The president of Majlis Pusat Kebajikan SeMalaysia and the chairman of Malaysia Coalition on Ageing discuss the need for a specific law to protect the rights of the elderly and ensure filial responsibility in caring for aging parents, while also addressing the impact on the economy and the role of the sandwich generation.
PETALING JAYA: It is high time for a specific law designed for elderly care to be set in place especially with Malaysia heading towards an ageing nation by 2030 and the sandwich generation .
Majlis Pusat Kebajikan SeMalaysia president Datuk Mastika Junaidah Husin said planning ahead is crucial because of the added pressure that comes with an ageing population.
“Even before Covid-19 there have been discussions and meetings about how to plan for this. This law has taken too long and should be tabled soon.
“The added pressure for the sandwich generation who have to care for their kids and elderly parents will be great. “This will also have an impact on our economy, so we need to look at this holistically as part of the development of the country and its significance to the future of the nation,” she said.
Malaysia Coalition on Ageing chairman Cheah Tuck Wing said the proposed law was important to protect the rights of the elderly against neglect, abuse and abandonment. He said the law should include filial responsibility provisions to ensure adult children play their role in caring for ageing parents.
“Once the law is implemented legally, children will be obligated to take care of their parents,” he said, adding that similar laws already exist in countries such as Singapore and India. “But there should also be flexibility for cases where children genuinely lack the financial means or expertise to care for elderly parents with conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,” he added.
Cheah also called for mandatory licensing of elderly care centres, adding that many operators remain unregistered and unregulated. He added that the government should also include stronger rights-based protections covering shelter, healthcare and protection from emotional, physical and financial abuse. Cheah said the government must ensure the law’s implementation continues regardless of changes in administration, stressing that delays over the years had slowed efforts to strengthen elderly care protections.
Previously, non-governmental organisations have called for the Maintenance of Parents Act to ensure the young take care of their elders that is part of a broader ecosystem of support. Singapore senior minister Lee ends visit to Terengganu
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