BY: CHRISTOPHER FERNANDEZ

If age is just a figure, the nation should not get overly concerned or excited as it heads towards being an aging population, but people need to see this shifting trend in the right perspective for the country to keep moving forward.

Old is gold. It is necessary to respect and honour the aged and to tap into their wealth of knowledge, wisdom and experience to better the future of all Malaysians and this is why the youth must engage and relate with the older generation.

Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife are glowing examples of senior citizens whose example should be followed on safeguarding and maintaining our health that though old they make invaluable contributions to the nation.

Older people should come forward and contribute their skills, knowhow and expertise and impart them to the young on what has made them be able to successfully live for so long and witness many historic events in their lifetime.

Those who are seniors and still healthy should be employed as mature age workers and be rightly compensated in remuneration which should be commensurate with their years of experience, qualifications and knowledge.

Everyone should engage in lifelong learning and keep contributing until they can no longer do so or upon their demise. This is why all segments of the population must be appropriately developed for everyone to benefit.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher