Retiring at 60 – a pipe dream for many now?
By OON JUN-YANG
Nation
Wednesday, 10 Dec 2025

PETALING JAYA: Most Malaysians hope to retire comfortably by 60 – but it’s far easier said than done.

From balancing savings, supporting their children’s education, and caring for ageing parents, many are left wondering if their nest egg will be able to last their golden years.

The cost of living remains among the biggest concerns.

“There remains some uncertainty about whether my current savings will support me if I live a long life,” said insurance agent Vanessa Chiew, 51.

Caring for her father, who is currently 94, is another factor to be considered.

“My father’s care is another significant factor.

“Medical and caregiving bills can be expensive surprises, and can affect my retirement savings.”

To better prepare for retirement, Chiew said she also has bank savings and insurance plans on top of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contributions.

“These are among the low-risk options that can (help me) preserve capital while providing a steady and reliable financial growth as I approach retirement,” she said.

Banking executive GK Lewis, 49, meanwhile hopes to retire by 55.

Lewis, however, noted that there’s no guarantee of being financially comfortable enough to retire as “anything could happen”.

“Providing care for my parents and supporting my children’s education are among the obligations I have to take into account when it comes to retirement planning.

“I will need to ensure I can handle both before retiring.

“Retirement is supposed to be a comfortable time, not a time to continue worrying about finances.”

He also highlighted the importance of investing in children by raising them with good values, which can affect financial security during retirement.

Some Malaysians, however, now consider it the norm to continue working late into their 60s, both as a means of ensuring a better future for their families and also to stay occupied.

“I have no plans of retiring yet although I am fairly confident about my current financial situation.

“Bank savings and EPF contributions are crucial for this as well,” said a 69-year-old company director who wanted to be known only as Sharifah.

A company owner who wanted to be known only as Anthony, 70, said he only plans to retire once he turns 80.

“My income is not salary-based so that is a big concern.

“I want to make sure my children, wife and extended family will have adequate support,” he said.

Source: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025...am-for-many-now

House loan 30 years, how to retire earlier?

According to epf data, most private sectors employees need to work until they are too weak to work.

Banks love you

Pay it off before the full 30 year tenure

Why father don't provide money for his own care?

I think banks loves most Malaysians

If not for the cheap house loan, expensive car loans and credit card is a norm.

just let it happen lar, agenda wef will come through



This post has been edited by H3artBreakKid: Dec 10 2025, 03:31 PM

House loan is cheap. Better keep money somewhere else.

According to /k parents mana can be charsiew

Don't you know? "Asian culture" means their retirement planning is "having kids (and hope they don't lose the genetic lottery)"

Just extend retirement age lah. Make it 63 first. Increase to 65 if needed

also lock epf money to 65yo only can withdraw all

Fair

Try that and see.....see what happen this coming GE

some mnc company oredi raised to 65 liao allowing them to work till that age... but i think it would be raised to 75 soon...

About 2/3 of people lose in their high yield/return investment.

house after 15 years also same price...
sell also just break even...

Why sell unless you’re upgrading? I bought my house probably for life already.

On paper, yes 30 but never walk along that line

This post has been edited by jojolicia: Dec 10 2025, 09:00 PM

Other than your wife, the rest shouldn't be your problem already. You already 70 your children still don't know support themselves ah?

his teeth also rented one ar, dental damn exp yo

For normal folk unless can hit RM1.3m liquid cash, better hope to die fast before body start failing.

kek youngsters still thinking they have a choice in the matter.

You will not be young forever. One day you will wake up, some one calls u unker. and a random ktard will kecam old unker slowing down the world from turning.

It isn't you wanting to work after 60. It is whether anybody still wants you after 50.

idea is to cash out and buy cash smaller cheaper house from the sale of the house.

aiyaa... even some of my friends can't hit 50s now... everyone dropping one by one..

there's actually a way to pay your loan fast.

its just maybe ur not here o enjoy it.

Only noob follow the loan tenure, settled earlier save huge interest.

For those pro investor who make more profit than housing loan interest saving, then the loan is never an issue.

Why they dropping? Any specific illness or accident?

YouTube video claimed in PRC 35yo already no company wants…

35 probably too young, but wadahell i know, ayam apek lol

I think it’s the lower level operation jobs, the PRC bosses rather hire fresh blood for the lower level job than to keep paying for slightly experienced staff whose salary already hiked from years of increment.

ya, if you not inheriting house or have 6 siblings worth of inheritance to divide, and making the average income released by the department of statistic (if its even true) consider basically cooked.

Legalise euthanasia.

But even at higher levels, unless you are the boss, there will be younger staff looking to push you off the seat. After all, you sitting there is blocking someone younger from moving up.

And even if you are the boss, your kid or whoever is next in line will have the same thought. It is not easy.

edit: easiest example recently is LGE lol.

This post has been edited by loserguy: Dec 10 2025, 04:45 PM

Interest is cheap. No point paying it faster.

Abolish retirement, work till last breath.

can always retire somewhere cheaper, like some middle of nowhere town

I am grateful i can afford to retire. Other people buy Civic, SUV, EV, i drive cheap B seg.
Everyone live big double story gated house, i live in apartment.
Everyone marry hot wife with flashy exciting lifestyle. I have workaholic wife who earns more than me.

But I can retire early. Hope fully.

When these type of articles come out, it's usually a pre-conditioned statement and gonna be followed up by gov to imposed something...

fixed

Last time i share my view to take full flexi home loan. The interest slightly higher than a static loan but i can dump money in and take out anytime, no movement restriction as long as no overdraft.

I put in all my rainy day savings into it, including my save car down payment as i was still surveying.

My kolik laugh at me, saying one can earn more with the liquid fund from the stock market. But i am glad i stuck to my plan. House was basically paid off 10 yr into 20 yr loan because all my safety net money offset the interest charged. I just let it sit there untill i have accumulated a bigger safety fund and settled it.

A reality many don't realise.

just pay more every month or cut the loan period by half..the third and quite a painful option.. sell n move to a smaller house

Easy if don't keep taking 9 year car loan every decade lol.

kalao pipe dream... biar isapping pipe jer la..


inb4 v Thats where they got the term 'Data Pipeline'

This post has been edited by soul78: Dec 10 2025, 08:16 PM

Most people cannot retire because of
1) children Charsiew need to pay education or lavish wedding or completely useless have to tanggung
2) extravagant living

Simple

This post has been edited by Roadwarrior1337: Dec 10 2025, 08:19 PM

My work is almost stress free. All I need to do is read, analyse & execute, which is something I enjoy. I’m working from home so I have no stress of traffic jam. So, I am pretty happy to work until 60 years old. No need to take any painful options

The downside is only that I only be reaching /ktards minimum salary few years before I retire

My company they seem to retain those over thirty. Heck all my kolik and boss is 30++ near 40 plus minis same as me. Some even 50++. Even my boss call me back even though i near 40.

Experience vs tokok gen.

Some prefer experienced personnel, some prefer tokok youth.

Not even 50. These days after 35 also difficult. Once hit 40, gg unless in GLC civil service.

Downside ? Rm20k? That’s top 1% earner!

65 yo retire …belum approved? Many countries dah extend.

You misunderstood me. I’m not earning 20k now.

Downside la. Take less stress job, celery also cannot be like /ktards earning 20k before 30 years old.

Ktards semua v keng! 💪

wrong
put in epf you earn much more

Epf kan ade

EPF 6% vs interest 3.85%?

you are telling me that I won't be fired at 60yo? more than 60yo still can find job? who wants to hire me (I only have spm)?

Clearly you do not understand the whole concept.
Would you ALL in your entire net worth into EPF rather than your home loan? Have you observe current BLR + bank interest? Epf beat the blr+bank interest ? You can't withdraw as you like from epf for personal needs.

How old u r??

Soon extend retirement until 75 years old

just push to 65 first bah, EPF dividend should be 7.9%

if the age is keep raising will it be more easier for those 50s to find a new job? currently it is very difficult for 50s to look for a job.

To curb that make it like other countries once hit 55 company just need to pay bare minimal for epf contribution. Have other perks for those employing age 50 and above that would then make it more interesting cause company can now reconsider getting a 50 year old full of experience or 30 year old genz which demands the world.

This post has been edited by kidmad: Dec 10 2025, 11:54 PM

Belum hit 40s already bringing home more than rm350k per annum.. having a big pay check but choose to live in luxury until 70 year old also cannot retire that's for sure. Instead I choose to live within means and base on my projection of property + investment + kwsp I by 55 can retire liao.

My Income also not salary based. Its thorlong menorlong based. Moar people I thorlong, more cash moneh I gotten to topup my cashtress for comfort.

I also want to make sure my three bangsats no need worry if grown up and need to listen to pokaihumgarchans word and look at their face to live a good life. I also wanna make sure my wife live until a day before me so she mampoi first, then I follow next day lel. I also wanna make sure that my extended family wokey survive no issue, while not leech at me like ZUBAT.

What a fun life.

Good planning, Anthony. So retiring on a wheelchair or the hospital bed?

Every parents want the best for their kids

Kalau boleh semua anak spend 400k for education

Pilot , doctor , lawyer

In the era of AI, robotics, automation n deglobalisation there is no more guarantee for job security n opportunity. Retirement can be set at >65 but will there be jobs for you, will company keep u when u r drawing much higher pay than younger cheaper workers with more uptodate knowledge n skills.
Some might say we have gig jobs to fall back on but in future they too will be replaced n limited.

This post has been edited by MGM: Dec 11 2025, 06:43 AM

A few more Anthony and office pantries are gonna provide adult diapers soon..

So, want to have children or not?

You think properly dont later complaint no money yada yada

This post has been edited by XUTUX: Dec 11 2025, 06:57 AM

but /k say this place got minors cannot show nipples wor

yes, although on the outside we all look like hamsap ah pek, inside we are all innocent 18yo pok pok chui virgin.

got 5 mil to provide passive income?

Where you get the 5m figure from? From anus? That's why to date I say alot will tell you oh I can't retire is not you can't, is you don't know how.

If oredi reaching 60 yo, why not?

Just pull out the cash and settled it.

Then enjoy the remaining before meet the creator.




Unless u want to pass the debt to charsiew then is okie to not clearing it

This post has been edited by Ayambetul: Dec 11 2025, 05:09 PM

Why not, country give u opportunity to be employed instead blacklisting u as orang dah expired tak berguna … other benefits: if up to 75 yo epf contribution like contribution pekerja biasa ..now pass 60 yo, epf % very kesian rendah, baik retire je...

Funny why u org dun understand why extend is good, give u license to work if u want la ! U dunwan kerja, can retire lepas sekolah tara org stop u pun!

By 2030 and beyond, with AI alot of ppl will be jobless. Forced to retire v early. The issue they worry is ppl having too much time on hands, what would they do lol … Thats they next level worry. Otak akan karat.

if no married no kids, retired at 35 also can

too many noobs, skill issue's

come I extend it to 200 year old

Less u one vote not less more you one vote not more ..