04/08/2026

LYFE TUESDAY | AUG 4, 2026

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Sandwich generation can hardly sustain lifestyle, finances

A GROWING “protection illusion” – where perceived protection does not match real financial resilience – is leaving many Malaysian sandwich generation families financially exposed. While 59% believe they are adequately insured, only 35% say they could sustain their lifestyle beyond six months if their primary income stops, according to Sun Life Malaysia’s Insure or Unsure: Insurance Literacy Survey 2026. The survey, conducted among 1,060 Malaysian adults supporting children and ageing parents, highlights how rising living costs and competing financial responsibilities are limiting households’ ability to build financial resilience, despite many perceiving themselves to be adequately insured. This gap between perceived protection and actual financial resilience becomes even clearer when looking at households’ financial runway. Among those who feel adequately insured, more than half (53%) say their coverage would replace only 50% to 100% of their monthly income, potentially leaving little room to sustain daily expenses or longer-term commitments during a disruption. For families supporting children and ageing parents, responsibilities and costs can change quickly – often faster than their protection plans. Regular reviews can help ensure coverage stays relevant, keeps pace with life’s demands and reduces the risk of a protection illusion when it matters most. The financial resilience gap becomes more apparent when looking at households’ financial runway. Nearly three in 10 (29%) GOOGLE recently launched the YouTube Creators for Impact programme in Malaysia, bringing together trusted local creators to champion online safety and empower parents through educational content as online safety becomes an increasingly important conversation for Malaysian families. This rollout builds on YouTube’s commitment to creating a safer and more responsible online ecosystem. With 72% of Malaysian parents stating using digital safety or educational tools together with their child helps them feel more confident discussing online safety, the programme harnesses the influence of trusted local creators to spotlight such tools and make these conversations more accessible and relatable for families. To help Malaysian families cultivate good digital habits at home, Google has mobilised the Lighthouse Creators – a group of six prominent homegrown voices chosen for their credibility, positive influence and unique ability to spark meaningful conversations. The lineup includes A Lad and a Dad, Aqil

o Survey highlights growing protection illusion households say they could cope for less than three months without income. Under more severe circumstances, the strain intensifies, with 65% saying they would be unable to maintain their current lifestyle beyond six months if the main breadwinner is unable to work. With much of household income committed to essential expenses such as bills (30%), housing (21%) and children’s education (16%), many families are left with limited capacity to build a financial buffer. Over time, this financial strain does not just affect household stability – it also takes a toll on emotional wellbeing. More than half of respondents (53%) say they feel stressed, overwhelmed or exhausted at least once a week. Anxiety is also common, with 29% experiencing it one to two times a week and 12% almost daily. This sustained pressure can make it harder to step back and review financial plans, reinforcing the gap between intention and action. This pressure is also reshaping

For families supporting children and

ageing parents, responsibilities and costs can change quickly. – 123RFPIC

life priorities. 46% say their retirement savings are not on track, while 43% have delayed upgrading their homes or postponed leisure plans. As financial focus shifts toward immediate needs, longer-term goals are often deprioritised. As Malaysians become more aware of their protection needs, the challenge now is turning that awareness into meaningful action.

Malaysians are becoming more aware of their protection needs. – SUN LIFE MALAYSIA

Supporting safer online experiences for Malaysian families

Antibiotic resistance rising among children worldwide, study warns

ANTIBIOTIC resistance in children is rising globally and is expected to worsen over the next decade, threatening the effectiveness of life-saving antibiotics, an Australian-led study reveals, reported Xinhua. The study, led by Australia’s University of Sydney (USYD), found antibiotic resistance increased in every region between 2004 and 2022, with babies and children in intensive care and those in lower-resource countries most affected, according to a USYD statement released recently. Researchers from Australia,

making infections harder to treat. Children are especially vulnerable as they experience high rates of bacterial infections but have fewer antibiotic treatment options than adults, the researchers said, noting that about 840,000 deaths in children under five worldwide in 2021 were associated with AMR. The findings, published in Journal of the American Medical Association Paediatrics , found resistance rose most sharply among antibiotics classified by the World Health Organisation as “last resort” or “to be closely monitored” to prevent overuse and preserve their effectiveness when first-line treatments fail. Two types of Gram negative bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella, were identified as driving resistance globally, with the latter recording the fastest g r o w t h , particularly in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and the Western Pacific, the study showed. The team also launched AMR in Kids, an online platform tracking antibiotic resistance by country, bacteria and antibiotic class, with forecasts to 2035. – Bernama-Xinhua

China and the US analysed more than 106,000 infection samples from children aged up to 18 across 82 countries and regions. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria evolve to resist antibiotic treatment,

Google representatives with the six homegrown voices selected to champion online safety and empower parents through educational content at the launch of YouTube Creators for Impact. – HANDOUT PIC

content

focused

on

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Zulkiflee, Fourfeetnine, FU Love, Im_siowei and JE Pong. Over the next two months, these creators will collaborate with industry experts and peers in intensive workshops, gaining practical insights into critical online safety issues — specifically parental controls and youth well-being. Armed with this knowledge, they will produce

core pillars: 0 Smart Guardrails: Practical tips on navigating parental tools and safety features. 0 Digital Wellness: Practical strategies for building healthy tech habits at home. 0 Purposeful Tech: Leveraging technology as a powerful tool for learning and skill-building.

Antibiotic resistance in children is expected to worsen in the future. – 123RFPIC