Welfare dept continue to give aid to the needy

The Welfare Department spent 40% of its total allocation to provide aid to people nationwide last year and on senior citizens including those abandoned by their own children.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie said RM426mil out of RM1.2bil were given to more than 100,000 recipients, aged 60 and above.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie (left) and Machap Baru assemblyman Lai Meng Chong (second left) attending to villagers’ enquiries about applications for welfare aid during a dialogue at Kampung Cina Kongsai on Wednesday.

He said the ministry received a number of complaints from parents that their children had neglected them and failed to care for them.

“In Malaysia, filial piety is common among children towards parents. That is why we have no laws to force all children to support their parents unlike in some countries that make it a compulsory duty,” she said after a dialogue with senior citizens at Kampung Cina Kongsai in Ayer Merbau on recently.

Heng said the Welfare Department would help by giving financial aid to the senior citizen if their children really could not afford to support their parents.

“We also emphasise on providing comfort to the old people and to help reduce the burden of the children so there is a better family life for all,” she said.

Heng said the Government would not make a ruling on children to care for their parents.

In a related development, the Welfare Department received 753 applications for welfare aid at its counter set up in Merlimau since last week.

She said a total of 381 applications had been approved, 302 applications were rejected while 70 cases were pending investigations.

“I hope all applicants will understand that only those who qualify following a check from the Welfare Department will be entitled for aid as the country’s resources is limited and we do not want to waste tax payers’ money,” she said.