WHEN my mother, a former teacher, retired, her last drawn salary was about RM1,500, while my father, a senior government officer, who opted for early retirement at 50, earned about twice the amount.
They only received pensions of between RM800 and RM900 a month.
This was fine for them because they had their savings to depend on, especially my mother, who never failed to put aside at least RM200 a month into a personal savings account.
When my father fell sick, my mother used her money for all the medical expenses.
Similarly, when my mother was ill, she had enough for three tumour operations at a private hospital, her vitamins and regular supplements.
They are both gone now, but they would have been pleased to know that finally the government is doing something to allow private health providers to bill the government for medical treatment of pensioners.
But what irked me was the interview with Post-Service Division director Datuk Yeow Chin Kiong, who said pensioners were lazy, a nuisance to society, should contribute more to society, and so on.
When people retire from the civil service, all some of them want to do is to kick off their shoes and relax, and spend more time with their children and grandchildren.
There are also pensioners who feel they need to do more with their lives, contribute more to society and take up a new job.
What of pensioners who are not in the best of health?
Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, dementia, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's are just some of the ailments that plague older people.
How can they be expected to contribute to society? Yes, our pensioners are living longer, but that does not necessarily mean that they are strong and healthy.
The other day, I met a security guard at a goldsmith's shop.
He was sitting on a stool at the entrance with a rifle on his lap and looking bored.
It turned out that he was 62, a grandfather of 10. I asked him why he was still working and he told me he needed the money because the pension he received was not sufficient.
Most of the guards we see are pensioners. They are usually the ones getting between a robber's bullets and the loot.
Do they qualify as a burden? Shouldn't they be spending more time with their grandchildren?
It is wrong to label pensioners in such sweeping terms. The majority of our pensioners are senior citizens, in short, our parents and grandparents.
In a typical Asian culture, respect for elders is important. In Malaysia, we address or refer to the aged with a certain sense of decorum.
We do not shout at or order them about, curse or scold them. And we certainly do not call them lazy or a nuisance to society.
