Professor Norma Mansor Featured in CNA Documentary on Malaysia's Ageing Population
Documentary: Malaysia: Growing Old Fast
Featured Expert: Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Norma Mansor, Director, SWRC, Universiti Malaya
Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Norma Mansor, Director of the Social Wellbeing Research Centre (SWRC), Universiti Malaya, shared her insights on Malaysia's rapidly ageing population and the urgent need to strengthen social protection and retirement income security.
Professor Norma highlighted the growing risk of old-age poverty, noting that approximately 42% of older Malaysians experience relative poverty, compared with 17% nationally. She emphasised the importance of reforming Malaysia's retirement income system through a multi-tiered approach, including the introduction of a basic, tax-funded social pension to ensure financial security and dignity in old age.
While acknowledging that Malaysia could have begun preparing for population ageing earlier, Professor Norma stressed that it is not too late to act. She called for proactive policy reforms and long-term planning to address the challenges of an ageing society while harnessing opportunities presented by the silver economy.
Her contribution reinforces SWRC's commitment to advancing evidence-based social protection policies and promoting the wellbeing of Malaysia's ageing population.