KUCHING: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is looking into a proposal for a new law to legally require children to care for their elderly parents.
Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said alternatives such as strengthening support systems and assistance for caregivers were being considered.
"We need to think this through carefully. Some countries have introduced similar legislation but it has not been successful. We have to be realistic," she told reporters after launching the state-level Mother's Day celebration here on Monday (May 25).
Nancy said it was important to ensure that children were not financially burdened in caring for aged parents.
"The main issue is that many children cannot afford to care for their parents. My personal view is that we want to give children the opportunity to care for their parents, so I've instructed my officers to look into other ways to do this," she said.
Nancy said existing initiatives included a support programme called Spektrum under the Welfare Department.
The programme provides training to caregivers of the elderly.
She said the department also offers home help services to care for senior citizens at home.
"What is important is not just placing the responsibility on children to care for their parents but ensuring that they receive help through training, psychosocial support, home help services and community and government support, so that elderly citizens can age with dignity," she added.
Earlier this month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government was considering a "filial responsibility law" to ensure children care for their elderly parents.
He said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had been instructed to prepare a policy paper for the Cabinet on the proposed law within six months.
