19/09/2024

THURSDAY | SEP 19, 2024

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Laws needed to protect growing elderly population

Immigration gets new director-general KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Secretary-General for Consumer Empowerment of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry Datuk Zakaria Shaaban has been appointed the new Immigration director-general effective Tuesday. Zakaria replaces Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, who has been appointed as the new director-general of the National Anti-Drug Agency, also effective Tuesday. The Immigration Department, in a Facebook post, announced that the handover ceremony for the director-general position from Ruslin to Zakaria was held at the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya. With over 25 years of experience in public service, Zakaria began his career at the ministry before contributing his expertise to various ministries and agencies, including the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry and Higher Education Ministry. He has also served at the Public Service Department, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minsitry, the Prime Minister’s Department, the National Disaster Management Agency and the Immigration Department. Meanwhile, AADK, in a statement, confirmed that Ruslin had been appointed as the 13th director-general of the agency. He replaces Sutekno Ahmad Belon, who has been transferred to the Human Resources Ministry as the deputy secretary-feneral (operations). – Bernama Key focus to strengthen Maju Johor concept KLUANG: Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah, the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Mahkota state by-election, has emphasised that enhancing the Maju Johor concept will be a central agenda. He said Maju Johor encompasses various aspects, highlighting the importance and well being of all residents in the state. “It covers every aspect and layer of society, including youths, the elderly, women and children. Therefore, reinforcing the Maju Johor concept will be one of our main focuses in the Mahkota constituency,” he said. Syed Hussien, who is also Kluang Umno Youth chief, said this after attending a meeting with entrepreneurs organised by the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund on Tuesday. The event was also attended by Tekun chairman Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid and his deputy Mohd Sany Hamzan. The Maju Johor agenda, launched by the state government in 2023, aims to transform Johor into a developed state by 2030, by addressing economic development, social safety nets, infrastructure and basic needs, cleanliness and environmental sustainability as well as youths. – Bernama ‘Suspension of Perlis PAS info chief is fake news’ KOTA BHARU: PAS has denied issuing any statement regarding the suspension of its Perlis information chief Mohd Saifizi Saidon. “What has gone viral is false and no action has been taken against Mohd Saifizi, but the matter is under the party’s observation,” said PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan. He said this after attending the Kelantan Lantern Festival 2024 on Tuesday night. Earlier, a widely circulated media statement alleged that disciplinary action had been taken against Mohd Saifizi for delivering an improper and irresponsible speech at the 70th PAS annual muktamar in Pahang recently. The viral statement also claimed that the PAS disciplinary committee had decided to suspend Mohd Saifizi’s membership indefinitely. – Bernama

o Legislation will safeguard senior citizens living alone amid increasing cases of neglect and isolation

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

LABUAN: The federal government is poised to implement at least 23 new affordable housing projects through the People’s Housing Programme (PHP) under the 12th Malaysia Plan. Deputy Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said these projects are set to provide over 7,000 affordable homes, specifically designed to assist the low income B40 group. “Once completed, these new units will offer improved facilities and contribute to the ministry’s broader goal of delivering 500,000 affordable housing units under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” she said at the Sentuhan Kasih KPKT Labuan event during the presentation of keys to the recipients of the Program Residensi Rakyat (PRR) Batu Arang on Tuesday. Aiman Athirah said the affordable housing initiatives (for both the B40 and M40 groups) are being implemented through several key PETALING JAYA: A gerontologist (a person who studies old age issues) has urged the government to enact laws that specifically address the needs of senior citizens, especially those living alone. Universiti Teknologi Mara senior lecturer Dr Nur Amalina Aziz said there are currently no laws in Malaysia that address such issues, which are becoming an increasing concern as the ageing population continues to grow. However, since the mid-1990s, policymakers in Bangladesh, China, India and Singapore have developed filial-support laws as a way to ensure children meet some of their parents’ needs. She said although such laws are not a panacea for addressing all of the problems associated with socio-demographic change, they persuade families to provide a greater share of older members’ social and healthcare needs. Nur Amalina was expressing concern over recent incidents where the elderly were found to have deceased in their homes without anyone taking notice. On Aug 23, the bodies of a father in his 70s and his disabled son in his 40s were found at their Taman Indah home in Sungai Abong, Muar, Johor. They were believed to have been dead for several days. On Sept 5, Sentul district police chief Asst Com Ahmad Sukarno Mohd Zahari said a 74 year-old man was found dead in his apartment in Kepong, Selangor, with his body reduced to a skeleton. He is believed to have died four years earlier. “There is this issue of filial piety, where some children neglect their elderly parents and fail to provide them with adequate financial, medical or emotional support. “In the Sept 5 case, the son is said to have last contacted his father in 2021. This highlights the growing problem of family neglect.” She said senior citizens have needs that cannot be treated similarly to others. For instance, they can choose to live alone but existing housing provisions do not meet

Nur Amalina said critical questions need to be asked about the country’s readiness to meet the needs of an ageing population. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

agencies, including the ministry, Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad and Perumahan PR1MA. She noted that, to date, 166 housing projects involving 104,081 units have been completed across the country. Additionally, 16 projects comprising a total of 5,823 housing units are currently under construction. She added that the implementation of 204 PRR projects, including those in the planning phase, has already benefited, and will continue to benefit, 117,171 families from the B40 group. “The implementation of these housing projects reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to provide affordable and sustainable housing for low-income communities. “In urban centres such as the Klang Valley, where housing affordability remains a significant concern, the ministry is working their needs in terms of safety, affordability or age-friendliness. Nur Amalina said considering that their mental and physical well-being is crucial, it is risky for older individuals to live on their own, especially if they suffer from chronic illnesses. She said solitary living with minimal interaction with people worsens the isolation experienced by senior citizens and this contributes to the occurrence of such incidents. In many cases, elderly individuals living alone may not have regular social contact, making it difficult for others to notice if they need assistance or are in distress. “So it’s sometimes necessary to be a bit of a ‘busybody’ to ensure the well-being of elderly individuals who live alone. It can make a significant difference in identifying and addressing issues before they escalate.” Nur Amalina said with Malaysia officially recognised as an ageing nation, with over 15% of the population expected to be senior citizens by 2030, critical questions need to be asked about the country’s readiness to meet their needs. “Are we ready for this demographic change

closely with the Department of Federal Territories to ensure that the B40 group has access to affordable homes,” she said. She also highlighted the crucial role of state governments in providing land for the implementation of PHP projects. Aiman Athirah said with the price range for these homes set between RM45,000 and RM60,000, future projects would incorporate enhanced facilities to further improve the quality of living for residents. “This is our commitment to ensuring that affordable housing meets both the needs and expectations of the B40 group,” she said. She added that the government’s continued investment in affordable housing represents a major step towards addressing the housing crisis for the lower-income population and ensuring equitable access to decent living conditions for all Malaysians. – Bernama and is government support for our elderly sufficient? “Many elderly individuals also live in poor quality houses that fail to fully meet safety standards due to high costs and inadequate management. Current trends also show that many of them were placed in old folks homes.” Nur Amalina said there are not enough facilities available to accommodate the growing needs of our senior citizens. “So, who is going to be responsible for them?” She said Malaysia can learn some best practices from South Korea, which has implemented the “older person care by older person project”. Its main objective is to offer disabled elderly persons work as carers, with a monthly salary of RM2,672, as well as to prevent “lonely deaths” among them. “Government agencies and NGOs have a responsibility to support senior citizens who live alone and help them escape social isolation, loneliness and depression.” theSun reached out to the Social Welfare Department for comment on Aug 28 but has not received any feedback.

Govt to launch housing projects for low-income groups