By Dr TARCISIUS CHIN

Much of the developed world is ageing.  With increasing life
expectations and decreasing birth rates, countries like Japan,
Germany, Australia and Singapore, are experiencing a shift in
population distribution in which the proportion of citizens who
are no longer actively pursuing a career is large and
increasing.  Economically it infers that a smaller economically
active portion of the population will now have to support an
increasing number of senior citizens who have retired.  This has
placed an enormous strain on the social support services of the
country, particularly on healthcare.  Some countries like
Australia and Singapore import young residents from other
countries to help balance the equation, or extend the retirement
age.

Malaysia is fast approaching a similar population scenario.  Our
life expectancies for males and females are around 70 years and
75 years, respectively.  Our birth and infant mortality rates
have dropped.  Our retirement age is still 55/56 years.  In some
organisations the retirement age for females is even 50 years.
Our population statistics will show that every year there will
be an increasing number of people who will retire.  They will be
people who will have accumulated enormous work experience,
knowledge, skills and wisdom in different fields of human
endeavour.  And they will have some 15 to 25 years left to
contribute to the country.  Not to put such talent to work for
the nation is indeed a waste of precious human resource.

The concept of a mandatory retirement age is not reflective of
reality.  There are many younger people who do opt out of a
career before 55 years as there are many people in their 60's
who are still mentally and physically alert and can contribute
much.  Retiring at 55 years is man-made and inherited from
colonial days when life expectancies were much shorter and when
the British expatriate welcomed the opportunity of returning to
England on a pension.  In fact we never retire, but move on from
one way of life to another.

Chronological age is also not reflective of reality.  Lum Kim
Tuck, President of the National Council of Senior Citizens
Organisations Malaysia (NASCOM), is a sprightly 87 years who can
put many a younger person to shame by his energy, intellect and
wit.  We are young if our body, mind and spirit are actively
engaged in productive work.  Conventional wisdom suggests that
we can indeed keep our body in good shape by eating smart and
exercising regularly.  Likewise, our mind can be kept active by
working it with interesting assignments.  Our thinking processes
need to be fuelled by continuing demands or we begin to suffer
from mental diseases like Alzheimer and dementia.  If we have
nothing to look forward to, it is one of the surest ways to an
early grave.

Preparing for Retirement

Conventional wisdom suggests that we learn when we are young,
earn a living when we are older, compete when we are adults, and
contribute to society when we grow old.  This philosophy has
stood the test of time in virtually all societies.  The young
are to be protected and nurtured, while the old are treasured as
wise men and women who often act as mentors, counsellors and
advisors.  In the traditional three-generation family the
grandparents are held in high esteem and accorded the highest
respect.  And in farming and village communities the old still
do not retire so long as they can still work.

The modern corporation is the key institution that has changed
the concept of work and has institutionalised the concept of
retirement.  In fact, on retirement, all power, responsibilities
and symbols of office are completely withdrawn.  Unless the
retiree is prepared for this eventuality, retirement can be a
momentous and precipitating event that can psychologically
affect the retiree for better or for worse.  It is therefore the
individual's responsibility to plan for his or her own
retirement so that financial security, physical and emotional
well-being, and meaningful activities can fill the void of
retirement.  It is therefore never too early to prepare for
retirement.

The greatest challenge is to seek fulfilment after retirement.
And the ideal opportunity is to be able to open another door as
one door closes as we move from one commitment to another.  The
lucky few who are influential and connected can phase out from
active duty to advisory work or move into teaching and training
roles if they have marketable competencies.  Senior Government
officers, for example, have been redeployed as directors and
managers of Government-linked companies.  But for the vast
majority of retirees, retirement signals the end of paid work
and the beginning of discretion to utilize their enormous free
time to do what they wish.  Doing nothing is not really an
option as a retiree at 55 years has still much to contribute.

Recognising the need to mobilize the potential contributions of
retirees, the Malaysian Institute of Management (MIM) organised
the Raja Mohar Life Enrichment Awards (RAMLEA) programme
designed specifically for retirees with the objective of
offering them continuing fulfilment.  Thirty-five retirees
participated in RAMLEA and the outcome is very encouraging.
They have moved to fill the void by volunteering their time,
expertise and effort in four major areas of contribution.  One
opportunity is to help the disadvantaged.  Another is to
contribute to preserving planet earth.  The third is to assist
with creativity and innovation.  And the last is to offer
executive and technical service to small business.  It is this
area of voluntary executive service, which will be further
discussed in this article.

Voluntary Executive Service

For several decades there have been in existence several
volunteer organizations in the developed world, which mobilize
the talents of retirees and put them to productive work in small
businesses worldwide.  The better known of these volunteer
organisations in Malaysia are the Canadian Executive Service
Organisation (CESO) and the British Executive Service
Organisation (BESO).  CESO, for example, is headquartered in
Toronto and serves the needs of small businesses in the
indigenous community in Canada as well as in the developing
world.  It has serviced more than 50 organisations in Malaysia.
Some 10,000 Canadian retirees offer their varied talents to
support the work of CESO on a voluntary basis, expecting no
financial gain, but hoping that they can make a difference to
businesses that just cannot afford the high costs of
professional help.  CESO is a non-governmental organisation and
is funded primarily by foundations and corporate sponsors.

The closest Malaysian equivalent to CESO is the Expertise
Resource Association (ERA), which has been in existence for
several years.  But its operations have been hampered by lack of
funds and publicity.  It also needs more suitably qualified
retirees to join ERA to volunteer their time and expertise to
help small businesses in Malaysia and in the developing world.
Anyone interested to contribute can contact ERA at tel:
03-79823839; fax: 03-79848836; email: saknsoo@scf.pc.my.

A credible outcome of the RAMLEA programme is the creation of a
RAMLEA Alumni Pro Tem Committee.  Discussion by the Committee is
now focused on how the alumni can contribute to voluntary work
in the four avenues of opportunity outlined above.  Because of
the opportunity for mobilizing the talents of RAMLEA
participants, there has been the expression of also constituting
an in-house voluntary executive service within the RAMLEA and
MIM fold.  Initially, it will draw on the expertise of the 35
alumni who participated in the 2004 RAMLEA programme and to
include future participants over the years. On a wider front, it
has also blueprinted the inclusion of other MIM members,
especially retirees, as associate members.  For a start,
concerted efforts are underway by MIM to compile a database
comprising areas of expertise and specific skills of volunteers.
These will undergo mix-and-match exercises to marry the needs of
small businesses.

Finding fulfillment after retirement is now an issue of choice.
The immediate euphoria experienced on retirement will soon
evaporate if there is no back-up activity to fill the void
created by the absence of paid work.  Many retirees seek fun and
entertainment or pursue a hobby.  But these activities are more
for gratification and self-indulgence and can never substitute
for the deeper fulfillment that comes from voluntary service
that makes a difference in the lives of others.

Dr Tarcisius Chin is a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of
Management.  For more information or to register your interest
in the RAMLEA 2005 programmes, please contact MIM Customer
Service at tel 03- 2165 4611, e-mail enquiries@mim.edu or visit
www.mim.edu.