‘My father is now 56. He has no savings, and his EPF is already depleted.’
A Malaysian woman’s post about her 56-year-old father’s financial situation has triggered widespread discussion online about retirement preparedness and the challenges many face as they approach old age with insufficient savings.
In a post shared on Threads, she revealed that her father has no savings left and has already exhausted his Employees Provident Fund (EPF) funds.
“My father is now 56. He has no savings, and his EPF is already depleted.
“When he turns 60, he may not even have a job anymore. What will he eat? What should I do?” the post read.
In the comments, she explained that she was considering helping him start a small business, such as running a night market stall, a neighbourhood grocery shop, or selling goods from home.
However, she questioned whether it would be unfair or even cruel to expect him to continue working in his later years.
“If I help him with a business model, like running a night market stall, a small grocery shop, or selling things in front of the house, am I being cruel for still asking him to work in old age?
“I’m scared that when I have children of my own, I won’t be able to support him financially,” she wrote.
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Her post drew a wave of responses, with many commenters reassuring her that 56 is still relatively young and that employment opportunities are still available for older adults.
“56 is still young. He can work as a security guard. The pay is quite decent too, around RM2,000 to RM3,000,” one commenter said.
“Staying at home with no work can be boring; the mind becomes less active, and there is a risk of earlier cognitive decline. These days, plenty of people in their 70s are still working,” another added.
