CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1. The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (the Commission) was established under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia Act 1999 (Act 597), and one of its main functions is to promote awareness on human rights and to undertake research by conducting programmes, seminars and workshops and to disseminate and distribute the results of such research. 2. Since its inception in 2000, the Commission has conducted several programmes including a dialogue session, public forum1 and a roundtable discussion2 on the issue of the rights of older person.3 However, in view of the increasing attention given to the subject-matter both internationally and regionally, the Commission felt that it was timely and important to examine the issue at the domestic level. 3. According to the projection from the United Nations, by 2030, Malaysia’s older persons will constitute 15% of its population.4 Based on this projection, the Government developed a National Policy and Plan of Action on Older Persons in 1998 to address emerging issues relating to older persons. To reinforce the promotion and protection of the elderly, the Government revised the National Policy and Plan of Action in 2011. 4. Accordingly, the Commission identified, as part of its 2013 work plan, the issue of older persons as one of its main priority areas and planned several activities around the topic. The kick-off consultation with government agencies and non-governmental agencies for this issue was held on 4 February 2013, followed by several other activities in the Peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, including visits to care centres and half day seminars on care services for older persons and type of support for caregivers. 1 In conjunction with of this Public Forum that was held on 12 March 2005, the Commission published a Report on the Public Forum on Ageing With Dignity: Rights of Older Persons. 2 The Commission organised a dialogue in 2004 and a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) on the Rights of Older Persons in 2009. 3 The terminology of ‘older persons’ used in this report is based on the adoption of Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 6, the economic, social and cultural rights of older persons. In Malaysia, an ‘older person’ refers to any person who is 60 and above. This definition was adopted by the National Policy for the Older Persons based on United Nations World Assembly on Ageing in Vienna, 1982. 4 National Policy on Older Persons.p.3. REPORT ON CARE SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS 1