August 7, 2025
PETALING JAYA – There is a need to ensure all ministries and agencies are aligned as the country works towards having 50,000 skilled caregivers for its growing ageing population, as announced under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), say ministers.
The Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 (Act 802) must also be enforced to grant the Health Ministry authority over matters concerning skilled caregivers for the elderly.
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On July 31, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the number of skilled caregivers will increase from 43,000 in 2024 to 50,000 by 2030, along with efforts to enhance elderly welfare.
According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia’s ageing population will see the percentage of people aged 60 years and above reaching 15.3% of the total population by 2030.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the ministries and agencies involved in elder care will soon meet to iron out the details.
“It is too early for us to reveal something that will fall under different ministries, although most of them (actions on caring for the ageing population) will fall under Women, Family and Community Development,” said Nancy.
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She added that budget allocation for training caregivers also needs to be addressed.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Health Ministry is currently not involved in training or developing skilled caregivers for the ageing population.
“The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is developing the Malaysian Care Industry Action Plan,” said Dzulkefly when contacted.
The Malaysian Care Industry Action Plan is a strategy to create an affordable, accessible and quality care ecosystem in Malaysia – including promoting Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for skilled caregivers.
Dzulkefly further said that private elder care centres and requirement for caregivers are regulated by the Social Welfare Department under the Care Centre Act 1993.
“The Health Ministry will only regulate private aged healthcare facilities once the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 (Act 802) is enforced fully,” he added.
The Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 2018 (Act 802) was passed in Parliament on Nov 29, 2017, and was gazetted on March 29, 2018.
However, its regulations have not yet been approved by the Attorney General’s office.
This means that the law cannot yet be fully enforced, as the regulations are necessary to provide guidance on how to implement the law.
Under Act 802, private aged healthcare facilities and services are required to obtain a licence from the Health Ministry to operate.
“The training of the care workers is not within the purview of this Act 802 or the Health Ministry.
“As of now, there are institutions providing training for caregivers, including the Human Resources Ministry.”
According to Universiti Malaya’s professor of geriatric medicine, Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman, there should be more commitment from the government to address caregiving in an ageing population.
“There are many existing policies and Acts which have been developed to address the issues facing the ageing population but they require regulations and implementation.
“These, however, should be implemented by professionals who are knowledgeable of the issues and problems faced by the ageing population.
“If Act 802 isn’t enforced, how can we bring in the Health Ministry and other relevant agencies?
“This is not just about ageing and elderly individuals. What we need most is a coordinating body that will be able to work across ministries,” said Dr Shahrul Bahyah, who is also the president of the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society.
She also said that the Social Welfare Department – which is the main authority handling the issues faced by the elderly – is overburdened as it also has to cater to the issues of women and children.
“Care for the elderly needs to be strategised across the life course and within an age-friendly framework, in line with policies under the World Health Organisation.
“There can be private and public cooperation for this to work.
“We are halfway there but we need one dedicated body – a ministry or an agency to oversee all matters related to the ageing population.
“It should not be done piecemeal by various ministries,” said Dr Shahrul Bahyah, who stressed that political will and a strong coordinated governance is of utmost importance.
She stated that without a wholesome approach, the same problems will keep cropping up.