Experts call for ‘Ministry of Longevity’ to prepare Malaysia for aged nation status

KUALA LUMPUR, October 2 — Malaysia should coordinate policies and efforts concerning longevity and older people, according to National Council of Women's Organisations (NCWO) Malaysia president, Prof. Emerita Tan Sri Dr Sharifah Hapsah Syed Hasan. Dr Sharifah suggested the establishment of a coordinating body, which could be a council or committee, managed by the federal government.

This body should involve multiple sectors, including the government, private sector, and non-governmental organisations. The proposed body would examine policies on creating a society that not only lives longer but also makes the most of life in old age, encompassing economic, social, health, and educational aspects. Dr Sharifah highlighted that various ministries currently manage different aspects of older people's matters, such as the Ministry of Economy handling the National Ageing Blueprint 2025-2045 and the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development overseeing the Malaysia Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan (2026–2030).

For example, caregiving and the care industry involve both economic and social dimensions, while tourism, a significant industry, caters to the diverse interests of older travellers. At a panel session titled 'The Long Horizon: From Structural Force to Lived Reality' at the ISWC 2026 conference, Dr Sharifah emphasised the need for a governing body to oversee all initiatives related to longevity and older people in Malaysia.

Earlier, UK's National Innovation Centre for Ageing Director, Prof Nicola Palmarini, proposed the concept of a 'Ministry of Longevity,' which he argued is currently missing from global governments. Palmarini suggested that such a ministry could measure the return on different longevity policies, examining factors like education, social conditions, and pollution that influence people living long, healthy lives.

He also emphasised the importance of involving the private sector in designing age-friendly services, such as package tours tailored for the elderly with less demanding schedules and accessible amenities.