Proposal for Long-stay or Retirement-residency Pathway for Singaporeans Wishing to Age in Malaysia

19 Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health whether the Government will engage Malaysia to establish an affordable long-stay or retirement-residency pathway for Singaporeans who wish to age in Malaysia and access more affordable eldercare there, in view that the revised Malaysia My Second Home scheme now targets investors rather than retirees through high fixed deposits and property purchase.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Mr Tan Kiat How) (for the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health): Sir, every country will determine its residency requirements and policies for foreign nationals' access to their social services. Some countries may offer a lifestyle service for foreigners to retire in their countries. Our focus is on ensuring that all Singaporeans have access to quality and affordable eldercare in Singapore as they age, now and into the future.

Mr Speaker: Mr Tiong.

Mr Kenneth Tiong Boon Kiat (Aljunied): Thank you, Speaker. One supplementary question. I had originally posed this question to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, though I appreciate the Ministry of Health taking up the concerns.

Sir, we want to enable the greatest amount of retirement choices for Singaporeans. There are some Singaporeans whom I have met who do wish to retire in Malaysia. The pathway I am describing already exists in Malaysia. The East Malaysian state of Sarawak runs its own second home scheme with no property purchase, 30 days a year, a 10-year renewable pass and it lets the holder bring a parent aged 60 or above as a dependant.

Will the Government try to negotiate at the Malaysian federal and state levels for an expansion of this no-investment-needed residency to West Malaysia?

Mr Tan Kiat How: Sir, firstly, we recognise that some Singaporeans may choose to live, retire or take private healthcare elsewhere for their own reasons. We respect the choices that Singaporeans may make about those choices.

We also respect every other sovereign nation, including Malaysia, on the policies they make with respect to allowing for foreign nationals to access their social services, care, or for their residency status.

On our part, we have come across many seniors, many families and caregivers who want to age in place in the community, age in place near their family, near their friends, in the neighbourhoods which they are familiar with. Our priority and focus must be on our Singaporeans to support them in those desires, and there are caregivers too, making sure that there is an eldercare ecosystem, making sure that there is a good standard of care, making sure that there is recourse for individuals if the quality of care falls short. We are always constantly bringing new partners into the community and enhancing our Active Ageing Centres to make sure that our seniors age well in our neighbourhoods. That is why we have the Age Well SG programme, we have the Age Well Neighbourhoods programme. That is our priority.