KUCHING: At what age is one considered a ‘warga emas’ (senior citizen)?
Pensioner Norman Goh, 61, is curious to know because it seemed that not only do different government bodies defined the term differently, but different officers within the same agency sometimes define it differently! This has caused many senior citizens a lot of inconvenience and headaches.
“Three weeks ago, I was allowed to queue at a row meant for senior citizens at the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to settle a road tax. However, when I went back there a few days ago, I was not permitted to queue at the same row. The officer told me it was meant for those aged 65 years and above.
“Why does the age of senior citizen fluctuates like that? Isn’t there a standard age for senior citizens?” asked Goh, who opted for early retirement when he was in his 40s.
He said he had bumped into this issue numerous times but the latest incident had aroused his curiosity to seek for an explanation.
“The way I see it is that for administrative purposes different (government) agencies defined the term senior citizen differently.
“I do believe that not even government servants themselves know the standard age. I have asked many of my civil servant friends about this and no one knows the answer.
“I was in Kuala Lumpur recently and I asked a Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad staff and he too shook his head,” he said.
Goh said many years ago, the term was very straightforward — it was meant for those aged 55 years and above.
“Malaysia Airlines (MAS) back then even used 55 years as the age for senior citizens, who were entitled to discounted fares,” he pointed out.
But some in the private sector still used the age of 55 years and above to define the term. For instance, a quick check with express bus service provider Biaramas here yesterday revealed that they considered those aged 55 years and above as senior citizens and give discounted fares.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Datuk Fatimah Abdullah recently told The Borneo Post that the rule of thumb was when one had reached or crossed the “pensionable age”.
Since the pensionable age (for civil servants) is currently at 58, then those aged 58 and above should be considered senior citizens, she said.
However, according to the Public Service Department’s Pension Division, through their portal ‘Pencen’, those aged above 60 years were considered ‘old’ people.
It also mentioned that in advanced and developed nations ‘old people’ are those above 65 years and above. This is because these nations have better economic, educational and health levels, as well as established health services and longer life expectancy compared to those in developing nations.