KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry will look for ways to let its retirees keep contributing as mentors, with 170 of them retiring this year, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said he would discuss with the ministry’s secretary-general and the heads of its agencies and departments whether there is still room for retirees to provide guidance and help with training.
“We will find a way. Don’t worry, I won’t ask the government for money. I will find my own way to help,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s appreciation day for retirees here yesterday.
The 170 are officers and staff members from the ministry and 10 departments under it who have retired or are due to retire this year, with more than 60 attending the event.
Speaking to reporters later, Ramanan said some of them had served for three decades.
“Kesuma’s doors are always open. They can come any time. They are still part of the big Kesuma family,” he said.
In his speech, Ramanan told the retirees that this was not the end but a beginning, as their knowledge and skills could still be passed on to the younger generation.
He also acknowledged that working with politicians was not always easy, as everyone had different views and temperaments.
Civil servants, he said, used to have the same boss for anywhere between five and 20 years.
“Now the boss changes every year. Sometimes two years, three years. It’s not easy,” he said.
Ramanan urged the retirees to keep learning new things such as digital skills and artificial intelligence.
“Who knows, after retiring, some of you may become famous influencers. Once you’re famous, don’t forget to make TikTok videos,” he said in jest.
He said adjusting to retirement was not easy after doing the same thing every day for 30 years.
“I was told that on the morning after they retired, some got dressed and waited downstairs, but the car never came,” he said.
“Remember, we retire from work, not from life,” he added.
