The magic number could well be 65, not 36, in Negri Sembilan

AS Negri Sembilan prepares for another important state election, much of the political conversation has revolved around a familiar number: 36, the total number of seats required to secure full control of the State Legislative Assembly; although the minimum needed is 29 seats in Negri Sembilan to garner a 2/3 majority.

Electoral majority naturally attracts attention because it determines who governs.

A full 36 to zero by Barisan Nasional against Pakatan would mean Barisan and Perikatan Nasional collaboration, especially with PAS, have worked.

Yet another number deserves equal, if not greater, attention. That number is 65.

For many Malaysians, 65 may increasingly become the more consequential figure because it represents a possible retirement age that better reflects the country's demographic, economic and technological realities.

Elections come and go every few years, but retirement policy shapes the lives of millions of Malaysians over decades.

The Covid-19 pandemic fundamentally altered retirement planning across Malaysia.

Between 2020 and 2024, households depleted savings, businesses struggled to survive, and many civil servants and private-sector employees postponed financial plans that had been carefully built over decades.

Even after the immediate public health crisis subsided, the economy did not simply return to its previous trajectory.

The continuing instability in the Strait of Hormuz during 2025 further complicated matters. Higher energy prices translated into higher transportation costs, rising food prices and greater inflationary pressures across Southeast Asia.

Malaysian households consequently faced another round of cost-of-living adjustments just as they were attempting to rebuild depleted savings.

Against this backdrop, extending the retirement age to 65 deserves serious national consideration rather than partisan dismissal.

Negri Sembilan is particularly well placed to appreciate this debate. The state has long combined traditional institutions with modern economic aspirations.

Its proximity to Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and the Klang Valley means many residents commute, work in professional occupations or maintain close economic ties with the nation's principal growth corridors. At the same time, Negri Sembilan retains strong community networks where multiple generations frequently support one another.

Such social realities make retirement policy far more than an administrative matter.

Many Malaysians reaching their late fifties today belong to the generation that weathered the Asian Financial Crisis, the Global Financial Crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical disruptions.

Their careers have repeatedly been interrupted by events beyond their control. Asking whether they should be given the opportunity - not the obligation - to continue working until 65 is therefore a legitimate public policy question.

This discussion also intersects with another major transformation: artificial intelligence.

Contrary to simplistic assumptions, AI may strengthen rather than weaken the case for experienced workers remaining economically active.

As automation transforms routine tasks, organisations increasingly value institutional memory, judgement, mentoring and ethical decision-making - qualities often accumulated over decades rather than acquired overnight.

Younger Malaysians entering the workforce confront unprecedented uncertainty.

Many members of Gen Z face rapidly changing skill requirements, short employment cycles and increasing competition from digital technologies. Rather than viewing older workers as competitors, many families may find that continued employment among parents and grandparents provides valuable financial stability while younger members adapt to the changing economy.

Intergenerational cooperation could become one of Malaysia's greatest strengths.

Experienced professionals can mentor younger colleagues while simultaneously upgrading their own digital competencies. Such cooperation would create a more resilient labour market than one that artificially separates generations.

From a fiscal perspective, longer careers can also strengthen national finances. Workers who remain economically productive continue contributing taxes, retirement savings and consumption expenditure.

This broadens the government's revenue base while reducing immediate pressure on pension systems and social assistance programmes.

None of this implies that retirement at 65 should become compulsory.

The emphasis should remain on flexibility. Malaysians in physically demanding occupations may understandably choose earlier retirement, while professionals, academics, healthcare workers, engineers, educators and administrators may wish to continue contributing if they remain healthy and productive.

Public policy should accommodate both aspirations.

This is precisely where bipartisan cooperation becomes important.

Pakatan Harapan need not regard Barisan as a permanent adversary on every policy question. Mature democracies distinguish between electoral competition and national interest. Governments may contest elections vigorously while still cooperating on long-term structural reforms that benefit the country as a whole.

Malaysia's constitutional system encourages negotiation rather than perpetual confrontation. Coalition politics inevitably requires compromise, consensus-building and practical solutions.

If extending the retirement age to 65 proves economically sound after careful consultation with employers, trade unions, economists and civil society, there is little reason why both Pakatan and Barisan cannot jointly support such legislation.

Doing so would demonstrate that national priorities transcend electoral calculations.

For Negri Sembilan voters, this approach may be especially attractive. The state has traditionally rewarded moderation, stability and pragmatic governance over ideological confrontation.

Its electorate has often preferred governments capable of balancing competing interests rather than amplifying political divisions.

An agreement between major political coalitions on retirement reform would signal institutional maturity. It would reassure investors that Malaysia remains capable of making long-term policy decisions despite electoral competition.

More importantly, it would reassure ordinary Malaysians that their economic security matters more than partisan point-scoring.

Retirement is no longer merely about reaching a particular birthday. It concerns health, financial resilience, technological adaptation, family responsibilities and national productivity. Malaysians are living longer, remaining healthier and accumulating valuable expertise that should not necessarily disappear upon reaching a predetermined age.

The debate therefore deserves careful national reflection.

As Negri Sembilan voters consider the future, they may ultimately conclude that while 36 determines who governs, 65 may better determine how Malaysians continue contributing to national development, supporting their families and strengthening the country's resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.

If Malaysia can transform retirement from a rigid endpoint into a flexible opportunity for continued contribution, the country will be better positioned to navigate the demographic and technological challenges that lie ahead.

PROF PHAR KIM BENG

Professor of Asean Studies, Director of Institute of International and Asean Studies

International Islamic University Malaysia