http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/28/nation/20120528180743&sec=nation
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak brought cheer to
many elderly people on Monday with two announcements he made at a luncheon
meeting with about 1,500 old folks.
He said the Health
Ministry would conduct health inspection visits at least once a month with
immediate effect to all the 48 old folks homes under the auspices of the Women,
Family and Community Development Ministry.
He also said that the Astro
satellite radio and TV service would be installed free of charge at 39 elderly
care centres registered with the Social Welfare Department nationwide and
subscription would be waived for three to five years.
Old folks from care
centres in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur attended the luncheon with the prime
minister under the Karisma senior citizens programme, at Rumah Sejahtera, Seri
Kembangan, near here.
Najib said the health
inspection visits would involve health screening and follow-up treatment.
Najib said statistics
indicated that elderly people in the country had made 1.4 million visits and
repeat visits to health clinics.
"The Health Ministry
will not only provide treatment to senior citizens at health clinics but also
make visits to the 48 care centres for the elderly to provide follow-up
treatment," he said in his address at the function.
Najib, who is also acting
minister of women, family and community development, said the health inspection
visits would provide the elderly folks with better health care.
On the Astro service, he
said it would enable the senior citizens to watch and/or listen to the news and
entertain and sports programmes over the radio and television.
"Even old folks need
activities to fill their spare time because active minds would help promote
physical health. Idle minds would lead to a deterioration of physical
health," he said.
Najib also urged the
people to safeguard Eastern community values by taking care of the elderly
well, saying they had contributed a lot to the nation and society.
"We have to uphold
these values because in some developed countries, the elderly are neglected and
left to their fate in old folks homes.
"The government can
provide help but there is no substitute for family in taking care of the
well-being of the elderly. If we can do this, our society will a much happier
one with the love that one generation showers on another," he said.
The prime minister said
the government had introduced several initiatives and incentives under Budget
2012 for the benefit of the elderly, among them waiving the outpatient
registration fee at all hospitals and health clinics. - Bernama
Whether to consider “the Maintenance of Parents Act”
ReplyDeleteThere have also been suggestions that Malaysia should emulate Taiwan and Singapore, which have enacted laws that make it an offence punishable for children who do not financially support their elderly needy parents.
Children must fend for their elderly aged parents or try to get Government funds to help assist during sure difficult time; however, the best is to talk back their families or children to assist them.
The Government may have a duty to look after the elderly, but it cannot replace the love and warmth of a family. May the Government study using the “Maintenance of Parents Act” to get such children to do their filial duty?
Whether the “Maintenance of Parents Act” enables parents above 58 years old, who cannot support themselves, to seek legal action compelling their children to provide maintenance for them is needed.
May a “Maintenance of Parent Act” enable an aged parent to demand maintenance from children in the same way that a wife may demand it from her husband?