Borneo Post 10 May 2026, page 5

https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/the-borneo-post-sabah/20260510/281646786763059

Elderly care law essential to address Malaysia’s ageing realities

• The Borneo Post (Sabah)

• 10 May 2026

• By Chung Jin Jong

CHUNG JIN JONG

THE announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Thursday, 7 May 2026, that a specific elderly care law is to be presented to Cabinet within six months is timely and necessary. Malaysia is moving steadily towards an ageing society, and elderly care can no longer be addressed through fragmented measures alone. The question now is not only whether Malaysia needs stronger protection for older persons. The more important question is whether the proposed elderly care law can support the real care conditions faced by families, communities, care providers and older persons themselves.

Drawing from my recent research study on leveraging community capital for ageing readiness in Sabah, this issue should be viewed not only as a legal reform matter, but also as a question of practical care delivery. The central argument of the article is that community capital, family networks, informal caregivers, volunteers, local organisations and community governance should not be treated as an informal afterthought, but as a core delivery asset in Sabah’s ageing readiness. This is especially important for geographically diverse and resource-constrained regions where large-scale institutional models may not be equally accessible or sustainable.

Elderly care is often discussed only when a problem becomes visible: Abandonment, neglect, abuse, hospital discharge difficulties, unlicensed care homes or family conflict. These are serious issues and must be addressed. However, if the law is designed only as a response to crisis, it may become reactive rather than preventive. A stronger elderly care framework should also ask how Malaysia can support care before a crisis happens.

At present, Malaysia’s elderly care landscape is supported by several policies and laws, including the National Policy for Older Persons, welfare-related provisions, care centre regulations, healthcarerelated frameworks and general criminal laws. However, these instruments do not yet form a comprehensive elder rights and long-term care framework.

This is why, as Malaysia develops the proposed elderly care law, the framework should not be limited to filial duty or punishment for abandonment. Family responsibility remains important in Malaysian society, but elderly care today is no longer only a private family matter. It is also a matter of health systems, social protection, care standards, caregiver support, community coordination and dignity in old age.

Malaysia can draw lessons from other countries, including Singapore on filial responsibility, Japan on structured long-term care, Taiwan on communitybased care and Australia on rights-based aged care. These examples are useful, but Malaysia’s reform must be adapted to local realities, including family expectations, income pressures, rural dispersion and uneven service access.

For Sabah, this is especially important. A law designed mainly around institutional care or family liability may not fully address the state’s realities. Sabah’s ageing challenge is shaped by geographic dispersion, uneven access to services, a limited specialised care workforce and communities spread across districts.

Many older persons in Sabah continue to age within family homes, villages, neighbourhoods, religious communities, local associations and informal support networks. Their wellbeing is shaped not only by formal care facilities but also by everyday support: someone to check on them, help them access services, accompany them to appointments, support daily living needs and keep them socially connected.

For Sabah, communitybased care is not a soft alternative to formal care. It is a practical delivery pathway. Ageing readiness should not be measured not only by the number of facilities built, but by the capacity of communities, caregivers and local systems to support older persons where they actually live.

As the proposed elderly care law is being developed, several areas deserve careful consideration. The law should clearly define the rights and protection of older persons, including protection from abuse, neglect, abandonment and financial exploitation. It should also provide clearer standards for care centres, nursing homes, daycare centres and home care providers, including registration, inspection, staffing, safety standards, complaints mechanisms and accountability.

The law should also recognise informal caregivers. In Malaysia, many caregivers are adult children, spouses, relatives, neighbours or volunteers who provide care without formal training or structured support. If the system relies on them, then the system must also support them through training, information, respite options and community-level guidance.

Malaysia also needs stronger community-based care mechanisms. Not every older person requires institutional care. Many require earlier support, social connection, home-based assistance, referral guidance, fall-risk awareness and help navigating available services. These can often be strengthened through NGOs, local committees, community facilitators, faith-based groups and civil society organisations.

The law must also address older persons who do not fit the traditional family model. Some seniors are unmarried, widowed, childless, estranged from family, living alone or financially vulnerable. A framework based only on children’s responsibility may fail to protect those without capable family support.

For Sabah, a non-capitalintensive approach is especially important. This does not mean avoiding investment. It means directing resources wisely. Instead of assuming that every district can be served by large facilities, policy should also strengthen what already exists on the ground: family networks, volunteers, community groups, NGOs, village structures, local leaders and informal caregivers.

Government leadership remains essential. But the role of government should include enabling, coordinating and setting standards, not only building institutions. A practical elderly care law should create a framework where public agencies, healthcare providers, welfare departments, local authorities, NGOs, communities and families can work within clearer responsibilities.

This is where community capital becomes central. In many local settings, care does not begin in an institution. It begins with recognition, communication, trust and coordination. These forms of care may appear informal, but they are often the first layer of protection.

Malaysia’s elderly care reform should therefore balance three principles: Responsibility, support and dignity. Responsibility ensures that older persons are not abandoned. Support ensures that families and caregivers are not left to struggle alone. Dignity ensures that ageing is not treated merely as a burden, but as a stage of life that deserves protection, respect and meaningful participation.

The proposed law is a major opportunity. If designed narrowly, it may become another reactive instrument used only after neglect has occurred. If designed wisely, it can become the foundation for a more coordinated ageing system, one that protects older persons, supports families, strengthens communities and prepares Malaysia for the realities of an ageing society.

For Sabah, the message is clear. Ageing readiness cannot depend only on buildings, facilities or institutional care. It must also depend on community capital, local coordination and practical support systems that reach older persons where they actually live. That is the direction Malaysia should take as it prepares its elderly care law.

About the author: Chung Jin Jong is an Adjunct Professor at North Borneo University and a Sabah-based strategist engaged in smart ageing, community development, and cross-sector collaboration. Her work focuses on ageing readiness, community-based care, and sustainable social development in Sabah. With a background in financial governance and property investment coordination, she brings practice-informed perspectives into discussions on enterprise sustainability, community capability and longterm development transitions.

Article Name:Elderly care law essential to address Malaysia’s ageing realities

Publication:The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Section:Home

Author:By Chung Jin Jong

Start Page:5

End Page:5

Borneo Post 3 May 2026 (Sunday) Page 5

https://www.pressreader.com/9e80/20260503/281659671650701

Ageing can create jobs, not just costs

• The Borneo Post (Sabah)

• 3 May 2026

• By Chung Jin Jong

CHUNG JIN JONG

POPULATION ageing is often discussed in terms of rising healthcare costs, pension pressures, and increasing care needs. While these concerns are real, they reflect only one side of the picture. Ageing should also be understood as an economic transition that can generate new jobs, services, and business opportunities when approached with proper planning. Sabah, like many regions, is entering a demographic phase where the number of older adults will gradually increase over time. This shift should not be viewed only as a burden to manage. It can also become a catalyst for innovation, employment, and stronger community support systems.

Around the world, ageing societies have contributed to what is often referred to as the silver economy. In countries such as Japan, Singapore, South Korea and across parts of Europe, ageing has encouraged the growth of eldercare services, rehabilitation support, assistive technologies, wellness programmes, age-friendly housing, and community care models. Closer to home, the Greater Kuala Lumpur region has also seen expansion in private senior living, home care services, rehabilitation support, and digital convenience services responding to an ageing population. These examples show that ageing can create employment and enterprise opportunities when societies plan ahead.

For Sabah, this creates meaningful possibilities, especially for local entrepreneurs, youth groups, women-led enterprises, cooperatives, and small businesses. More families will need trusted support services for ageing parents, creating jobs in caregiving, companionship services, meal delivery, transport assistance, housekeeping support, wellness monitoring, and post-hospital recovery support. With proper training standards, these roles can become respectable and sustainable forms of employment. There is also growing potential in age-friendly housing improvements. Many homes were not originally designed for reduced mobility, creating opportunities for local contractors, handymen, and suppliers to provide safer bathrooms, ramps, handrails, better lighting, and more accessible living spaces.

Digital inclusion is another emerging area. Many seniors wish to remain connected but need help using smartphones, telehealth platforms, e-payments, and online services. In Singapore and South Korea, digital literacy initiatives have helped older adults remain more independent and socially connected. This opens space in Sabah for community trainers, youth-led digital assistance programmes, and simple technology solutions tailored for older users. Tourism can also adapt. Sabah is well placed to develop age-friendly tourism experiences for mature travellers seeking comfort, wellness, culture, and nature at a gentler pace. Destinations in Japan and Europe have shown that mature travellers represent a valuable segment when accessibility, comfort, and quality experiences are prioritised.

Importantly, ageing-related opportunities should not be limited to urban centres alone. Rural districts can also benefit through community enterprises linked to food delivery, wellness products, traditional therapies, transport support, and local caregiving networks. Sabah need not replicate larger cities entirely. Instead, it can build more community-based, practical, and cost-conscious models suited to its geography, family structures, and local culture. To unlock these opportunities, planning is essential. Workforce training, service quality standards, small business support, and coordination across agencies will help the sector grow responsibly. Educational institutions, NGOs, local councils, and industry groups can all play a role.

The conversation on ageing must therefore move beyond costs alone. When approached strategically, ageing can stimulate employment, encourage entrepreneurship, strengthen communities, and improve everyday life for families. Older adults are not outside the economy. They are part of it. Their needs, experience, and continued participation can help shape new markets and new forms of value. Sabah has the opportunity to prepare early and lead with a model that is practical, inclusive, and locally relevant. If we plan wisely, ageing can become not only a challenge to manage, but also an opportunity to build a stronger and more caring future.

About the Author: Chung Jin Jong is an Adjunct Professor at North Borneo University and a Sabahbased strategist engaged in smart ageing, community development, and cross-sector collaboration to support Sabah’s future development.

Article Name:Ageing can create jobs, not just costs

Publication:The Borneo Post (Sabah)

Section:Home

Author:By Chung Jin Jong

Start Page:5

End Page:5