PETALING JAYA: For those who have spent years feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and helping the forgotten, compassion cannot be measured by a degree or diploma.
For Food4U founder Tony Lian, better known as Uncle Tony, compassion and the willingness to serve those in need matter more than the academic qualifications required under a new law governing social workers.
Lian, who has spent more than a decade feeding the poor, said a degree or diploma was no guarantee of compassion.
“I have no degree and am no professional like a doctor or professor, but love for another human being transcends everything.
“The qualification for social work is compassion and the love to serve those in need. All these cannot be measured with a piece of paper. This is very wrong and I oppose it.”
He said experienced volunteers who had dedicated years to helping the needy could be discouraged from continuing their work if formal qualifications were required.
Lian acknowledged that regulating social work may stem from concerns over the abuse of charity funds, but said this could be addressed through proper safeguards rather than relying solely on academic qualifications.
“Abuse can happen in any field. A proper mechanism can be put in place to prevent it,” he said.
Sister Fatima Emmanuel, who runs Samaritan Hope Home, a shelter for the homeless, said social work was a calling and academic qualifications did not necessarily mean someone would serve the needy with greater dedication.
However, she agreed that the profession needed a framework to prevent people from exploiting social work for personal gain.
For those without formal qualifications but with extensive experience, Fatima said their service should be assessed and recognised through experience-based certification.
“When we work with our hearts, we do not need any papers to show. It is a calling and those who are sincerely involved do it regardless of race or religion,” said the Catholic nun.
Fatima said she was not opposed to formal qualifications, but those working on the ground had little time to pursue diplomas and degrees.
“It would be nice to sit in a classroom attending lectures to get our degrees but our time is dedicated to serving the needy,” she said, adding that Kuala Lumpur City Hall had issued annual certificates recognising the social work carried out by her shelter.
However, Food for Gelandangan founder Azizan Zainal Abidin believes the Social Work Profession Bill 2026, which was passed by the Dewan Negara last month, will bring greater order and governance to the profession.
He said formal accreditation would recognise a social worker’s passion while ensuring those entering the field had a genuine commitment to volunteerism or charity.
Azizan said accreditation should also take into account a person’s actual role.
“Not everyone may need a degree or diploma in social work. Skills certificates can be ranked according to their roles. Someone whose job is to stir the soup in a pot need not have a degree but a certificate that recognises them as a helper in that capacity.”
He added that proper accreditation would also help social workers understand their roles and boundaries.
