60 IS IDEAL TIME TO RETIRE: GOVT PENSIONERS GROUP

Daily Express
15 Mac 2015

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Government Pensioners Association Deputy President cum Think Tank Chairman Datuk Wilfred Lingham said the association was in favour of the civil servant retirement age remaining at 60. 

"We believe Cuepacs must have their own reason for suggesting an extension of the retirement age of civil servants from the current 60 to 62 years. Nonetheless, we feel that 60 years of age is an ideal and good time to retire, not too old and not too young.

"If one stays too long in the service, it would be more difficult to face life after retirement. The service would have taken over your life."As such, we believe at 60 years one would have a little savings from the payment derived from gratuity and EPF and would enable the retirees to spend rewarding time with the families.

Retiring at 60 allows one to move on and enjoy the best years to come. Let the younger generation take over and be an 'obedient servant ' to the government." Lingham said that in the next five years more than 6,000 civil servants would be due to retire from the service and the association was actively organising seminars for this large number of government servants.

"This year the theme of our seminars is 'Retire with Dignity'. Motivational talks undertaken by experts will be given in addition to papers on financial management, introduction to short term skills training and short term collateral free loans through established financial institutions."We realised many particularly retirees from the lower income group experience 'culture shock' and find it difficult to face retirement due to lack of exposure.

"Our series of seminars were designed to minimise financial burden when the retirees at the end of the day will receive as pension payment just about 60 per cent of their normal monthly emolument. Many still have children at colleges and universities and unsettled loans, etc."It is dignified to retire at 60 when you are still welcome but any time after then you are considered having overstayed for there are people waiting in the wings so to speak to take over your post.

"In the civil service there is the domino effect when a position is vacated due to retirement. Not to mention the thousands of graduates both from local and overseas universities who flood the job market yearly and expect to be employed by the government."