles, flexible hours and fair wages must be offered, as not all seniors are physically or cognitively fit.

“While older employees bring valuable experience, extended employment could increase medical costs and limit job openings and salary progression for younger workers entering the labour market,” she said.

MEF President Datuk Dr Syed Hussein Syed Husman said extending the retirement age beyond 60 should be flexible, voluntary and sector-sensitive.

“MEF supports post-retirement contracts based on mutual agreement and performance, especially in less demanding sectors like education and finance.

“However, forcing extensions risks burdening employers with higher costs and limiting job opportunities for younger workers,” he said.

Syed Hussein cautioned that extending the retirement age must not come at the expense of younger workers’ career growth.

“Employers are concerned that mandatory and blanket extension of retirement age may limit employment opportunities for younger job seekers,” he said, adding that it could affect talent pipeline rejuvenation, succession planning and wage progression for mid-career workers.

He stressed that any policy shift must balance intergenerational workforce and needs to avoid bottlenecks in career mobility and national productivity.

He said businesses, particularly MSMEs, may struggle to absorb both ageing and new workers without adequate government support, making flexibility and sectoral sensitivity key to sustainable workforce policies.

Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that Malaysians are living longer, with an average life expectancy of 76 years; however, they spend the last nine years of their lives in poor health.

This widening gap between lifespan and healthspan, he said, highlights the urgent need for public policies that ensure quality and dignity in later life. — THE STAR/ANN