Legislation to protect elderly needed

SERDANG: The government agrees that there is a need for legislation to protect the rights of the elderly in view of the increasing number of cases of neglect and abuse of this group, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said a Bill for senior citizensl was expected to be tabled in Parliament in early 2021.

"A study on the content, approach and scope of the special act for senior citizens in Malaysia will be carried out," she told reporters after opening the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) complex here yesterday.

Dr Wan Azizah said Universiti Malaya (UM) had been appointed as the consultant to carry out a study on the senior citizens' bill in 15 months' time.

Meanwhile, she said a diagnostic study on a sustainable and integrated model for long-term care of the senior citizens in Malaysia was underway.

She said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry had appointed Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as the consultant to conduct the study which was expected to complete in November next year.

"Among the findings are the proposal for a long-term care model as well as a plan of action including human capital needs, sustainable financing model and location proposition to implement the pilot project for the long-term care model," she said. – Bernama