Dr M: Raising retirement age denies opportunities for younger generations

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stated that he is against raising the retirement age from 60 to 65.

Dr Mahathir cited that other countries did not legally impose a mandatory retirement age. In doing so, however, older workers denied employment and promotion opportunities from the younger generation of workers.

“If we are to set the retirement age at 65, the deadwood will be sitting on their chairs and others will not be able to sit there,” Dr Mahathir said as quoted in a report by The Star.

He also addressed the argument of him serving even though he is already a nonagenarian.

“Don’t say that the prime minister is 94 and has yet to retire himself. Mine is not a case of not retiring, but being asked to come back to work.”

The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) proposed that the government raise the mandatory retirement age from 60 to 65 years, similar to what is being followed in Singapore.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman opposed the proposition, stating that the government should create more opportunities for younger workers.

Dr M supported Minister Syed Saddiq’s position when asked during the media conference at the official state visit to Cambodia.

“To me, retiring at 60 is good enough.” -/TISG

PM Lee says retirement age will be raised for the elderly “who wish to work longer”