Can Malaysia make childcare affordable, protect children from abuse and prepare for an ageing population? Yang Berhormat Puan Anfaal Binti Saari joins TheGoodCastShow for a candid conversation about childcare in Malaysia, school bullying, working parents, elderly care and the role of government in supporting families.
In this interview, we examine the challenges facing parents who depend on TASKA and daycare centres, including unregistered childcare centres, caregiver qualifications, child safety and enforcement. Can universal childcare and workplace childcare help families manage the cost of living while allowing more women to remain in the workforce?
The discussion explores Selangor’s care economy, unpaid care work, gender equality and the motherhood penalty. Anfaal shares her perspective on supporting working mothers, sharing parenting responsibilities and treating care as an essential part of economic development.
We also tackle school violence, children’s mental health, social media, AI deepfakes and the debate over CCTV in schools. Are surveillance cameras enough, or must Malaysia address parenting, family relationships and the pressures children face at home and online? We discuss school dropouts, child poverty, access to education and the need for closer cooperation between education and welfare authorities.
As Malaysia faces an ageing population, we ask whether elderly care services, retirement support and care infrastructure are ready. From senior citizen poverty and age discrimination to caregiver pay, elder abandonment and the silver economy, what would it take to help older Malaysians live with dignity?
Finally, Anfaal discusses Parti Amanah Negara’s political identity, the differences between Amanah and PAS, Malay voters, inclusive politics and her vision for policies that serve Malaysians across race and religion.
IN THIS EPISODE:
• Affordable childcare, TASKA registration and daycare safety
• Child abuse prevention, caregiver training and enforcement
• Universal childcare and support for working parents
• Women in the workforce, unpaid care work and shared parenting
• School bullying, CCTV, mental health and digital safety
• Child poverty, school attendance and social mobility
• Malaysia’s ageing population and elderly care challenges
• Senior citizen welfare, retirement and ageism
• Amanah vs PAS, Malaysian politics and inclusive policymaking
What should Malaysia prioritise: affordable childcare, stronger child protection or better support for senior citizens? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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