The government has identified the urgent needs of the elderly population and is currently finalising an action plan to specifically address those issues under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, said a minister today.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said operational changes were underway to ensure the full implementation of related laws, rules, regulations and policies.

"A significant change is to have a special unit handling the concerns of senior citizens, one of seven core groups under the ministry's purview," she shared with participants before delivering a keynote address at a national conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

"The recommendations from this public forum will form the basis for a working proposal for inclusion into the Ninth Malaysia Plan. I will try my best, God-willing, to get them all in.

"We've asked the Public Services Department to re-organise the Social Welfare Department in terms of providing specific training for welfare officers designated to handle a particular core group."

Besides the elderly, other core groups under the ministry's portfolio are children, women, family, social development, community development and the disabled, which the minister described as responsible for "issues from womb to tomb or from cradle to grave".

The conference 'Ageing with Dignity: Rights of Older Persons' was organised by the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and attended by more than 200 individuals and representatives of various groups. Several Suhakam commissioners were also present.

Increasing costs

In her keynote address, Shahrizat said that Malaysia was "moving from Toys 'R' Us to Old 'R' Us - hearing aids, glasses, incontinence diapers, hair colouring, dental work, facelifts, botox, replaceable parts".

"Questions arise as to how is going to bear the increasing costs due to ageing - government, private businesses, non-governmental organisations or families.

"Undeniable, the aging population is a major concern in both developing and developed countries due to the profound impact on the world's social and economic systems."

She said old age brought with it a reduced capacity to work, spiralling debts, hunger, isolation and destitution.

Speaking to reporters later, Shahrizat said socio-economic security, family support and a safe environment will form the backbone of the policy and budget proposal for the elderly.

"Over the last eight months, we've been meeting with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who have submitted their proposals and recommendations.

"We've identified the issues and are now looking at how to prepare for an aging population."

Although there was no cause for alarm yet, she said Malaysia's population will age rapidly over the next 30 years.

"By the year 2020, persons aged 65 and older are expected to grow to 2.1 million or seven

percent of the total population.

"However, taking the Asean cut-off point of 60 years, older persons are expected to constitute seven percent this year."

Dignity and security

The minister said the challenge lay in ensuring that the elderly live in dignity and security, free from exploitation and all forms of abuse, treated fairly regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or other status and to be valued independently for their economic contribution.

"The ministry's greatest challenge is to formulate formal social support schemes to handle older persons, particularly women, who will remain excluded from family and community support based on changing family values due to demographic changes and economic realities."

In his opening address, Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman urged the government to urgently relook the implementation of the National Policy for the Elderly formulated in 1995 and an action plan formulated four years later.

Suhakam vice-chairperson Simon Sipaun read out the speech text on behalf of Abu Talib who was absent due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Suhakam chief asked the government to heed calls to revise upwards the current retirement age of 55 (private sector) and 56 (civil service) to age 60 as adopted by the United Nations World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna in 1982.

He made several suggestions to improve the healthcare and welfare of the elderly such as to recruit school-leavers as volunteers to government and university hospitals for between six and eight months in a similar programme as the national service.

"This could be undertaken by the Health and Education ministries to overcome the constant lack of staff in these hospitals," he said.

"In this way, the youth are trained in handling older persons and they become sensitive and caring besides their time being gainfully occupied."

National asset

The corporate sector was also urged to play an important role in providing for the elderly, especially their financial needs.

"The challenge for financial institutions both international and national is to look carefully at ways in which they can provide better protection with better incentives.

"We urge banks to consider giving higher interest rates for those above 60," said Abu Talib, who also sits on the board of directors in several public-listed companies and financial institutions.

"The government should study the feasibility of a social pension scheme with due consideration to the establishment and extension of social protection mechanisms in the form on non-contributory pension programmes."

He also noted the absence of a separate chapter on older persons in the Eigth Malaysia Plan.

"Some will construe this to mean that ageing has not become a national policy nor priority, therefore the Ninth Malaysia Plan should include such a chapter (to facilitate) sectoral or inter-agency planning and implementation."

An aging population, which Malaysia would be once it registers seven percent who are aged 60 and above, he said could be turned into a national asset.

"For instance, retired teachers and sports personalities can contribute by giving tuition in Science, Mathematics and sports in schools for a minimum fee as escalating costs make such facilities unaffordable for middle-income parents."

"Retired police officers with expertise in crime prevention can contribute towards ensuring a safe and secure environment."

He said the long waiting time for medical treatment or in healthcare services should also be addressed seriously given the complications already suffered by elderly patients.

Other suggestions include sales discounts at pharmacies, optical shops and supermarkets, revised tax relief for families who are supporting older persons and to provide a safe and secure living environment with enhanced punishments for crimes against the elderly.