Gov't To Study retirement Age Extensionsion Carefully, Says Dr Zaliha

 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- The study on the proposal to raise the mandatory retirement age to 65 years for civil servants and the private sector will be conducted comprehensively and not in haste, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.  

She said the study under the National Ageing Framework would take into account various aspects including health, productivity, promotion opportunities for younger officers as well as the country’s financial capability in the short and long term.  

“The Public Service Department (PSD) is not rushing into this matter and is carrying out a thorough study.  

“In discussions with the Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS), several aspects are still being examined including the need for phased implementation, giving civil servants the option of early retirement, as well as health and psychometric assessments for those wishing to serve until the age of 65,” she said.  

Dr Zaliha said this when winding up debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) in the Dewan Rakyat today.  

She said until the study is finalised, the mandatory retirement age remains at 60 as provided under the Pensions Act 1980 (Act 227) and the Statutory and Local Authorities Pensions Act 1980 (Act 239).  

As for measures to assist the elderly, whose numbers are projected to reach 17.3 per cent of the population by 2040, Dr Zaliha said her ministry through the Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan (PSKL) 2040 and the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan (PTKL) 2040 has proposed various elderly-friendly housing concepts.  

These include retirement homes, medical-assisted housing, and retirement villages with eight sites for Subsidised Public Rental Housing (PASS) already identified, including two in Bukit Bintang, to be offered to the underprivileged including senior citizens.  

In addition, she said Kuala Lumpur currently has 24.64 kilometres of covered pedestrian walkways connected to public transport, and this network will continue to be strengthened in line with the PTKL 2040 goal of making Kuala Lumpur a city of efficient mobility and environmentally friendly.

-- BERNAMA