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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.
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
RETIREMENT NO MORE
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
This article was first published by The Straits Times on Jan 12, 2008
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