KUCHING, Mar 16: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan supports Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Aiman Athirah Sabu’s proposal to study a suitable law in the latter’s department to deal with children who fail to support their elderly and sick parents and to table the Senior Citizens Bill in Parliament next year.
Kho highlighted in a statement that while assisting welfare cases, she came across hardcore poor and sick elderly who have been abandoned by their children who have the means to support their parents.
“These children indirectly increased the burden on our country and society. Some children who do not support their parents claim the parents as dependents on their personal income tax returns, rendering the elderly parents ineligible for social welfare benefits,” she asserted.
She continued, “Therefore, I am in favour of the proposal by the Deputy Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, YB Aiman Athirah Sabu, in studying a suitable law in her department to deal with children who fail to support their elderly and sick parents. And to table the elderly bill in Parliament next year.”
Kho also said that more than half of the states in the United States of America have laws requiring adult children to support their impoverished parents. Some states extend the laws to help impoverished relatives, and adult children in some states face jail time if they fail to provide the necessary support.
“Canada, Germany, and France have some similar laws that impose (on) adult children to provide for their impoverished parents. In France, support also includes elderly relatives.
“In Asia, Singapore, China, and India have laws that go after adult children who refuse to provide financial support to their ageing, impoverished parents,” she added.
Kho, who is also a Kuching City South Council (MBKS) councillor, noted that countries that have already implemented such legislation have specified and considered the scope of parental support for adult children.
“I am certain that the Malaysia Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development will also refer to the bills in these countries when studying this law,” she added.
Aiman Athirah was reported by multiple news outlet as stating that the Senior Citizens Bill is a government step to protect the elderly as the country prepares to become an ageing nation by 2030, and that the Bill is scheduled for its first reading in 2024.
She was responding to Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan’s question during Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat about whether her ministry would introduce legislation to reduce the salaries of children who sent their parents to nursing homes.
Aiman Athirah likewise supported Mohd Sany’s proposal to enact such a law.
She also stated that the Bill will include provisions to protect senior citizens’ rights and well-being, to empower the elderly community, and to establish a strong support group for senior citizens and their carers.
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister revealed her ministry has implemented a number of initiatives to ensure the well-being of senior citizens in the country, such as the establishment of Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) and Rumah Ehsan (RE) nursing homes for those in need through the Social Welfare Department. — DayakDaily
