The government will not emulate Singapore in enacting a legislation making it compulsory for children to take care of their elderly parents, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the ministry will only consider the proposal when the need arises.

"Malaysians generally still uphold the family culture of taking care of their elderly family members. We have not come to a stage that they are being abandoned," she said.

She was replying to a supplementary question from Salahuddin Ayub (PAS-Kubang Kerian) during the Question session who said that Singapore has a family law in which it is compulsory for children to take care of their elderly parents.

The minister also said the elderly assistance fund rate was increased from RM135 to RM200 per month since January this year.