KUALA LUMPUR: Those aged 65 and over are expected to make up over 10% of Malaysians in the next decade and the government is ramping up efforts to better support an aging population, says Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.
The Economy Minister said the Statistics Department currently projects that 10.4% of the Malaysian population will be comprised of elderly citizens aged 65 years old and above by 2035.
He said the total fertility rate is also expected to decline from 1.67 children per woman to 1.6 in the same period.
"This trend is only expected to continue due to declining fertility rates and increasing life expectancy among the people," he told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time on Tuesday (July 7).
To this, he said the National Ageing White Paper is expected to be tabled in Parliament in 2027 and will be followed by the launch of the National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045.
Akmal said the blueprint would serve as a long-term elderly care framework covering macroeconomics and fiscal policy, employment and skills, social protection, lifelong healthcare and long-term care.
Akmal said the government was also focused on the expansion of community programmes such as the Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (Senior Citizens Activity Centre), or PAWE.
"This will help to strengthen family and community support, develop age-friendly environments, improve digital literacy and promote lifelong learning.
"We also plan to strengthen the long-term care system through the development of community-based care models, the care economy, training of professional caregivers and expanding social protection for vulnerable groups.
"At the same time, efforts to increase the economic participation of productive older persons and research related to population ageing will continue to be enhanced," he added.
Akmal said the goal is to ensure all Malaysians can age in good health, remain active, productive and live with dignity in an inclusive and sustainable society.
He was responding to a question from Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan (PN-Merbok) on national preparedness for an aging society by 2040.
Meanwhile, Deputy Economy Minister Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said the government is looking to develop the national capacity of healthcare professionals and social workers to care for an ageing population.
He said the government also plans to better integrate the use of technology and automation in the care sector to better serve these elderly citizens.
"For social protection, we are also looking at strengthening our inclusive and sustainable social safety net by improving retirement income adequacy, expanding social protection coverage and providing more targeted assistance.
"We are also exploring the potential of the Silver Economy as a new source of growth that can expand employment opportunities and economic participation among productive elderly citizens," he told the Dewan Rakyat during Question Time on Tuesday.
Mohd Shahar was responding to Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Anak Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) who asked if Malaysia's health facilities, elderly care, skilled workforce and social protection was sufficient to care for an elderly society.
Elderly, Ageing Society, Social Welfare, Statistics Department
