KUALA LUMPUR: A new bill to protect senior citizens and address abandonment among the elderly is expected to be tabled next year, the Dewan Negara was told today.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said a study, carried out to draft the law, was concluded on Oct 1.
"The study included the SOPs (standard operating procedure) and preparation of a bill appropriate in the Malaysian context; the preparedness of the community based on the study and available data.
"We are also drafting a strategy to enhance protection for senior citizens," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Senator Fadhlina Sidek.
Earlier, Siti Zailah said the ministry aimed to increase the number of nursing homes for elderly people in the country.
"The responsibility to protect senior citizens does not lie solely with the government, but also the family and society.
"We are planning to set up activity centres for the elderly in all 222 parliamentary constituencies," she said in reply to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Wira Koh Nai Kwong.
Siti Zailah also urged the public to report cases of neglected senior citizens to the authorities.