Read, write and argue, older folk told
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the older generation should read, write and “argue” to ensure that their minds weren’t too adversely affected by the ageing process.
Dr Mahathir, 93, cited the example of his feud with his predecessor, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as the “secret” to his active mind.
He said his arguments with Najib had forced him to think of ways and means to defeat Barisan Nasional, and this bore fruit in the 14th General Election when the former ruling coalition was defeated for the first time after 60 years in power.
“If we do not use our mind, it will deteriorate. This will be followed by our ability to speak, lecture, complain... All these will be affected as the mind will no longer function.
“I feel that it is best for older people to continue reading, writing and arguing as this helps our mind to ‘exercise’.
“We should not retire and just fade away. If we, the elder generation, don’t use our muscles and brains, we will become weak.
“In between staying active, it is important to think positive and do something that is enriching.
“If we do not do these, we will have a short life and will have to depend on others to help us.
“I was involved in a feud with the former prime minister. So all the while, my mind was actively thinking of ways and means to effect a change of government.
“If we continuously think and use our minds, we won’t lose our memories, like what we usually see in many elderly people.”
Dr Mahathir was speaking at the Ageing, Learning and Technology: Enriching Lives, Connecting Communities Conference 2018 in conjunction with the International Day of Older Persons here yesterday.
Present were his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Third Age Media Association president Cheah Tuck Wing and the conference’s chairman Datuk Muslim Ayob.
Dr Mahathir said it was important for the senior citizens to remain active and ensure that their minds and bodies remained working even after retirement, as he was doing.
“Two weeks after I retired (as prime minister in 2003), some people came to me and said they weren’t happy with my replacement, and wanted me to do something. So I acted and was active. So after he (my successor) gave in, another person replaced him. Unfortunately, some other people then came to see me to ask me to do something. Once again, I acted. I set up a political party to defeat what was once my own party. And now it’s history; we won (GE14) several months ago and now we are the government.”
Dr Mahathir said the ageing process would accelerate if one did not use the body as best as possible.
People, he said, stood a good chance of having a long life if they remained active and were not struck by incurable diseases such as cancer.
“If you can jog, go ahead. I can’t jog anymore; I’ll tire. What I can do now, however, is work and continue to work,” he said.