"By 2050, Brunei will have over 140,000 people aged 60 or older, presenting a seismic shift for the nation’s economy and social systems. With pensions falling short, healthcare gaps growing, and reliance on oil revenues becoming increasingly precarious, can Brunei rise to the challenge of safeguarding its elderly? Dive into the realities of an ageing society and explore the urgent steps needed to secure a sustainable future."
By Malai Hassan Othman
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, JANUARY 2025: Brunei Darussalam faces a critical demographic crisis as its population ages at an alarming rate. By 2050, approximately 28.7% of the population, or 140,000 individuals, will be aged 60 or older.
This pressing reality highlights the nation's unprepared infrastructure, social systems, and economy. Are we prepared to confront this “silver tsunami,” or are we quietly heading toward inevitable collapse?
The Heavy Price of Neglect
Many elderly parents find themselves financially supporting unemployed or underemployed adult children.
Retirees in Brunei typically receive two types of allowances: a $250 monthly pension provided under the Old Age and Disability Pensions Act, which serves as a baseline safety net for all elderly citizens, and benefits from the Skim Persaraan Kebangsaan (SPK) for those who participated in the workforce.
Retirees eligible for both allowances receive a total of $500 per month, with the SPK benefit increasing based on years of service and contributions.
However, many in the informal workforce, estimated to number over 86,700 today, such as small business owners and freelancers, are not subscribed to the Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP) or SPK schemes.
As a result, tens of thousands of retirees rely solely on the inadequate $250 baseline pension allowance, which is insufficient to cover rising living costs.
Moreover, recent amendments to the Old Age and Disability Pensions Act in July 2021 have excluded over 2,000 permanent residents with foreign passports from receiving the $250 monthly pension.
Many of these individuals, often stateless and having obtained passports from their home countries for travel purposes, now find themselves in a precarious situation.
Despite decades of living and contributing to Brunei, they are no longer entitled to the safety nets they once relied on, and many lack tangible connections—such as relatives or property—to their countries of origin.
This glaring exclusion raises significant moral and economic concerns for the nation.
A Healthcare System Under Pressure
While pensions are one side of the story, healthcare is another.
Brunei’s healthcare system is grappling with rising cases of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension, which disproportionately affect older adults.
Elder-focused medical services and preventive healthcare face challenges in scaling up to meet the growing needs of retirees.
While Brunei has made strides in healthcare accessibility, gaps remain in specialised elder care, creating barriers for some retirees to access tailored services.
Transitioning from pensions to healthcare highlights an important area for improvement: how can a nation with a relatively high GDP per capita continue to ensure its ageing citizens receive adequate support?
The “Silver Tsunami” No One Is Prepared For
Brunei is not fully equipped to meet the needs of its growing elderly population, often referred to as a 'silver tsunami.'
The country’s current infrastructure is insufficient to accommodate this demographic shift.
Public spaces frequently lack essential features such as wheelchair access, and caregivers face challenges due to inadequate training and support.
These issues highlight the pressing need for significant investment in the care economy, which could enhance the quality of life for the elderly while creating new employment opportunities.
Addressing this challenge requires that elder-focused services not only align with contemporary societal needs but also resonate with Brunei’s cultural and religious values, as defined by the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) framework.
It raises the question of whether enough has been done to uphold the traditions of filial piety and community care, while also adopting innovative caregiving approaches that ensure no one is left behind.
In his New Year 2025 titah, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah emphasized the importance of inclusive development.
He urged closer collaboration among the private sector, NGOs, and the community to enhance the nation’s competitiveness.
His Majesty highlighted that inclusive and sustainable development is not merely an economic priority but a moral obligation, especially in protecting the welfare of the elderly and underprivileged. This vision reflects a broader aim of fostering a balanced society where no one is overlooked in Brunei’s progress.
Questions of Sustainability
Brunei's heavy dependence on oil and gas revenues raises significant concerns about the sustainability of its social safety nets.
As reserves decline, the increasing costs of extraction, alongside falling global oil prices, have jeopardised revenue stability.
With a global shift toward renewable energy, the need to diversify Brunei's economic base has become more urgent than ever.
The continuity of pensions and welfare programs hinges on proactive economic reforms.
The critical question is: are we ready to adapt to a future where our economy may not support our commitments as a welfare state?
Opportunities That Remain Untapped
While challenges are present, Brunei’s ageing society also offers untapped opportunities.
Countries like Japan, Germany, and Singapore have successfully leveraged the 'silver economy' by developing elder-friendly products, services, and tourism hubs.
Brunei has the potential to follow suit by promoting elder-friendly resorts, medical tourism, and innovative community hubs designed specifically for retirees.
Our elders can serve as valuable sources of wisdom and mentorship, contributing to the workforce in significant ways.
However, programs designed to tap into this potential are still underdeveloped.
Mentorship initiatives could not only help address youth unemployment but also provide retirees with a renewed sense of purpose.
Additionally, the establishment of private aged care facilities—currently hindered by cultural resistance—could meet care needs while creating jobs.
In Brunei, cultural and religious values under the MIB framework emphasise filial piety and community care for the elderly, which often discourages the use of institutionalised aged care facilities.
Nevertheless, integrating these values into modern care solutions, such as elder-friendly community hubs and facilities that encourage family involvement, can help bridge this gap. Such initiatives preserve Brunei’s traditions while addressing the practical challenges posed by an ageing society.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The solutions are clear, but the commitment to act is uncertain. Here’s what needs to happen:
· Invest in Preventive Healthcare: Expand medical services focused on elders, tackle non-communicable diseases at their roots, and introduce free annual health screenings for seniors.
· Revamp Infrastructure: Ensure that public spaces, housing, and transportation are accessible and elder-friendly while promoting private aged care facilities as viable options.
· Support the Care Economy: Develop comprehensive policies to support caregivers and professionalise caregiving, including financial incentives and skill training programs.
· Leverage the Silver Economy: Position Brunei as a retirement haven and promote elder-friendly tourism and medical services to attract foreign retirees.
· Foster Intergenerational Collaboration: Implement mentorship programs and create community hubs where elderly citizens can engage in meaningful activities alongside younger generations.
The ageing population is not a distant threat; it is a reality we are facing today. Ignoring it will not make it disappear. If we fail to act, we are not only failing our elders; we are failing ourselves and future generations. The time to act is now. (MHO/01/2025)
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