Judge us by financial health, not age

I WOULD like to highlight a frustrating and systemic issue quietly practised by commercial banks in Malaysia: The arbitrary exclusion of senior citizens from accessing basic financial products, specifically credit cards, based entirely on age rather than financial capability.

Recently, I attempted to apply for a credit card through a major local bank’s digital platform. I discovered that the system is hard coded to block applicants over the age of 65 from even completing the submission process. When I e-mailed the bank to demand an explanation, they hid behind system limitations and refused to provide a concrete reason.