30/12/2025

TUESDAY | DEC 30, 2025

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Call to formally recognise, support home caregivers

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Experts have warned that Malaysia’s growing reliance on unpaid family caregivers risks tipping into a full-blown public health and social crisis unless urgent steps are taken to formally recognise and support individuals providing care at home. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said unpaid caregivers, most of whom are women, form the backbone of long term care for older persons, people with disabilities and individuals living with chronic illnesses. However, she said their contributions remain largely invisible. “Caregiving is often treated as a family obligation, particularly for women, and is taken for granted. “In reality, it could be a 24-hour responsibility, often involving care for both ageing parents and young children at the same time. Without proper support, caregivers face severe stress, burnout and financial strain.” She added that the public health system is ill-prepared to support families providing care at home. She also said caregiver stress often goes unnoticed until it affects job performance, attendance or manifests as illness. “Most housing environments are not elderly friendly. “Caregivers often spend their own money on home modifications, medical equipment and specialised diets, many of which are costly and not easily available.” Sharifa said while home care and ambulatory services exist, they are mostly offered by private operators, limiting access for low and middle income families. “For many households, paid assistance is unaffordable, leaving families to cope on their own.” Studies show that long-term caregiving increases the risk of mental health issues, physical illness and financial hardship. She explained that caregivers often sacrifice personal time, savings and living space to meet care demands. “For families with limited resources, caregiving pressure could escalate into conflict, emotional distress and even family breakdown. “When caregivers themselves KANGAR: The official notification of casual vacancies for the Chuping, Bintong and Guar Sanji seats in the Perlis State Legislative Assembly was submitted to the Election Commission (EC) yesterday. Perlis State Assembly Speaker Rus’sele Eizan said the notice was handed over at the EC Perlis office at about noon. He said the notice also informed the EC of the reasons and necessity for holding by-elections in the three constituencies for the commission’s consideration. At a press conference on Dec 25, he announced that in accordance with Clause (1)(a)(ii) of Article 50A of the Perlis State Constitution, casual vacancies had occurred in the three seats after the PAS membership of Chuping assemblyman Saad Seman, Bintong assemblyman Fakhrul Anwar

emergence of Caregiver Stress Syndrome – marked by emotional, mental and physical exhaustion – and cautioned that prolonged unsupported caregiving could mimic chronic stress or post-traumatic stress disorder. She called for the formal registration of caregivers as a first step towards policy support. “Caregivers need to be identified and recognised. “This would enable targeted assistance such as stipends, respite care and access to healthcare services, while allowing caregivers time to rest and recover.”

“It may not satisfy everyone, but at least it would help ensure the state administration runs in an orderly and effective manner. “At present, the existing members will act as caretakers.” Abu Bakar also said his administration would be guided by the 3B concept – Bangkit (Rise), Bingkas (Act Swiftly) and Buat (Deliver) – to ensure that Perlis is able to progress in line with other states. He expressed confidence that although Perlis is a small state with limited revenue, success and development could be achieved through concerted efforts and the mobilisation of all department heads, “We must rise from complacency, weaknesses, laziness and the like. This is something I emphasise to myself as well as to all civil servants and the public.” – Bernama She also urged employers to adopt caregiver-friendly workplace policies, including flexible hours and alternative work arrangements. “Supporting caregivers is not just a welfare issue, it is a public health investment. “If caregivers are neglected, the costs would ultimately be borne by families, employers and the healthcare system.” Adding to the call for reform, Universiti Putra Malaysia Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing senior research officer Chai Sen Tyng highlighted the financial and structural gaps in Malaysia’s long-term care (LTC) system. “At present, LTC costs are borne out-of-pocket by families. “We do not have a public LTC financing system and public LTC services are limited,” he said, urging policymakers to review existing arrangements. He also emphasised the need for workforce recognition and regulation. “We are dealing with both paid carers and unpaid family caregivers. “Provisions for regulating care quality and the workforce are still nascent, and support for informal caregiving is limited. “Home and community-based care are under-regulated, and residential aged care remains fragmented.” He added that inter-ministerial coordination and multi-sectoral partnerships are critical. “Unless we recognise that aged care is a critical and essential industry, formal aged care would remain limited to those who could afford it. “We also need pension systems and LTC systems that could meet the care demands of current and future generations. “These changes would take time, but if we don’t start now, the problem would just snowball out of sight,” he said.

o Without assistance, carers face severe stress, burnout and financial strain, says expert

expendable. “This leads to women working fewer hours, missing career opportunities or leaving the workforce altogether.” “Over time, this affects their income, retirement security, health and ageing outcomes. (Female) caregivers are also at higher risk of chronic illness and mental health problems.” Sharifa also highlighted the

become unwell, care quality declines and hospital admissions rise, placing additional strain on the healthcare system.” She added that gender inequality remains a major concern. She said caregiving duties in Malaysia fall disproportionately on women due to cultural expectations and the perception that women have careers that are more flexible or

Sharifa said if caregivers are neglected, the costs would ultimately be borne by families, employers and the healthcare system. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

New Perlis MB to take monthly salary cut

Vacant state seats: Notice sent to EC

KANGAR: Newly appointed Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah has announced a RM3,000 monthly salary cut as part of efforts to reduce the financial burden of the state government. Abu Bakar, who is also Kuala Perlis assemblyman, said the measure would also be applied to State Executive Council (Exco) members to be appointed following an impending reshuffle, with a proposed deduction of RM1,500 per month. “We must serve the state and the (public). For (certain individuals), even earning RM500 a month is a heavy burden. I am making this cut willingly so that (the public) could see the sacrifices we are prepared to make to develop the state.” He was speaking to reporters after clocking in at the Menteri Besar’s Office at Kompleks Seri Putra

Ismail and Guar Sanji assemblyman Mohd Ridzuan Hashim were terminated. Rus’sele was reported as saying although the state assembly had reached the three-year mark on Dec 18, the state government was of the view that there was a need to hold by-elections to fill the vacancies in the three seats in the interest of political stability. PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang on Dec 24 said the membership of the three assemblymen had ceased with immediate effect based on Clauses 76 and 15A(1)(b) of the PAS Constitution (Amendment 2025). In GE15, Perikatan Nasional won 14 state seats in Perlis, comprising nine seats won by PAS and five by Bersatu, while Pakatan Harapan, through PKR, secured one. – Bernama

yesterday, following his swearing-in ceremony before the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail at Istana Arau yesterday. Abu Bakar was accompanied by State Secretary Datuk Rahimi Ismail. On the appointment of new Exco members, he said discussions would first be held with the state secretary before submitting the proposed names to Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin. He added that the number of new appointments would take into account the state budget as well as several other factors, including the need to maintain balance between PAS and Bersatu within the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to ensure smooth governance. “We want to restore balance within the existing leadership so the administration and Exco appointments could be properly coordinated.