Ageism in Malaysia’s workforce

IN 2020, I applied for a contractual senior lecturer position in English Literature at a public university in Tanjong Malim, where the vacancy urgently needed to be filled. Despite holding a PhD in English Literature and having extensive experience, my application was rejected solely because I was 51, exceeding the arbitrary age limit of 45 for PhD holders.

A year later, my former PhD supervisor recommended me again for the same position, which was still vacant. But the only response I received was a polite acknowledgement, and I found out later that the role was filled by a younger PhD holder from Yemen.