Add abandonment of aged parents in senior citizens’ Bill, Putrajaya told

SHAH ALAM - Putrajaya has been told to include penalties for irresponsible children against their aged parents while drawing the senior citizens’ Bill in 2024.

This includes food, health and shelter.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) legal expert professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal said the government must create laws that will look into abandonment issues.

“Abandonment covers many aspects. No food, love (sending parents to the hospital if they’re sick), neglecting their parents’ residence, lack of care for their dilapidated home.

“While children are still young the responsibility falls on their father until the age of 18. Parents should receive the opposite as they age.

“I think there is room for laws without taking into account religion and race, it should be mandatory for children to care for their parents,” she said.

Aziah said the government should establish the laws to differentiate between senior citizens by categories of those under the government's pension scheme and those without.

“If seven children pay RM100 (a month) there would be RM700. If it is insufficient, the government could provide more,” she said.