In the 80s and 90s,
one of my hero was Roy Jeremy.
Thick moustache.
Big hair.
Sharp suit.
He retired at 65.
Legendary

Now Malaysia says retirement age will move from 60 to 65.
Good news for who.
Not for me.
Maybe for HR.
Maybe for the tax office.

If I live to 80.
Retire at 65.
That is only 15 years left.

Fifteen years.
One and a half decades.
Three World Cup cycles.

What can I do with 15 years?
Cycle around the world.
Ride motorbike across Central Asia.
Volunteer.
Give back.
Teach golf or pickleball not accountancy!

But reality is different.
At 65, maybe I can only travel between hospital and pharmacy.

Why government want us to work longer
They say it is for our good.

People live longer.
So must work longer.
But living longer does not mean healthier.

EPF money not enough.
By 55, many accounts kosong.
By 60, worse.
Government afraid you depend on them.
So they push retirement later.
You keep working.
You keep contributing.

Labour shortage.
Fewer young.
More old.
To keep the economy alive,
seniors must stay.

More tax.
Work longer means pay tax longer.
They call it nation building.

Roy Jeremy retired at 65.
Applause.
But he was the exception.
For me,
65 means knee pain.
High blood pressure.
Weak eyesight.

I am not stars.
I am ordinary Malaysians.
Yes, we live longer.
But also weaker.
More medicine.
More doctors.

How many 10 years do you still have left?

PS: Just checked latest Wikipedia.
Turns out Roy Jeremy never retired at 65.
Maybe he is still working.