Chew Mei Fun: Malaysia to be aged nation by 2030

JOHOR BARU: Malaysia is expected to be an aged country by 2030 due to dwindling fertility rates and extensions in the average lifespan of Malaysians.

Deputy Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said that some 2.77mil senior citizens aged 60 years and above currently make up 9% of the country's 30.49mil population.

"Due to a drop in fertility rates and a hike in the lifespan of citizens, Malaysia is expected to be an aged country by 2030, where 15% of our population will be made up of senior citizens," she said.

The MCA vice-president said this during a Chinese New Year celebration with senior citizens at Rumah Seri Kenangan Johor Bahru here on Sunday.

She also said that the ministry has set up a task force to brace for a growth in the number of senior citizens in the country.

The task force is chaired by Chew. 

She said that the task force has already conducted four consultation sessions with non-governmental organisations for a study on the matter.

"The latest developments is a debate on a study by the Malaysia Aging Research Institute (IPPM) to identify issues as well as strategies to overcome them," said Chew.