DPM: 13.7m people don’t have social security
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail revealed that 13.7 million Malaysians were not covered by any form of social security protection policies.
She said the figure was alarming and should be addressed.
“The government urges the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to extend its coverage to all of workers of the new economy.
“The benefits should also include workers in informal sectors,” she said at the launch of the International Social Security Association (ISSA), a Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific 2018 here yesterday.
Present were Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran and International Social Security Association president Dr Joachim Breuer.
Dr Wan Azizah said there was a need to attend to vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, housewives and children.
“To address this, we need to set up an integrated social security system where social partners can share their data.
“Data sharing from various parties will ensure that the right benefits reach the right persons.
“This way, all social partners can operate more efficiently in delivering social protection to the people.”
She advised social security practitioners to start moving from “payer” to “player” so that social security benefits could be designed to include giving back to society.
“It is my sincere hope that the ISSA forum will not only serve as a platform for participants to discuss a system-based approach and its applications, but also the sharing of practical experiences.”