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 : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



11:00 AM

Best of Enterprise

(REPEAT) We take a flavourful dive into the world of Korean fried chicken with Terry Goh, CEO of KyoChon Malaysia.

12:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

(REPEAT) From the epic montage scene in Sinners, to Powerhouse from Coolie, and the unforgettable theme of Severance, 2025 has been a great year for scores and soundtracks. In this special, music-centred episode of Popcorn Culture, we look back at our favourite B-Sides of the year.

1:00 PM

Cruise Control

(REPEAT) If you're in the market for a used, old school sports sedan, should you consider the Mitsubishi Lancer GT, or the Proton Inspira? Daniel Fernandez from dsf.my shares his thoughts!

2:00 PM

Matt-Splained

(REPEAT) Rich Bradbury and Matt Armitage bellyflop into the murky world of brand authenticity. As consumers become increasingly vocal and energized, they are directing their spending towards companies they believe share and reflect their worldview.

3:00 PM

Earth Matters

(REPEAT) In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we hear from anthropologist Dr. Christine Padoch about her book Return to Nanga Jela, which revisits an Iban longhouse community in Sarawak lost beneath the Batang Ai Dam.

4:00 PM

Bar None

(REPEAT) Jeremy Ho, Founder of BHub Bouldering joins us to talk about the appeal of rock climbing and what's the community like here in Malaysia.

5:00 PM

BBC World Service

In this episode of The Conversation, Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to two women in India and Uganda who’ve created grass roots fitness communities exclusively for women.