Ageism in Malaysia

Ageism, also called age discrimination, is stereotyping of and discrimintation against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice and discrimination.

Ageism can be found in many countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, India and even Singapore. The article below will be about ageism in Malaysia.

In Kuala Lumpur, when you are out of a job at 40 or more, how do you make a living?

For the able-bodied men, they could try being security guards. Work prospects for the women are less after 40. The enterprising ones could earn some money from baby sitting or sell nasi lemak. Most, however, are likely to end up being just homemakers.

This is a sad situation,” said MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mahmud, citing a recent case involving 135 retrenched workers of Federal Flour Mills in Klang, who had worked there for 20 to 25 years.

First, the company exploits them. Then, they are subjected to discrimination because of their age,” he said, adding that other companies were also reluctant to employ them although they are healthy and qualified for some jobs.

Syed Shahir said since the lifespan of Malaysian men averages 72 years and women, 76, the age of employment should be until 60, like in Australia, or 65, as in Singapore.

“In Malaysia, there are no protection against this kind of discrimination, whereas the United States, under its Age Discrimination in Employment Act 1967 (ADEA), prohibits employment discrimination based on age, with respect to employees 40 years of age and older.

Syed Shahrir also said workers who get retrenched or become jobless after 40 find it hard to get decent jobs. “They end up as security guards and earn between RM600 and RM900 a month, which barely covers their cost of living. "Women workers suffer more and they will most probably end up as homemaker,” he said.

Syed Shahrir hoped the Government would emulate the ADEA and allow citizens past 40 to continue working. In this respect he welcomed the announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin that the Education ministry would offer retired teachers a chance to teach English to primary school pupils. Syed Shahrir also hoped that in line with the 1Malaysia concept and the pledge by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to put ‘the public first’ the Government would place emphasis on the well-being of the local work force.

In order to eliminate ageism, we need people like Syed Shahrir, who is willing to help people that are being discriminated because of their age.