The survey will be conducted in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, and will examine several dimensions of retirement planning.
KUALA LUMPUR: Great Eastern Life Assurance (Malaysia) Berhad (GELM) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) to conduct a nationwide survey aimed at deepening understanding of retirement readiness, planning behaviours, and financial concerns among Malaysians aged 40 and above.
The four-month survey, scheduled from March to June 2026, will engage 5,000 working Malaysians across urban and rural communities in all 13 states and three federal territories.
The survey will be conducted in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin, and will examine several dimensions of retirement planning, including:
- Savings adequacy and financial preparedness
- Preferences for professional financial advice
- Risk appetite in retirement-related investment decisions
- Non-financial retirement concerns such as healthcare needs, family dependency and social well-being
Findings from the study are expected to be published in late 2026.
“As a life insurer with 118 years of heritage in Malaysia, we are proud to support initiatives that empower people to plan for a better financial future,” said Dato Koh Yaw Hui, Chief Executive Officer of GELM.
“Through this nationwide survey, we hope to uncover actionable insights that will enable us to design retirement solutions that are relevant, inclusive, and impactful for the communities we serve.”
“At UTAR, we believe universities must serve not only as centres of learning but also as contributors to national development. As Malaysia transitions into an ageing society, retirement adequacy and financial preparedness have become national priorities. Through our collaboration with Great Eastern, we bring together academic rigour and industry expertise. This partnership enables us to address real societal challenges. Together, we aim to generate meaningful, evidence-based insights that strengthen Malaysia’s retirement planning landscape,” said Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat.
The MoA was formalised at a signing ceremony held on Feb 24 at Menara Great Eastern, Kuala Lumpur, between GELM Chief Executive Officer Dato Koh Yaw Hui and UTAR President Ir Prof Dato’ Dr Ewe Hong Tat.
The Sun Malaysia
