PENANG Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has underlined the importance for the Madani Federal Unity Government to expedite the review and passage of the Senior Citizens Bill to check the rising cases of abuse and neglect towards the elderly community.
"I am deeply concerned about the rising cases of abuse and neglect towards our elderly, a troubling issue that demands immediate attention," said Chow.
He expects the new legislation to provide stronger legal protection and social welfare of the old.
Chow stressed that the caring of the old is not solely the responsibility of the nursing homes.
"It is a collective duty of families, communities and society as a whole."
Chow said this when speaking at the annual Chinese New Year celebrations at the Silver Jubilee Home for the Old at Sungai Dua here.
The Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry is currently evaluating the feasibility of introducing a law to ensure the welfare and protection of the elderly.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri explained that before any such law is implemented, it is essential to gain consensus on its approach, particularly regarding whether punitive measures should be imposed on children who fail to fulfil their responsibility to care for their parents, similar to the approach in Singapore.
Additionally, we must consider whether fostering noble values, responsibility, and other principles within families would create strong family institutions, thus reducing the need for legal enforcement.
This evaluation is part of a study to determine whether a new law should be drafted, or if improvements can be made through amend
Chow said that under his Vision2030 development goals, the family institution is an integral part of it.
"The family is the backbone of every society. Every mindset, culture, tradition and upbringing start from the family. However, as we approach towards 2020, we must ensure that our elderlies are not left behind," said Chow.
He wants the values of dedication and compassion to be enshrined in Penang.
Penang will be emulating Perak this year as one of the first states to be regarded as a state with a high number of senior citizens.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia projected that by this year, 7.7% of Penang's population, or 143,805 residents, will be aged 65 and above.
This positions Penang as the second state with the largest elderly population in Malaysia. - February 8, 2025.
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