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LoginMM Lee: 'Retirement means death'
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'Retirement means death'
Urging seniors to stay active, MM Lee says research shows those who lead sedentary lives after retirement die quickly
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
January 12, 2008
Author: Clarissa Oon
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.
clare@sph.com.sg
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
'We should die actively, meaning we should be active till death. I think we have to be active, eat healthy food, exercise and socialise. My research shows that talking to each other, watching television and housework can help prevent declining memory.'
DR TRI BUDI RAHARDJO, 61, a member of the National Commission for Older Persons in Jakarta
RETIREMENT NO MORE
'I don't think the idea of retirement will survive the 21st century. The concept of a retirement age is new and appeared in the 20th century primarily when the British introduced pensions... You simply can't fund people for so long if they retire at 65.
More than the funding issue, people must remain active. You have to use all your faculties. Use them or lose them.'
MR ARUN ABEY, 49, Australia-based head of strategy at AXA Asia-Pacific Holdings, and a speaker at the Silver Industry Conference and Exhibition
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
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Originally posted by ^tamago^:[b]
'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.
he seemed to miss out his nonsensical salary.
what a motherfcuking first class prick.
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Originally posted by AndrewPKYap:wait wait wait... be reasonable, it is wrong to call him a prick at this age, I doubt that it still works......
fair enough.
what a motherfcuking first class dysfunctional prick who regards himself as a perfect example that old people shouldn't retire but is actually, in reality, senile to the fact that he is the only person with a loss of mental faculties still drawing a ridiculous amount of money from the general population.
edit: grammarEdited by vulpes macrotis mutica 12 Jan `08, 4:27PM
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Originally posted by vulpes macrotis mutica:fair enough.
what a motherfcuking first class dysfunctional prick who regards himself as a perfect example that old people shouldn't retire but is actually, in reality, senile to the fact that he is the only person with a loss of mental faculties still drawing a ridiculous amount of money from the general population.
edit: grammarOK much better.... thanks.
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about the issue of ministers' salaries, he justified that it is 0.0x% of the GDP only.
about giving money to the retired Singaporeans, he pushed it over by saying that it is a tax on future generations.
the transparent truth is that the super high ministers' salaries are really a big tax on Singapore's future generations right before the eyes of the world.
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i dunno about his agenda
but i really dun intend to retire loh
first i think i will need the money
and it will keep me going too, that i agree
just hope that i can live with the smaller amount of money that i can earn when i am old
ie. hope that when i am old, i can find a 'light' job which will keep my mind going and at the same time earn my keeps...
and also hope that i won't live too long.............
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... I feel that the crux of it all, is that we SHOULD be allowed our RIGHTS to choose HOW we want to end our life... be it keeping busy till we die, or retiring at a desired or set age and going easy till the end...
... I mean, we are (& SHOULD) be entitled to our preferences or choice in the matter of LIFE as a CITIZEN....
... right now, we're mere Farm Animals.. herded, force fed policies, & told when to die...
... what the fark kind of living is this?? We're like farking stripped clean of any crumb of Human Rights!!!!
... I say, to those who can fly, please... do fly away to where you live a more dignified life...
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Originally posted by HyperFocal:... I feel that the crux of it all, is that we SHOULD be allowed our RIGHTS to choose HOW we want to end our life... be it keeping busy till we die, or retiring at a desired or set age and going easy till the end...
... I mean, we are (& SHOULD) be entitled to our preferences or choice in the matter of LIFE as a CITIZEN....
... right now, we're mere Farm Animals.. herded, force fed policies, & told when to die...
... what the fark kind of living is this?? We're like farking stripped clean of any crumb of Human Rights!!!!
... I say, to those who can fly, please... do fly away to where you live a more dignified life...
we are all suckling pigs who eventually get toasted over fire, BBQed meat get enjoyed by someone-else more powerful in the system.
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The Borg Queen has a unique personality and a sense of individuality that normal Borg drones are not allowed. She is usually the one who “speaks” for the Collective in situations where contact with outsiders is best conducted by an individual. But for the Borg Queen the concepts “I” and “we” are interchangeable. In her own words, she is the “one who is many.”
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Originally posted by Daddy!!:there is one who dares. Dr Chee.
the rest of us got no balls.... yeah...everyone's balls are in their hands for safe keeping...
... until you decide to up and go, they'll give em back to you...
... one courageous Dr Chee can't rock much... but ONE MILLION ordinary folks would do the job really well...
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Originally posted by HyperFocal:... yeah...everyone's balls are in their hands for safe keeping...
... until you decide to up and go, they'll give em back to you...
... one courageous Dr Chee can't rock much... but ONE MILLION ordinary folks would do the job really well...
did you watch star trek? we are Borg drones and only Borg drones. The Borg Queen wants a human partner.
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