KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Malaysia needs to prepare for an ageing society by investing in healthcare, elderly care and technologies that enable older people to live independently, says Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Jay Khairil Jeremy Abdullah.

He said the growing ageing population would create new economic needs and opportunities, requiring long-term investment strategies that balance social benefits with sustainable financial returns.

“A worthwhile social purpose does not remove the need for investment discipline. Every opportunity must stand on its commercial merits and meet our risk-return requirements,” he said when delivering the keynote address titled “Investing in Longevity: From Risks to Opportunities in an Ageing Society” at the National Conference on Ageing (NCA) 2026 here today.

Jay Khairil said institutional investors such as KWAP could play an important role in supporting the development of services, infrastructure and technologies to meet the needs of an ageing population while generating long-term value.

In line with this, KWAP continues to explore investment opportunities through Dana Pemacu, an initiative supporting the Government-Linked Enterprises Activation and Reform Programme (GEAR-uP) under the Ekonomi MADANI framework.

Among its identified target sectors are the silver economy and healthcare, including products and services catering to the needs of older people.

Jay Khairil said preparing for an ageing society also requires improving access to services for retirees, including through digital platforms and community-based assistance.

He said KWAP was working to improve its MyPesara platforms and provide assistance to retirees in their communities.

“Technology has made many services more convenient. But we must ensure that it does not create a new divide. Some retirees are confident navigating an app; others are more comfortable speaking to someone directly. Both deserve services that work for them,” he said.

He also highlighted KWAP’s collaboration with the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which began in 2017 and led to the development of the Retirement Strategic Agenda in 2024.

The three-day NCA 2026 is jointly organised by MyAgeing, UPM, Kendana Malaysia, KWAP and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), focusing on addressing inequalities and improving health, social support and technological solutions for older people. — Bernama