'Retirement means
death'
Urging seniors to stay active, MM Lee says research shows those who
lead sedentary lives after retirement die quickly
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
January 12, 2008
Author: Clarissa Oon
THE three words 'retirement means death' reverberated around the
Suntec Convention Centre theatre yesterday as Minister Mentor Lee
Kuan Yew addressed the problem of an ageing society at a
dialogue.
'We've got to educate those about to retire: Don't retire, work.
Retirement means death,' said MM Lee with a laugh.
And he meant every word of what he said to participants at the
Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition (Sicex).
'I would not be able to speak to you in this way if I had not led a
very active life, connected with many people throughout the world
and tried to interpret it to make sense for Singapore,' said the
elder statesman, who turns 85 this year.
Like many developed and fast developing countries around the world,
Singapore has an ageing population due to longer lifespans and
declining birth rates.
'Maybe if we had not started family planning, it would not have
been so bad. But then we would not have (economic) growth,' quipped
Mr Lee to much laughter from conference participants.
Earlier in the 70-minute dialogue, which revealed a light-hearted
and more personal side of the MM, he said that Singaporeans who
believed they could stop work at 55 to drink wine and play golf
were 'done for'.
'If the mindset is that 'I'll reach retirement age at 62, I'm old,
I can't work anymore, now is the time I enjoy life,' I think you're
making the biggest mistake of your life.'
Research has shown that those who retire and lead sedentary lives
'die off very quickly', said the man who started jogging regularly
in his 50s and now also keeps fit by swimming and cycling.
'With nothing to do, no purpose in life, you'll just degrade, go to
seed. The human being needs a challenge.'
He maintains a packed schedule of international travel, including
official trips every year to regional powerhouses China and
India.
MM Lee was sharing his experiences of active ageing with Sicex
participants.
The four-day conference, which ends tomorrow, explores ways to grow
the seniors' market in Singapore and the region.
Asked by Dr Kanwaljit Soin, who runs a non-profit organisation for
older women to age successfully, if Singapore could do away with
its retirement age of 62, Mr Lee said he personally did not believe
in such a concept.
However, he said it was very difficult to deviate from
international practice.
He suggested that a senior citizen 'go on working for as long as he
can, but changing the nature or the intensity of the work as he
ages'.
Mr Lee also defended Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF)
scheme and argued against pensions for the elderly, which have to
be supported by tax revenues.
The CPF scheme, he said, helps Singapore to remain competitive,
saying it aims for 'minimum tax rates and maximum
self-sufficiency'.
'This way you are not passing the burden (of caring for the
elderly) to the next generation,' he added.
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A PURPOSE IN LIFE
'With nothing to do, no purpose in life, you'll just degrade, go to
seed. The human being needs a challenge.'
MINISTER MENTOR LEE KUAN YEW
STAY ACTIVE
'We should die actively, meaning we should be active till death. I
think we have to be active, eat healthy food, exercise and
socialise. My research shows that talking to each other, watching
television and housework can help prevent declining memory.'
DR TRI BUDI RAHARDJO, 61, a member of the National Commission for
Older Persons in Jakarta
RETIREMENT NO MORE
'I don't think the idea of retirement will survive the 21st
century. The concept of a retirement age is new and appeared in the
20th century primarily when the British introduced pensions... You
simply can't fund people for so long if they retire at 65.
More than the funding issue, people must remain active. You have to
use all your faculties. Use them or lose them.'
MR ARUN ABEY, 49, Australia-based head of strategy at AXA
Asia-Pacific Holdings, and a speaker at the Silver Industry
Conference and Exhibition
START A SECOND CAREER
'I probably would not say it the way MM Lee has - ?Retirement means
death' - but I do believe a person must have a purpose and life
must have a meaning. When a man retires, he must have a second
career, or do something and treat it like a second career.'
DR LEE CHONG KAU, 67, director of the Institute of Elders
PROLONGING DEATH?
'I like the part: ?Retirement means death'. Are we prolonging death
or prolonging life? I think, too often, many of us are prolonging
death.'
MS LIM SIA HOE, 47, NTUC Eldercare senior manager
