CHAPTER 2
LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
11. In January 2014, Malaysians were disturbed by a news report
alleging that five senior citizens were forced to live in filthy conditions
for over two months in an abandoned old folk’s home without even
running water.10 Due to the shocking revelation, questions were raised
whether Malaysia was ready to legislate laws to protect the rights of older
persons especially relating to care and maintenance of care centres.
Views from the public and civil society were split between enforcement of
existing laws and the need to introduce new laws to penalise children
who neglect their aged parents. Social and cultural factors were also cited
together with the parent-child relationship, as contributing to the
dilemma.
12. In Malaysia, there are several laws that have direct or indirect
application in relation to older persons and caregivers but there is no
specific law on older persons, unlike other ASEAN countries, such as
Singapore,11 Thailand,12 Vietnam 13 and Philippines.14 The introduction of
filial piety law may be a reality in the future in the face of the growing
number of cases of abandonment of older persons.
13. Based on data provided by Department of Social Welfare Malaysia,
in 2012 there were nine abuse cases of older persons received by the
Department via its hotline Talian Nur 1599 15and the number increased
to fourteen in 2013. The number of reported cases is significantly
low when compared to the total population of older persons in
Malaysia, bearing in mind, however, that cases may go unreported due to
lack of awareness, limited mobility and over dependency needs of older
persons on their caregivers.
10
The Star dated 13 January 2014, page 1
11
The Maintenance of Parents’ Act 1995
12 The Act on Older Persons 2003
13
The Law on Elderly 2009
14 The Seniors Citizen Act 1992, Expanded Senior Citizen Act 2003 and Expanded Senior Citizens Act 2010
15 The hotline sets up by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to enable early intervention for
victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and natural disasters.
REPORT ON CARE SERVICES FOR OLDER PERSONS AND SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS
7