Latest news with #NorainiAhmad
The Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
‘New law to protect elderly from neglect, abuse, scams'
PETALING JAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is taking proactive steps to safeguard the well-being of Malaysia's ageing population by introducing a new Elderly Persons Bill, Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said in Parliament yesterday. Responding to a question from Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Noraini said the proposed law will focus on safeguarding the rights and welfare of senior citizens, particularly from neglect, abuse and financial exploitation. 'The ministry is currently reviewing the National Action Plan for Senior Citizens, with a key focus on scam-related fraud. Our aim is to nurture a generation of older Malaysians who are independent, respected and supported by their communities,' she said. Noraini added that targeted awareness programmes are being rolled out – especially in digital literacy – to help seniors falling victims of cybercrime. 'These efforts also aim to strengthen awareness of existing legal protections and ensure they are effectively implemented at the grassroots level. Ultimately, the success of any policy depends on the cooperation of all stakeholders including government agencies, local authorities, NGOs and the wider community,' she stressed, adding that the ministry believes that senior citizens should be protected from neglect and abuse, especially within the family setting. 'In line with this, we are introducing a more comprehensive and structured legal framework through the Elderly Persons Bill.' Earlier, Wan Azizah cited findings from a June 2024 study showing that one in 10 elderly Malaysians had experienced financial abuse, often by their own family members. She questioned the effectiveness of current measures and called for the development of elderly-friendly neighbourhoods, similar to Singapore's Kampung Admiralty. Kampung Admiralty is the republic's first integrated public development that brings together a mix of public facilities and services under one roof – a living concept that combines senior housing with healthcare, social, communal, commercial and retail facilities.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Elderly care gets boost with new law, digital awareness to fight scams
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is strengthening efforts to empower and protect senior citizens through support services, digital literacy initiatives, and legislation, said Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad. The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said one of the ministry's current focus areas was to ensure that older persons could live independently and with dignity, particularly in light of rising cases of online scams targeting vulnerable groups. "The ministry is taking several important steps to strengthen protection for senior citizens, particularly in terms of neglect and abuse. "For this reason, we are in the process of drafting the Senior Citizens Bill, which aims primarily to protect the fundamental rights and welfare of this group. "We are also currently reviewing the National Senior Citizens Action Plan, with one of the main focuses being issues such as scams and fraud. "The goal is to create a generation of independent, respected senior citizens who receive support from the community," she said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today. She was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PH-Bandar Tun Razak), who queried the ministry's efforts to introduce more comprehensive laws to protect senior citizens against neglect and abuse by family members and also scams. Noraini said the ministry would implement awareness programmes and digital literacy courses to help prevent them from becoming victims of cybercrime. "This is part of our efforts to improve the system because, ultimately, we must ensure that the implementation of every policy truly reaches the grassroots, and this requires the cooperation of all parties," she said. She said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, also provides Home Help Services, which offers social support to elderly individuals who live alone. "These Social Welfare Department volunteers visit the elderly regularly and offer companionship, help prepare meals and drinks, and assist with household chores. "The objective is to enable seniors to age in place within their communities. If that is no longer possible, then we look to community-based care, and only then to institutional care," she said. She said they also have the Unit Penyayang Warga Emas initiative as a complementary service to Home Help, which provides transportation for elderly individuals to attend medical appointments at hospitals or public health clinics.
The Star
3 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Government to ramp up digital literacy, support services for elderly living alone
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is strengthening efforts to empower and protect senior citizens through community-based support services and digital literacy initiatives aimed at preventing financial abuse and cybercrime, says Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad ( pic ). The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said one of the ministry's current focus areas was to ensure that older persons could live independently and with dignity, particularly in light of rising cases of online scams targeting vulnerable groups. 'To prevent them from falling victim to cybercrime, the ministry is implementing awareness programmes and digital interaction courses for the elderly. 'We want to build a society that respects and supports older persons, while strengthening community-level care and protection,' she said during the Dewan Rakyat session on Tuesday (July 29). Noraini added that in addition to legal reforms, the ministry aimed to equip senior citizens with the skills and awareness needed to thrive in a digital world while safeguarding them from exploitation. She said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, is also expanding its Home Help programme, which offers social support to elderly individuals who live alone and are not necessarily victims of abuse or neglect. 'These volunteers visit the elderly regularly and offer companionship, help prepare meals and drinks and assist with household chores,' she said, adding that the core objective was to enable seniors to age in place within their communities. 'If that is no longer possible, then we look to community-based care, and only then to institutional care as a last resort.' Noraini also highlighted the Unit Penyayang Warga Emas initiative as a complementary service to Home Help. This unit provides transportation for elderly individuals to attend medical appointments at hospitals or public health clinics, she added. 'This programme is modelled after a community-based approach from China and is run in collaboration with strategic non-governmental organisations,' she said. In addition, she said the ministry is currently reviewing the National Senior Citizens Action Plan to better reflect Malaysia's demographic transition towards an ageing society. 'One of the key areas we are looking at is financial abuse, including scams. The revised action plan will focus on building resilience, awareness and community support for our ageing population,' she said. As part of long-term efforts, the government is also in the process of drafting the Elderly Persons Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year. Noraini said the new legislation will be rights-based and holistic in nature, ensuring that senior citizens are not only cared for in terms of daily welfare but also accorded equal standing under the country's legal framework.
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
NCT Alliance gets nod at Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards
From left: Datuk R. Rajendran, chairman of CSR Malaysia; Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development; Datuk Yap Fook Choy, group executive director of NCT Alliance; Lee Seng Chee, co-chairman and managing editor of CSR Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR: NCT Alliance Bhd was recently honoured at the Sustainability & CSR Malaysia Awards 2025 for its continuous contributions towards shaping an inclusive and sustainable nation. The awards ceremony at Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, was officiated by YB Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Receiving the 'Company of the Year in the Property Developer' category for Outstanding Community Spirit Award, NCT was singled out for its multifaceted strategic, community-centric ESG initiatives implemented across various states. The Group in 2024 had invested over RM690,000 in corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavours underpinned by a robust ESG governance framework and supported with sincerity, consistency, and a deep commitment to helping local communities advance. Datuk Sri Yap Ngan Choy, NCT Alliance's executive chairman and group managing director said: 'This recognition is a clear reflection that our long-term investment in building communities has far-reaching impact and is aligned with progress that is grounded in responsibility, inclusivity, and value creation. "Guided by our 2025–2029 2/3 ESG Roadmap, we remain focused on uplifting families and individuals, and take pride in knowing that sustainability principles are also embedded in every aspect of how we design, develop and deliver products for the long term.' Organised by CSR Malaysia in collaboration with Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility Malaysia Welfare Society, the awards showcase how exemplary Malaysian corporations and NGOs are progressing meaningfully and serving as change agents to boost Malaysia's socio-economic development through CSR.
Barnama
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
KPWKM Channels Over RM20 Mln To PSK To Assist Vulnerable Groups
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has channelled RM20.65 million this year to Voluntary Welfare Organisations (PSK) that provide services to the elderly, the disabled (OKU) and children. KPWKM Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said the assistance included food and beverages, special allowances for disabled students, volunteer allowances as well as administrative and infrastructure grants. "The assistance is based on the principle of welfare as a shared responsibility, hence PSK are encouraged to obtain additional funding sources without relying entirely on the government," she said. Noraini said this during the winding-up session on the debate on the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM) 2023 for KPWKM at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today. Regarding the proposal to establish a special ministry for the elderly in preparation for Malaysia as an ageing country, she said the National Senior Citizens Advisory and Legislative Council would be the main platform to coordinate the issue. Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang, while winding up the debate on the report on the human rights of the Orang Asli, said the government was committed to ensuring that no group was left out in all aspects, including democratic rights. She said the Orang Asli Department (JAKOA) had implemented various initiatives, including organising awareness campaigns for voters in Orang Asli villages in collaboration with the Election Commission (EC) and civil society organisations to provide a clear understanding of the importance of being a voter. "To ensure that physical access is not an obstacle, JAKOA also helps to facilitate transportation and logistics, especially for communities in the interior and difficult to access," she said. While winding up the debate for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), the relevant Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the government was developing a one-stop centre to standardise the application and approval procedures for premises and hawker licences.
