24/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 24, 2025

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When your nest egg is half-boiled T HE global conversation on retirement is getting suspiciously lively – ironic, considering it involves people well past the age for late-night mamak . average pension is generous enough to live on comfortably – which means choosing to work longer is often just that: a choice. In Malaysia, EPF data paints a different picture. As of 2023, over 50% of members aged 54 had less than RM10,000 in their 0 Retirement savings reform We need to rebuild EPF after the pandemic. Sweeten the deal for voluntary top-ups. And for heaven’s sake, stop treating it like a patriotic cash dispenser. 0 Broader pension net A T E D M

the rare unicorn who loves Monday meetings but they should be the exception, not the model. We cannot just copy-paste Scandinavian ideas without localising them. You cannot drop a Volvo policy into a Perodua economy and expect it to purr. Let Malaysians choose how they want to age. Some may want to keep working while others may want to plant bunga kantan , take up karaoke or just live without having to call IT support once a week. All of these are valid. Working till 75? Great – if you are in good health, well-paid and love what you do. However, for many Malaysians, especially those who have spent decades in demanding and underpaid jobs, extending work life feels like moving the finish line after they have already run the race. So before we push this idea any further, let us pause and ask: Do we want our golden years to feel like a brand-new chapter or just the extended blooper reel of the same tired struggle? Those in the Scandinavian countries may be able to work until 75 and then ski into the sunset. But, for many of us here in Malaysia – we just want to retire before we become older than the fifth cycle of office renovation. But maybe this makcik is wrong. Maybe plenty of Malaysians do want to work till 75 – out of passion, resilience or because their EPF balance looks more like a phone number than a nest egg. Still, if that is the direction we are headed to, then please- lah , get the systems ready. Strengthen our safety nets. Make ageing less of a survival sport. We cannot be talking about extending retirement while aunties are still queuing at Klinik Kesihatan at 6am like it is a Black Friday sale. If we are serious, let’s start now. AzuraAbas is the associate editor of theSun. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com Programmes such as Bantuan Sara Hidup and MyKasih have provided short-term respite, although they are sometimes insufficient considering the food inflation rate. Experts are calling for subsidies primarily for necessities to help those with lower incomes. According to economist Datuk Mohd Salleh, “financial assistance should go hand-in-hand with capacity-building programmes that empower communities to grow their food”, underscoring the significance of social protection in ensuring food security. In Malaysia’s densely populated areas, expanding urban farming programmes may give low-income families additional sources of income and a sustainable way out of food reliance. Setting out on a new path Malaysia must address both short-term demands and long-term risks to increase food security. Although attempts to fix prices through subsidies could offer temporary respite, a revolutionary approach emphasising independence and creativity is necessary. Apart from that, Malaysia’s food industry may greatly benefit from the resources offered by the FAO’s Global Initiative on Food Security, which supports sustainable agricultural production, especially in crop diversity and sustainable water management. To sum up, Malaysia has to actively encourage local agriculture while reforming its policies to address food insecurity. By reducing its reliance on foreign markets, Malaysia should better safeguard its citizens from price shocks and ensure that food is constantly available and affordable, especially for those in the B40 group. DatinSri Prof Dr Suhaiza Hanim Datuk Mohamad Zailani is the director of the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Recently, the idea of extending working lives until 75 has picked up steam. Apparently, since we are living longer, we should all clock in longer. Ageing populations, labour shortages, pension pressure – all solvable, they say, if we just keep replying to emails into our 70s. In Sweden, this idea probably makes polite sense. At 75, a Swede may still be cycling through scenic trails, attending book clubs over fika and popping by Ikea for oat milk before heading off to kayak past a few fjords. In Malaysia? At 75, we are navigating potholes, Klinik Kesihatan queues and anak anak (children), who still ask, “ Boleh tolong bank in sikit, mak ? (can you bank in some money mum?)”. And now you want us to rejoin the workforce? With what – minyak angin, elastic knee guards and moral support from the cat? Let us call it what it is: the idea of working until 75 is a lovely fantasy – mostly for economists and policy planners. For actual humans, especially in Malaysia, it sounds a lot like unpaid overtime from the universe. We are told we should work longer because we are living longer. But there is a difference between “still alive” and “fit to join a brainstorming session”. Swedish seniors benefit from comprehensive social welfare, affordable elder care and a culture of cross-country skiing at age 80. Our seniors? They are braving 35°C heat, squinting at TnG eWallet top-ups and praying the clinic’s BP machine does not give a reading loud enough to shame them in public. Let us also not forget that in Sweden, the M A R I N B Y A FOOD security has become a significant concern in Malaysia, especially in light of recent global developments. Rising costs and a reliance on imports make it harder for many Malaysians, especially those in the B40 category who are already impoverished, to obtain reasonably priced, wholesome food. The ongoing global food crisis, which has been made worse by disruptions brought on by pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and climate change, has also affected Malaysia. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, more than 60% of Malaysia’s staple goods – including rice, wheat and dairy products – are imported. Since food prices increased by 8.9% in 2023, even a little increase in worldwide prices has resulted in a greater cost of living for people here. This strain is challenging for B40 households who spend over one-third of their income on food. Enhancing agriculture as a community-based approach Given this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has underlined the need for self sufficiency as a crucial element of Malaysia’s food security strategy. Although initiatives to expand domestic farming have shown potential, rapid development is hampered by structural issues, including the limited scale of smallholder farms and high operational costs. Additionally, the movement towards agritech has accelerated, with projects supporting smart irrigation, vertical agriculture and sustainable agricultural methods. However, time and substantial financial commitment are needed for these endeavours. The farming industry in Malaysia, which now accounts for less than 10% of GDP, would require significant reorganisation to facilitate a substantial rise in self-reliance. Insights from global models Similar issues have prompted aggressive actions

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savings. That is not a retirement fund – that is “ bawah tilam ” money for when your air con breaks down. And, this makcik recently read in the news – while adjusting her reading glasses and side-eyeing the utility bill – that only around 36% of Malaysians have enough to retire, quoting Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. The rest? Still busy patching financial holes with moral support and expired Milo. What is the retirement plan? Pray hard, work harder and hope no one asks for duit raya . The real issue is not retirement age – it is retirement reality. Malaysians do not slog till 75 for fun or to “stay sharp”. They do it because the economy does not give them much of a Plan B. We have seen them – elderly uncles working as parking attendants, aunties running roadside stalls or former civil servants driving e-hailing part-time. It is not “active ageing”; it is an economic necessity dressed up in a vest and name tag. Raising the retirement age without reforming the system is like extending a ladder without checking if the bottom rung is broken. If your savings are not enough, your medical bills are high and your job prospects at 65 include “guard this gate”, then working longer is not a policy; it is a punishment. So, what would a Malaysian-friendly model look like? Before we swoon over Scandinavians working in fleece-lined bliss at 75, maybe we should fix the system that is forcing our makciks to sell kuih just to get by. C I K A B A S

Malaysia needs a basic universal pension or targeted elderly assistance, especially for informal workers, gig economy folks and the makcik who has been selling nasi lemak for 40 years with zero deductions to show for it. 0 Flexible work for seniors If older Malaysians want to work, make it worth their while – part-time, project-based, mentorship roles that value their experience without dragging them into six-hour town halls featuring icebreaker games. Give them dignity, not burnout. 0 Health first, HR later If you want people to work longer, keep them healthier longer. That means preventive care, affordable clinics, active ageing centres – and maybe a national programme to help them enjoy their golden years instead of queueing at LHDN. And while we are at it, can we drop this outdated nonsense that if you are not working you are not contributing? Ask any grandmother who has been watching three grandchildren while preparing lunch for twelve and still finds time to scold people on Facebook over rendang opinions – that is nation-building right there. Retirement is not laziness; it is delayed reward. After 40 years of battling deadlines, toxic bosses, bad chairs and traffic jams that steal your soul – the right to rest is not a luxury; it is earned. And yet, we are being asked: “Wouldn’t you like to work just a bit more?” As if retirement is a hobby, not a well-deserved break from capitalism. Sure, there are Malaysians who enjoy working into their 70s – professionals, entrepreneurs or

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COMMENT by Datin Sri Prof Dr Suhaiza Hanim Datuk Mohamad Zailani

Feeding the nation through self-sufficiency

The ongoing global food crisis, which has been made worse by disruptions brought on by pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and climate change, has also affected Malaysia. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

in Penang that started in 2023 and has shown promise in urban areas. However, growth is required to have a quantifiable impact across the country. Meeting B40 households needs In this regard, the increase in food prices increases the danger of starvation and malnutrition among Malaysia’s most vulnerable people, especially the B40. While community-based food banks have lessened part of this load, a more comprehensive strategy is required.

from several countries. For instance, by integrating technology, Japan has effectively reduced its need for food imports. Japan has experienced a 15% boost in agricultural productivity via robotic farming and precision agriculture techniques, dramatically reducing its reliance on imports for staple foodstuffs. The urban agriculture approach in South Korea also provides insightful information. Rooftop and communal gardens have been established in Seoul, giving city dwellers access to fresh vegetables while easing the burden on food imports. This strategy is mirrored in a pilot project