KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is strengthening efforts to empower and protect senior citizens through community-based support services and digital literacy initiatives aimed at preventing financial abuse and cybercrime, says Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (pic).
The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said one of the ministry’s current focus areas was to ensure that older persons could live independently and with dignity, particularly in light of rising cases of online scams targeting vulnerable groups.
“To prevent them from falling victim to cybercrime, the ministry is implementing awareness programmes and digital interaction courses for the elderly.
“We want to build a society that respects and supports older persons, while strengthening community-level care and protection,” she said during the Dewan Rakyat session on Tuesday (July 29).
Noraini added that in addition to legal reforms, the ministry aimed to equip senior citizens with the skills and awareness needed to thrive in a digital world while safeguarding them from exploitation.
She said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, is also expanding its Home Help programme, which offers social support to elderly individuals who live alone and are not necessarily victims of abuse or neglect.
“These volunteers visit the elderly regularly and offer companionship, help prepare meals and drinks and assist with household chores,” she said, adding that the core objective was to enable seniors to age in place within their communities.
“If that is no longer possible, then we look to community-based care, and only then to institutional care as a last resort.”
Noraini also highlighted the Unit Penyayang Warga Emas initiative as a complementary service to Home Help.
This unit provides transportation for elderly individuals to attend medical appointments at hospitals or public health clinics, she added.
“This programme is modelled after a community-based approach from China and is run in collaboration with strategic non-governmental organisations,” she said.
In addition, she said the ministry is currently reviewing the National Senior Citizens Action Plan to better reflect Malaysia’s demographic transition towards an ageing society.
“One of the key areas we are looking at is financial abuse, including scams. The revised action plan will focus on building resilience, awareness and community support for our ageing population,” she said.
As part of long-term efforts, the government is also in the process of drafting the Elderly Persons Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year.
Noraini said the new legislation will be rights-based and holistic in nature, ensuring that senior citizens are not only cared for in terms of daily welfare but also accorded equal standing under the country’s legal framework.
