Family survey finds 36% of elderly Malaysians ignored by own kin

PUTRAJAYA: One-third or 36.1% of senior citizens interviewed in a Malaysian Population and Family survey admitted that they feel lonely as they are ignored by their family members, said the Women, Family and Community Develop­ment Ministry.

“To those who live far away from your parents, go home and see them more often,” urged minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim while launching the National Mother’s Day celebration at the Alamanda Shopping Centre here yesterday.

Rohani called upon Malaysians to remember their roots regardless of their profession.

“You will not be who you are today if there was no womb that carried you. You will not be who you are today if there was no hand that looked after you, fed you and nursed you when you were ill,” she said.

The celebration this year is centred on the theme “I Love My Mom”, which has been maintained for three years since 2015 due to its clear-cut message.

“If all this while we never say ‘thank you mom’ or ‘forgive me mom’, ‘I love you mom’, and “happy Mother’s Day’, then today is the right time for you to do it.

For the selfless: Rohani (right) with Mother’s Day Selfie Contest winners (from left) Nermesh Singh, 20, Dayang Ummi Nyrkhairummisa, 24, and Hamimah Hamisan, 29, at the Alamanda Shopping Centre in Putrajaya.

 

“Hug your mother, kiss her hand and ask her forgiveness for all your transgressions towards her,” Rohani added.

Later at a press conference, Rohani said parents must keep a vigilant eye on their children’s behaviour and activities in order to protect them against child sexual grooming.

“If we see a tendency of our children to hole up in their room, then something must be wrong.

“Pay attention to our kids’ behaviour. You must find out what they’re so engrossed in,” she said.

She said it was alarming to hear that some children nowadays had suicidal and self-harming tendencies.

Her ministry, Rohani said, was currently working with the police to determine what drove a 12-year-old schoolboy in Johor Baru to take his own life.

“We have child psychiatrists to find out why he committed suicide. We will come in with our experts,” said Rohani.

On Wednesday, the schoolboy hanged himself at his home in Felda Cahaya Baru, Masai, Johor Baru, after telling his aunt that he wanted to take a bath.

Rohani said the laws surrounding the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 would be amended from time to time in order to buttress it.

“What makes it more terrifying is when we find out that cases like this (child suicide) happen because of (child) grooming and the Internet,” she said.