WHAT DO SENIOR CITIZENS IN MALAYSIA WANT?

We want an outdoor gym for seniors in every housing estate and public park where we can exercise

We don’t want awards and titles, for they benefit only a few selected individuals, not the community. (By the way, Singaporeans from the PM to the man-in-the-street are addressed as Mr, and for the ladies, a plain Ms/Mdm.)

Above all, we want to be accorded respect and dignity, not ignored or seen as unproductive and a burden to society

We certainly don’t want empty pre-election promises of what the government can do, will do for us. We also don’t want general references to what it plans to do for seniors. We want details, specifics and deadlines. And if the government doesn’t deliver, we have the right to protest, to hold it accountable if it reneges on its word, and to withhold our vote if any of our under-performing ministers should stand for re-election. That’s not a threat or a warning, but a straightforward case of cause and result.

Here’s a short checklist to begin with for the relevant ministeries to take note of. In no particular order.

• more elder-friendly facilities in public places 
• a public transport system that takes into account the physical limitations of the elderly
• a senior privilege card with genuine discounts that covers items seniors regularly spend on.
• senior community centres in every housing area or constituency
• more opportunties for re-training and re-employment of seniors
• more affordable nursing homes and assisted living facilities
• lifelong learning programmes to be extended to more areas 
• respect and dignity, and no age discrimination, please

An impossible dream, or a soon-to-be reality?

If you click on any of the links above, you will find that SeniorsAloud have been making these proposals as far back as 2009. We will continue to voice our concerns till we are heard.

To give credit where credit is due, we appreciate the government’s efforts in making public healthcare accessible and affordable to seniors. We welcome the discounts for seniors travelling on trains and buses. We also acknowledge the financial assistance given for funeral expenses (!) under the Mesra Usia Emas Scheme and other schemes.

With seniors making up 8.8% of the population and growing steadily, Malaysia is on its way to becoming an ageing nation in the next 10-15 years. UN defines a country as ageing when 7% of its population is aged 65 and above.

But these provisions are either limited, too slow in implementation, or if already available are not efficiently maintained or managed.