According to the statistical information recently released, the expectation of life of the average Malaysian had increased by 1966 to about 67 years and there was every prospect of the trend being continued. No doubt the sound economy leading to higher living standards and better nutrition and the improved health services in the rural areas account for present day Malaysians being healthier and living longer. The health of children in particular has shown great improvement, the infant deaths having dropped from 75.5 per 1,000 children below the age of one in 1957 to 48 in 1966, and the crude toddler mortality rate from 10.7 to 5.1. Further improvement may be expected, especially in the rural areas with the current malaria eradication programme and the proposal to get the rural health clinic personnel to visit homes in the kampongs to disseminate knowledge on health, nutrition and home economics. It is to be hoped that at the same time, the family planning campaign in the rural areas will begin to produce results so that the economic and other benefits are not spread too thin over a large population. However, almost simultaneously with the release of the information that the life span had increased and that the average Malaysian of 55 may now expect to live for about another 20 years, came the shocking announcement by the government that the compulsory retiring age has been reduced from 60 to 55. Why is the Malaysian considered too old for government service when he reaches the magic age of 55 while there has been new thinking on retirement policies in Western countries? In view of the longer active life expectancy, there has been a fuller recognition in many countries of the contribution that older people can make to the life of the community. In the case of the professional man, this enforced premature retirement from government service may actually prove a blessing in disguise. The doctor, dentist, engineer, etc., may, in fact, welcome the opportunity of being released early so that he can set himself up in private practice or join in partnership with his fellows in the private sector. What happens to the vast majority of government servants who are not so luckily placed? What is he to do when he is thrown out without any training or preparation into a ruthless competitive world of commerce and industry at the age of 55 when he could be usefully employed in the public services for a few more years?
It has been estimated that there are in West Malaysia alone about 800,000 people in the age group of 55 and above. This latter figure will keep increasing with the rising span of life and a population growing steadily at the rate of over three percent per annum. With the better control of infectious and communicable diseases, problems of degenerative diseases are becoming more common. The picture of medical practice in the country has begun to change with more and more people presenting themselves with condition resulting from cardiovascular derangement, neoplasm and mental and senile changes. Traditionally, the old folks in Asia have been housed and cared for by the children but modernization in outlook and urbanization are steadily changing that state of affairs. The old folks are finding themselves more and more dependant on themselves and the poorer ones tend to finish up in overcrowded homes run by charitable organizations with little or no geriatric care. These people, however, should not be penalized because they are too old and cannot earn any more. Most modern countries accept their responsibility to support the aged in dignity and comfort by providing adequate old age pensions and properly run old folks’ homes and do not leave them to the charity of a few benevolent members of society. We would like to see more done for them in this country.