PETALING JAYA: The country is expected to reach aged nation status in just over 20 years; however, more and more Malaysians are living past the age of 100.
As of June, there were 4,287 citizens aged 100 and above, with women making up more than half that number at 2,761; the number of centenarian men was 1,526. This reflects a rise in longevity that experts say mirrors a global trend.
Johor registered the highest proportion of centenarians at 14.6%, followed by Sabah (14.4%) and Selangor (12.9%), said Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) chief statistician Datuk Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
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“The population aged 80 and above is projected to reach 498,700 by 2030,” he said.
Experts believe the growing number of Malaysians living beyond 100 reflects a greater awareness on health and lifestyle improvements.
Malaysia Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) vice-president Dr Wong Teck Wee said the surge in centenarians shows that the country is following the global trend of increasing longevity.
“To increase healthy longevity and manage the growth in centenarians, Malaysia should prioritise preventive primary care, community active-ageing programmes, long-term care financing, age-friendly infrastructure and workforce and data investments – policies that countries like Singapore and Japan have implemented with measurable success,” he said.
Dr Wong said longevity was driven more by “lifestyle, social support and healthcare access, than genetics alone” and cautioned that preparedness was key.
“While people live longer, systems for healthy ageing, from geriatric care to urban design, often lag behind,” he said.
The increase in older Malaysians also calls for a shift in how society perceives ageing, said Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) research officer Chai Sen Tyng.
“Adding years to life is not the same as adding life to years. We need to rethink how we approach education, employment, healthcare and social protection when living long becomes the norm,” he said.
Chai said MyAgeing is conducting longevity studies to identify factors that allow some people to remain active past 100.
“We are validating Malaysia’s centenarians and building a list to initiate long-term studies. Even researchers will need to live longer to see the results,” he said.
Malaysia Coalition on Ageing chairman Cheah Tuck Wing agreed that the focus should not just be on lifespan but also on quality of life.
“There’s no point living long if you are bedridden or suffering from terminal illness.
“A healthy lifestyle from young determines future health,” he said.
Cheah said Malaysia’s food culture plays a major role in health outcomes.
“The food here is delicious and too tempting. That’s why obesity, diabetes and hypertension are so common.
“Even (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is 100, has always advised eating smaller portions and to stop before one is full,” he said.
He said it was good that more elderly Malaysians were embracing routines such as tai chi and morning exercises, while the government has boosted investments in preventive healthcare.
“With technology and better preventive care, Malaysia’s centenarian count will keep growing, but the real measure of progress is ensuring Malaysians not only live longer, but live well,” Cheah said.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan told Parliament that Malaysia was projected to become an “aged nation” by 2048, when the proportion of citizens aged 65 and above reaches 14% of the total population.
He said Malaysia officially became an ageing nation in 2021, when more than 7% of the population was aged 65 and above.
