How Tech Illiteracy Affects Malaysia’s Ageing Population

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Malaysia’s push towards becoming a digital-first nation is well underway. E-wallets are mainstream, government apps are everywhere, and QR codes have taken over everything from hawker stalls to health records. But there is one large, growing demographic that is being left in the digital dust: our elderly.

The tech literacy gap among Malaysia’s senior citizens is not just inconvenient. It is quietly becoming a national accessibility crisis. Many older Malaysians struggle with basic smartphone functions, let alone navigating government apps like MySejahtera or PADU, digital ID registrations, or bank transfers via e-wallets. When essential services go online-only, that gap does not just widen. It locks people out entirely.

As of 2023, over 10 percent of Malaysia’s population is aged 60 and above. By 2030, we will officially be an ageing nation according to the UN definition. And yet, digital training or accessibility programmes targeting this group remain patchy at best.

It is not just about whether they own a phone. Many do. The problem is that the digital ecosystem assumes a baseline level of familiarity with app interfaces, password management, cybersecurity and online payments, none of which are intuitive to people who did not grow up with tech. For many seniors, even setting up a new phone is a team effort involving the nearest teenager.

We have normalised a tech environment that is so streamlined it becomes hostile. Apps with no readable font options. Interfaces designed for thumb-typing. Mandatory online bookings for public healthcare or transport. Even simple things like downloading PDFs or checking appointment dates become minefields.

And let us not forget scams. Older Malaysians are disproportionately targeted by phishing links, fake investment apps and call spoofing. Without proper digital literacy, they are vulnerable to fraud, identity theft and worse, with little idea how to report it or recover.

Malaysia’s digital policies so far have focused heavily on innovation, infrastructure and youth upskilling. But without a national push for intergenerational tech education, we are hardcoding inequality into our systems. Seniors are being sidelined in a country that prides itself on inclusivity.

We do not just need faster 5G. We need slower tutorials. Accessible customer service. Community centres with digital help desks. And yes, maybe a government app that does not assume everyone knows what “OTP” means.

Because a truly digital Malaysia is not just cashless or app-first. It is one that makes sure everyone, regardless of age, gets to participate.