27 Jun 2026
(News from Petaling Jaya on the 27th June 2026)
Li Jiancong, a member of the Justice Party in Petaling Jaya District, called on the public to reflect on their current lifestyle and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. He urged the government to re-examine the allocation of resources, particularly fuel subsidies, and redirect more funding towards public healthcare.
Speaking at the forum "Rising Medical Expenses and Insufficient Retirement Savings: A Double Blow to Retirement", organised by the Third Age Media Association, Li said the government's annual fuel subsidy expenditure is as high as RM10 billion, while public healthcare spending accounts for only 2.5% of GDP, significantly lower than the 5%Â recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
"You can't have both fish and bear's paw. At some point, we must strike a balance and decide whether we should reduce our dependence on fossil fuels so that public healthcare can receive greater funding," he said.
Li believes China must transition towards a more people-centred, carbon-friendly and sustainable economic model.
He also pointed out that China is expected to become an ageing society by 2030. With increasing life expectancy, the country must ensure that its retirement, healthcare and social support systems are adequately prepared.
According to Li, insufficient retirement savings and rising medical costs are among the biggest challenges faced by retirees. Medical inflation has outpaced overall inflation, causing many elderly people to delay treatment because they cannot afford the costs. This often results in worsening health and an increasingly difficult financial situation.
He called on the public to shift their mindset from treating diseases to preventing them, in order to reduce the financial burden on individuals, families and the national healthcare system.
Li stressed that population ageing should no longer be viewed solely as a social issue, but as an economic, healthcare and national development challenge that requires coordinated action from the government, financial institutions, healthcare professionals, private enterprises and society as a whole.