BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  How to Overcome Malaysia’s Retirement Crisis

How to Overcome Malaysia’s Retirement Crisis

Geoffrey Williams, Economist

30-Jan-25 15:00

How to Overcome Malaysia’s Retirement Crisis

According to reports by Khazanah and EPF, most Malaysians do not have adequate retirement savings. As of 2024, only 36% of EPF members meet the current basic savings level of 240 000 at age 55. And that’s just basic savings that will allow you to survive from month to month for about 15 years post-retirement. 

So, are we in a retirement crisis? And what can we do about it?

We speak to Geoffrey Williams, who's an economist.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • What are the markers that indicate that Malaysia is undergoing a retirement crisis.

  • The key factors driving the retirement crisis.

  • Impact of the crisis towards individuals on the ground and overall health of the economy.

  • The disparity between ethnic/racial communities and within, when it comes to retirement savings and what that tells us.

  • What can Malaysia learn from other countries in the region who are facing similar challenges.

  • A case for universal basic income, by a market economist.

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  economypoliticsgovernment

Tags:  retirement crisisretirementretirement savingsepfuniversal basic income





Play / Pause

Listen now : Discovery Hour: An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Pramod Anthe, Head of Institutional Equity Research at InCred Capital, discusses outlook of India's equities in 2026.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Independent Business Writer P. Gunasegaram weighs in on the High Court’s decision rejecting former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

We revisit conversations on the Breakfast Grille in the past year about global trade and tariffs.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) gives us an outlook for the sector in 2026.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) Independent Business Writer P. Gunasegaram weighs in on the High Court’s decision rejecting former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Pramod Anthe, Head of Institutional Equity Research at InCred Capital, discusses outlook of India's equities in 2026.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

We replay the 18th November episode on boosting Malaysia’s climate and disaster resilience with Avtandil Mekudishvili of PlanRadar.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

We revisit conversations on the Breakfast Grille in the past year about global trade and tariffs

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

In this Best of 2025 replay, we revisit a conversation with Professor Edmund Terence Gomez on corruption and Malaysia’s political–GLC complex.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we speak to mental health advocates about how stigma continues to persist in our society.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday