This was the question asked by one of the members of Parliament during today’s session, to which the government replied, that it is ramping up preparations to address Malaysia’s ageing population through a long-term strategy under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with a National Ageing White Paper set to be tabled in Parliament this year.
The Economy Ministry said Malaysia officially became an ageing nation in 2021 after the share of the population aged 65 and above exceeded 7%. Based on projections by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, the share of senior citizens is expected to rise from 8% in 2025 to 10.4% by 2035, while the total fertility rate is forecast to decline from 1.67 to 1.60 over the same period.
To address the demographic shift, the government has mainstreamed the National Ageing Agenda under the 13MP and is developing a National Ageing Blueprint centred on five pillars: macroeconomic and fiscal sustainability, employment and skills, social protection, lifelong healthcare, and long-term care.
The ministry said the blueprint will be rolled out following the tabling of the National Ageing White Paper later this year.
As part of the strategy, the government will strengthen the National Policy for Older Persons by expanding community programmes, including Senior Citizens Activity Centres (PAWE), promoting active and healthy ageing, enhancing digital literacy, and encouraging lifelong learning.
The government will also expand community-based long-term care services, develop the care economy, train professional caregivers, and widen social protection coverage for vulnerable groups while encouraging economically active senior citizens to remain in the workforce.
On healthcare, the 13MP and the Health White Paper will prioritise disease prevention, early detection, primary and secondary care, and better integration of health and social services to help older Malaysians maintain their independence.
The ministry added that efforts will also focus on improving retirement income adequacy, expanding social safety nets, strengthening financial literacy, and enhancing family and community-based support for senior citizens.
Implementation of the National Ageing Blueprint will be monitored through a whole-of-government approach involving the Malaysian Social Protection Council, the National Social Council, the Fiscal Policy Committee and the National Economic Action Council.
The government said these initiatives aim to ensure Malaysia is better prepared to become an aged society by 2040, with older persons able to age healthily, actively, productively and with dignity.
