Kuala lumpur: A White Paper on the National Ageing Blueprint (NAB) 2025-2045 is set to be tabled in Parliament this year, marking a significant step in preparing the country to achieve aged nation status by 2048. Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir highlighted the blueprint's goal to coordinate strategic adaptations across federal, ministerial, and state government levels while garnering support from various stakeholders.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the NAB encompasses five key strategic thrusts: macroeconomics and fiscal policy, education, skills and workforce, lifelong health, social protection, and long-term care. The strategies and initiatives are integrated into the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to equip the nation for the challenges associated with an ageing population.
Minister Akmal Nasrullah emphasized that the NAB's strategies include prioritizing national productivity and competitiveness, preparing for an aged nation, and implementing labour market reforms. These reforms aim to increase the participation of older workers, women, and persons with disabilities (PwD). He shared these insights during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Addressing concerns from Datuk Dr Alias Razak (PN-Kuala Nerus) about the declining national fertility rate's impact on economic projections, Akmal Nasrullah cited projections from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). The projections indicate a significant decline in the national fertility rate to 0.7 children per woman aged 15 to 49 by 2050, down from 1.6 children in 2024. This trend could affect the working-age population ratio and the country's future economic growth potential.
The minister noted that engagement sessions with state governments were conducted during the NAB's drafting to ensure national readiness and bolster grassroots-level preparations. Responding to a supplementary question from Alias on regional development, Akmal Nasrullah stated the government's interest in high-impact industries like Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in the East Coast, aiming to leverage the region's larger youth population.