KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 - The government should expedite the drafting of a comprehensive Senior Citizens Bill and establish a Senior Citizens Commission to protect the rights, dignity and well-being of older persons in the country.
Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the move is urgently needed as Malaysia is expected to become an ageing nation by 2030, when 15 per cent of its population will be aged 60 and above.
Although Malaysia already has various policies and action plans concerning older persons, he said their implementation remains fragmented and less effective due to the absence of legal authority and a dedicated commission.
“The Senior Citizens Bill, together with the Senior Citizens Commission, will serve as the legal and institutional backbone for realising the concept of ageing with dignity in Malaysia,” he said in a statement today.
Lee said the proposed Bill would not only protect older persons from abuse, neglect and exploitation, but also safeguard their rights and dignity while guaranteeing access to healthcare, financial security and social protection.
In addition, he said the Bill would establish clear responsibilities for government agencies, civil society and families, while providing legal mechanisms for older persons to seek justice.
On the proposed establishment of the Senior Citizens Commission, Lee said the institution would play a crucial role in monitoring the enforcement of the Bill once it is gazetted as an Act, overseeing standards of care at residential homes and serving as the official voice of older persons at the highest levels of policymaking.
He said older persons had made significant contributions to the nation’s development and that it is the moral responsibility of all parties to ensure they are not marginalised as they age.
“We must act decisively now to prepare for the demographic changes ahead. Protecting and empowering older persons is not merely a policy choice; it is a moral responsibility and a hallmark of a caring society,” he said.
