By Fong Muntoh
If I were a politician, I wouldn’t waste my time championing ageing
issues. I mean, let’s be honest—there’s no political mileage in it. The ageing
population? Great for statistics. Not so great for votes, funding, or flashy
press conferences. So if I had the power and the podium, I’d probably say all
the right things, cut a ribbon or two, pose with a few grandmas, then quietly
move on to something sexier. Like AI. Or electric cars.
Because why should I spend time, money, or energy on a demographic
that—frankly—won’t even be around by the next general election?
Let me break it down.
1. Old People Don’t Sway Elections
If I’m being brutally strategic, seniors are not a political force to
fear. They’re not the ones flooding TikTok or trending hashtags. They don’t
show up at rallies. Many don’t even make it to the polling station unless their
children drive them there.
Youths, on the other hand? They’re vocal. They’re visible. They look good
in campaign videos. They can shout “reformasi!” with energy. Seniors? They
quietly endure. They queue at clinics and send polite letters. You can safely
ignore them with no riots.
2. The Economics Don’t Add Up
As a politician with a budget to stretch, the elderly are a liability.
They cost more than they produce.
Healthcare, social welfare, pensions, aged care homes—all expensive, all
politically thankless. Unlike a new highway or a bridge, you can’t slap your
name on a nursing home and expect people to cheer.
Every Ringgit spent on the elderly is a Ringgit not spent on
“development,” and voters love development. Especially the kind they can see on
a billboard with my smiling face on it.
3. It’s a Long Game… And I Don’t Have
Time
Let’s say, just for fun, I did want to help seniors. It would take
decades to make a dent. We’re talking policy reform, infrastructure overhaul,
training carers, building age-friendly cities—not exactly “next quarter KPI”
material.
The average politician's career horizon? Maybe 5 years if we’re lucky.
One scandal, one reshuffle, and poof! Gone. Why invest in a 20-year national
ageing roadmap if I might not even last the next party AGM?
Better to announce a token Senior Citizen Day, maybe give away reusable
shopping bags. That earns me a Facebook post and a few pats on the back.
4. Ageing Is Depressing
Let’s be honest. The optics are tough.
Caring for the elderly doesn’t make for inspiring campaign visuals. No
one wants to see photos of adult diapers, dementia care, or long-term bedsores.
There are no ribbon-cutting ceremonies for “reducing elder isolation.”
You can’t make ageing look “cool.” There’s no ribbon-colour awareness
month that gets big corporate sponsors. It’s not pink like breast cancer or
rainbow like Pride. It’s beige, grey, quiet, slow—unmarketable.
5. Old People Are “Somebody Else’s
Problem”
Politically, ageing is a family issue. That’s the narrative that sells:
“Anak yang baik jaga ibu bapa.” It sounds noble. It keeps the burden on
families. And it saves the government a whole lot of money.
Why build state-run respite centres when we can guilt children into doing
it?
If I were a politician, I’d just nod solemnly and say, “We must uphold
our Asian values,” then let the caregivers burn out in silence. No budget
needed. Clap, clap.
6. We’ve Normalised Neglect
Let’s not forget—we’ve trained society to accept neglect as normal.
We’ve normalised seniors queueing at dawn for Klinik Kesihatan
appointments. We’ve normalised broken ramps, dim signs, and pavements that
break bones. We’ve normalised calling aged care “rumah orang tua,” as if age
itself is a punishment.
Why change the system when the system doesn’t even realise it’s broken?
As a politician, I’d ride that wave of ignorance like a pro.
But Then Again…
Thank goodness I’m not a politician.
Because behind every one of these reasons is a deeper failure of vision
and leadership. The truth is, investing in the elderly is investing in
society. Healthy seniors reduce hospital strain. Active ageing improves mental
health, reduces caregiver burnout, and keeps communities intergenerationally
rich.
And like it or not, we’re all ageing. Every one of us. This isn’t a niche
issue. It’s a mirror. And if we don’t act now, we’re leaving behind a society
where we too will one day grow old in the same indifference we once dished out.
So no—I refuse to be that politician. I choose to be the one who doesn’t
just visit a care home when the cameras are rolling, but one who demands
ramps, rest stops, respite policies and real support for families year-round.
Because real leadership isn’t measured in votes. It’s measured in
dignity.
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