By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 24: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has proposed an additional RM168 million under Budget 2027 to strengthen welfare and family support, including assistance for caregivers, women and senior citizens.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the additional allocation formed part of the ministry’s overall proposed budget of almost RM4 billion, which includes more than RM3 billion for existing welfare recipients.
She said the ministry had submitted proposals covering five key areas, with the focus on its target groups rather than “glamorous” projects.
Among the proposals is increased support for caregivers, with the ministry targeting 50,000 professional caregivers to care for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, children and communities by 2030.
“For this year alone, we are targeting 2,000 caregivers by April.
“But the 50,000 target will cover everyone, including persons with disabilities, children, communities and senior citizens,” she told reporters after the launch of the Care Sector Initiative under the 2026 MADANI Budget and the Engagement Session on the Development of National Care Standards for Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities (OKU), both held at a hotel here today.
Nancy said strengthening the care sector was also important in enabling women to remain in the workforce, particularly those who had to care for children or elderly parents.
She said caregiving responsibilities, work commitments and the rising cost of raising a family could also discourage couples from having more children, amid Malaysia’s declining fertility rate.
As such, she said the ministry was working through the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) to encourage those who wanted children, while providing assistance to couples facing difficulties conceiving.
Other Budget proposals include economic empowerment for women, assistance for divorced women seeking child maintenance, and increased support for senior citizens.
However, Nancy stressed that the RM168 million remained a proposal, with the final allocation to be known when Budget 2027 is tabled on Oct 18. — DayakDaily
