MCA leader wants Seniors Bill expedited to tackle abandonment

Summary

• Wanita MCA urges the Senior Citizens Bill to be expedited as there is an “alarming” rise of elders being abandoned.

• Wanita MCA national deputy chairperson Tee Hooi Ling says the bill’s stalled progress prolongs the suffering of senior citizens abandoned by their families.

• She adds that the government must also balance punitive measures for elderly abandonment by being fair.

The Wanita MCA today urged the government to expedite the Senior Citizens Bill due to the “alarming” rise of elderly abandonment.

In a statement, Wanita MCA national deputy chairperson Tee Hooi Ling said the stalled progress of the bill prolongs the suffering of senior citizens abandoned by their families.

“While fostering family responsibility is important, legislation remains essential to provide real protection, particularly for financial security, care management, and lower-income groups.

“This bill must be prioritised and tabled in Parliament without unnecessary delays or restrictions,” she said.

Tee said the bill was first proposed in 2023 and was supposed to be tabled in 2024.

In 2023, Deputy Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu announced the government’s plan to enact a Senior Citizens Act as the country moves towards becoming an ageing nation by 2030.

She said the bill was expected to be tabled for a first reading in 2024.

In June last year, the ministry reportedly said it was drafting the bill, while in December, the ministry said it was evaluating the need for such a bill.

Meanwhile, Tee said the government should be cautious in applying punishment against elderly abandonment.

“While protecting the elderly is important, no child should be obligated to care for parents who abandoned them or subjected them to abuse, incest, or sexual offences.

“Policies must acknowledge these complexities and ensure just enforcement. Striking the right balance is key to truly safeguarding human dignity and well-being,” she added.

Improve welfare homes

Tee also urged the government to increase the number of geriatric care facilities so that those with no children have a place to turn to.

Besides that, she called for welfare homes to be given increased funding as well as stricter oversight to prevent abuse by caregivers.

“If an elderly person is unable to seek help due to dementia or other health conditions, society must not turn a blind eye.

“The state of welfare homes must be improved so that these old folks have a suitable environment to live in, not staying in a building just to pass time,” she said.

Last year, a report revealed that Malaysia will be an aged nation by 2044 and super-aged by 2056.

Malaysia’s transition from ageing to aged and super-aged is also happening faster than in other countries, the report stated.

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