title: Aging in Multi-ethnic Malaysia.
abstract: Multiethnic Malaysia provides a unique case study of divergence in population aging of different sociocultural subgroups within a country. Malaysia represents 3 major ethnicities in Asia-the Malay, Chinese, and Indian. The 3 ethnic groups are at different stages of population aging, as they have undergone demographic transition at different pace amidst rapid social and economic changes. Between 1991 and 2010, the Malaysian population aged 60 and over has more than doubled from about 1 million to 2.2 million, and this is projected to rise to about 7 million or 17.6% of the projected population of 40 million by 2040. In 2010, the aging index ranged from 22.8% among the Bumiputera (Malays and other indigenous groups), to 31.4% among the Indians and 55.0% among the Chinese. Population aging provides great challenges for Malaysia's social and economic development. The increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in older adults, coupled with the erosion of the traditional family support system has increased demands on health care services with an overwhelming need for multidisciplinary and specialized geriatric care. Following the adoption of the National Policy for the Elderly in 1995, issues of population aging have gained increasing attention, especially among researchers. There is an urgent need to increase public awareness, develop infrastructure, as well as support action oriented research that will directly translate to comprehensive and cohesive social strategies, policies, and legislation to protect not just the current older Malaysians but the future of all Malaysians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. teynp@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Nai Peng
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Tey
authors.affiliation: Department of Curriculum and Instructional Technology, Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Saedah Binti
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Siraj
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shahrul Bahyah Binti
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kamaruzzaman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ai Vyrn
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Maw Pin
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Glaret Shirley
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sinnappan
authors.affiliation: Sports Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Andre Matthias
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity; D006291:Health Policy; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014507:Urbanization; D044465:White People
keywords: Aging population; Bumiputera; Chinese; Ethnic groups; Health; Indians; Malays; Older adults