PUTRAJAYA: Tabling of the Senior Citizens Bill has been pushed back from October to early next year to incorporate critical stakeholder feedback, according to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
While the initial draft was complete, she said additional proposals raised during engagement sessions with state governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had to be incorporated.
“Actually, we already have a draft. It just may not make it in time to be tabled in October,” she said after the Social Welfare Department’s 80th anniversary celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
Nancy said the ministry had initially set a timeline for the Bill to be tabled this year, with the draft nearing submission to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC).
However, she said the engagement process raised several new matters that the ministry agreed should be incorporated into the draft.
“When we held the engagement sessions, there were many new things they wanted to include, and we agreed that these should be included as amendments to our draft. We had engagements with NGOs and the states as well, which is why the process has been delayed,” she said.
When asked about the revised timeline, Nancy said the ministry would seek to have the Bill tabled in early 2027 if it could not be completed this year.
“If we cannot manage it this year, it will be early next year,” she added.
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the protection, welfare and rights of senior citizens as Malaysia moves towards becoming an aged society.
On another matter, Nancy said the ministry is prepared to provide psychosocial support and counselling to Malaysians affected by the recent floods in Nepal, as well as their family members.
She said the ministry is coordinating directly with the Foreign Ministry.
“We are in contact through the Foreign Ministry. When they need us, they will inform us and we will cooperate through Wisma Putra. We cannot go there on our own. Wisma Putra will assist and inform us,” she said.
She added that Social Welfare Department counsellors are routinely deployed during disasters, including at temporary relief centres. If more intensive psychosocial assistance is required, the ministry can increase the number of personnel deployed.
Malaysians were among those affected by severe flooding and landslides in Nepal following the disaster in the Rasuwa district, with Wisma Putra coordinating efforts to verify the status of those involved.
