SPECIAL AID FOR ELDERLY MAY BE EXPANDED

Due to challenges of ageing society, says Zahid

THE government is studying the possibility of expanding the disbursement of the Special Aid for the Elderly. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid, who chaired the High-Level Committee (HLC) Meeting on the National Social Council yesterday, said the government was mulling broadening initiatives, aid and care to the elderly.

This, he said, this was because Malaysia was heading towards an ageing nation by 2030.

“The council had earlier agreed for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to establish profiling or data for Malaysia’s elderly population,” he said in a statement.

The government, he said, welcomed and supported state government and local authorities to set up social infrastructure amenities.

Other matters discussed at the meeting included bullying at educational institutions and in the community, a subject brought forward by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Also discussed was the Education Ministry’s suggestion to inculcate spiritual education in early childhood modules.

Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the meeting agreed to introduce classifications for various types of bullying.

The meeting also agreed on effective collaboration for integrated social intervention between state Education Departments, Welfare Department, National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) as well as the police.

“We have also agreed for the social agenda to be discussed at state-level and district-level action committee meetings.

“The use of social media by corporate organisations and nongovernmental organisations to act as anti-bully agents are also welcome,” he added.

Present at meeting were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

On spiritual education, the Education Ministry wants all preschools, including private kindergartens in the national education system, to implement the National Preschool Curriculum Standard (KSPK).

KSPK was implemented in 2010, and revised and improved this year.

“The KSPK (2017 Revision) has six cores. Among the cores which are related to spiritual studies are attitude, value and spirituality,” Zahid said.

“These three cores have two main components which are Islamic Studies for Muslim students and Moral Studies for nonMuslim students.

“The teaching and learning duration allocated for these two studies is 120 minutes a week.”