KUALA LUMPUR: The Senior Citizens Bill is in the final stage of drafting after repeated consultations with some stakeholders lengthened the process, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said some parties had to be consulted more than once as the government wanted to thoroughly consider new proposals raised during the engagement process.
“This careful and in-depth scrutiny is important to ensure that the Bill is truly comprehensive, suited to current needs and, most importantly, can be implemented in an orderly manner,” she said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 7).
Nancy said consultations involved federal ministries and agencies, state governments and non-governmental organisations, as well as feedback gathered through a public survey.
The proposed law is aimed at protecting senior citizens from neglect, abuse and exploitation.
She said senior citizens continued to be protected under existing laws while the Bill was being finalised, including the Penal Code and Domestic Violence Act 1994, as well as through the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline.
Nancy was replying to Rodiyah Sapiee (GPS-Batang Sadong), who asked about the status of the proposed law and social protection measures for senior citizens as Malaysia moves towards becoming an ageing nation.
Nancy said her ministry currently operates 234 senior citizen activity centres with more than 50,000 members.
Its home help programme also serves more than 9,000 senior citizens through more than 2,000 trained volunteers.
In 2020, the ministry told Parliament that there were 132 activity centres with 42,000 members, while 1,992 volunteers were serving 5,826 senior citizens under the home help programme.
Nancy said eligible senior citizens also receive RM600 a month under the Senior Citizens Aid scheme.
She added that the Economy Ministry was drawing up a National Ageing Blueprint to serve as the main guide in preparing the country for an ageing population.
Her ministry is also developing the National Senior Citizens Action Plan 2026-2030 and the Malaysia Care Framework and Action Plan for the same period.
