LETTERS: IN Malaysia, projections point to a three-fold increase in the elderly population, surging from two million in 2022 to six million in 2040.
With a growing preference for independent living among the elderly, there arises a crucial need for formal and informal support systems.
However, the availability of formal assistance from the government or non-governmental organisations is limited, potentially straining the social care system.
In response to this challenge, the Human Resources Ministry released a report in 2020 proposing the use of time bank volunteerism schemes to care for the elderly.
Time banking, a system akin to complementary currency, serves as a motivator for people to contribute their time through volunteering.
In this model, volunteered hours act as a form of currency, redeemable to access goods and services.
This time bank volunteerism model, known as Fureai Kippu, has been successful in Japan since 1973, gaining popularity in 1995 and inspiring similar initiatives worldwide.
Despite global success, the implementation of this project in Malaysia faced hurdles, notably due to the Covid-19 pandemic and scepticism about its feasibility, with only two per cent of Malaysians reportedly willing to participate in volunteerism schemes.
In the 2024 Budget speech, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM500 incentive for youth volunteers, raising questions about the potential success of the Fureai Kippu model in Malaysia and its ability to encourage broader volunteer participation.
To gauge public sentiment, we conducted a pilot study involving 134 participants with elderly parents.
The findings highlight enduring cultural values, with a majority expressing a belief in the duty of children, irrespective of gender, to care for elderly parents.
However, the evolving landscape, influenced by increased workforce participation among women and improvements in health and wealth, has led to collaborative decision-making between elderly parents and adult children, often resulting in independent living arrangements for the elderly.
While our study reveals limited awareness of time banking among participants, there is a strong willingness to participate.
Concerns, however, arise about the impact of volunteers' ethnic backgrounds and expectations, raising questions about the effectiveness of volunteerism in Malaysia's diverse context.
Unlike homogeneous societies like Japan, Malaysia's multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic fabric poses challenges to the success of such initiatives.
Gender and ethnicity assumptions about volunteers also play a role in the reception of volunteer care by elderly recipients.
In conclusion, the entrenched values of filial piety in Malaysia persist, even as societal shifts necessitate the advancement of volunteerism as an option for elderly care.
Education and training for volunteers and recipients can ensure that volunteerism addresses the challenges posed by the ageing population, aligning with Malaysia's cultural dynamics.
PROFESSOR TAN P.L. and
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR HADIJAH IBERAHIM
Arshad Ayub Graduate Business School,
Universiti Teknologi Mara
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times