KOTA KINABALU: The government has been urged to look into setting up centres to look after senior citizens who do not have family members to care for them.
Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang made the call after the body of an 82-year-old woman was found in an apartment in Penampang near here last Friday (Sept 22).
Lasimbang said it was saddening to hear the woman died alone in the house, adding firemen had to be called in to break down the door so they could gain entry into her room.
"This is not a good reflection of the National Day of Older Persons which is celebrated on Oct 1," she said here on Wednesday (Sept 27).
"I recommend that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry which gave its commitment to give priority to the welfare and needs of older persons to set up community care centres for those who do not have the people to look after their older family members," she added.
In the incident, the fire department was called in to break down the doors of the house in Taman Suria after calls to the woman went unanswered.
According to Lasimbang, many elderly persons often do not have access to proper healthcare or social services available, especially those in the B40 income group or lower.
Those in the rural areas were often left alone to fend for themselves, she said, when their children migrated to cities for better jobs or education opportunities.
She said, based on the United Nations’ projection, Malaysia was expected to become an ageing nation by the year 2030 when 15% of its population would consist of those aged 60 and above.
"Older persons should always enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms, whether in their homes or care facilities.
"Their dignity, beliefs, needs and privacy should be fully respected, and they should have the right to make decisions about their care and the quality of their lives," Lasimbang said.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu had in March told the Dewan Rakyat a senior citizens Bill would be tabled in Parliament by next year.
She said the Bill was a step by the government to protect the elderly as the country prepares to become an ageing nation by 2030.
