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The Social Security Research Centre (SSRC)

BACKGROUND

The Social Security Research Centre (SSRC) was established in March 2011 at the Faculty of

Economics and Administration (FEA), University of Malaya to initiate and carry out
research, teaching and dissemination of evidence-based knowledge in the area of social

security, including old age financial protection in order to enhance the understanding of this
critical topic to promote economic development and social cohesion in Malaysia.

The interest in social security and old-age financial protection is ever growing in view of an
ageing population. Malaysia is also subjected to rising life expectancy and falling fertility

rates, the perceived inadequacy of current social security provisions, coupled with the added
fear that simply more expenditure may not be conducive to the development and growth

objectives of the society. This calls for innovative policy solutions that may be inspired by

international experience based on an empirical grounding in national data and analysis.

To support the research in social security in general and old-age financial protection in
particular the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) of Malaysia has graciously provided an

endowment fund to create the nation’s first endowed Chair in Old Age Financial Protection
(OAFPC) at University of Malaya. OAFPC has the over-riding objectives to help formulate

policies to promote better social security and improve old age financial protection, and to

help formulate policies to promote economic growth in an aging society for consideration by
the Government of Malaysia.

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