Govt mulls raising the retirement age of civil servants

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is taking into consideration suggestions to raise the retirement age of civil servants to accommodate the increasing number of senior citizens in Malaysia.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said there had been active discussion over the matter and her ministry had received views from certain parties to review the retirement age.
She however said that any changes made to the retirement age would not be done in the near time as a lot of engagements with stakeholders need to be done first.
"Insyaallah, we are looking into that, in fact we had received (suggestions) but we had just increased (the retirement age) from 55 to 60.
"We need to support the structure of other departments as they are also in the midst of adjusting. We will consider it again," she told a press conference after opening the 'Social Protection and Sustainable Development - Empowering Older Persons' seminar at Berjaya Times Square Hotel.
Rohani said any proposal to increase the retirement age would not be depending on the decision of her ministry alone as other agencies and bodies, such as the Public Service Department, would be affected by the increase.
She added increasing the bar on retirement age would halt the job progress of those in the lower position to get promoted.
"If we keep raising, those who are supposed to be promoted will be affected ... we accept the idea but we need to study it thoroughly," she said.
Earlier in her speech, Rohani said that Malaysia is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, with more than 15% of its citizens would be those of the age 60 and above.
She added based on the projection, the ministry had taken various initiatives and policies to prepare the country in accommodating the situation.