KUCHING: The proposed Parental Care Act must be comprehensive and take into account all aspects, including the diverse realities of families across the nation, said Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
She said the upcoming legislation should not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach, but instead reflect differences in household structures, income levels, and living environments, especially between urban and rural communities.
“We hope it will be a policy that takes into account all aspects. Everything is considered. All types of families are considered. In terms of income, in terms of their living conditions. So we hope it will be very holistic, very complete,” she said.
She said this at a press conference after the Sarawak Special Committee on Citizenship Status (JKKSK) meeting at Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang building, Jalan Simpang Tiga here today (May 8).
She was commenting on the federal government’s proposal to introduce the Parental Care Act Bill, which aims to ensure the welfare of the elderly is safeguarded in line with Malaysia’s expectation of becoming an ageing nation by 2036.
She added that the government must also consider the real challenges faced by children, including the need to establish a dedicated support system for caregivers.
“Currently, the largest category applying for monthly assistance from the Social Welfare Department is the elderly. One of the main reasons is that although they have children, those children themselves do not have a fixed income and have families to support.
“This situation shows the need for a policy that takes into account the entire family ecosystem, including assistance and support for children who are simultaneously responsible for caring for their parents and their own children,” she explained.
She said support systems for the elderly and caregivers are very important, as there are also elderly people who have never married, have no heirs, or are staying with relatives.
At the same time, she expressed hope that Sarawak would be involved in discussions on the formulation of the policy so that the approach taken would truly reflect the realities of the state’s communities.
Recently, Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has been tasked with preparing a proposal paper for the Bill within six months.
He said the proposed law is intended to address increasing concerns over elderly neglect and reinforce family-based care systems.
Zahid added that several countries have already implemented similar laws, while Malaysia is still at the study stage.
He said the proposal must be presented to the Cabinet for policy approval after completion.
