SHAH ALAM, Nov 27 — The state government has launched the Selangor Care Economy Policy today, the first such plan in the country, with the aim of addressing the needs of targeted groups.
Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the policy, which runs until 2030, integrates the roles of the state government, communities, and the private sector in promoting sustainable economic development.
“Selangor is taking on this responsibility as we prepare for the challenges of an ageing population, with 8.1 per cent of the state’s residents aged 65 and above.
“Although Selangor ranks fifth in terms of the percentage of elderly residents, following Perak, Kedah, Sarawak, and Perlis, it has the highest number of senior citizens due to its dense population of 7.36 million.
“The three districts with the highest percentage of senior citizens in Selangor are Kuala Selangor, Sepang, and Hulu Langat,” he said during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly building today.
Citing the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Amirudin said that in 1970, only 5.5 per cent of the population was aged 60 and above, while 44.5 per cent were under 14 years old.
By 2024, the percentage of children under 14 dropped to 22.2 per cent, while the elderly population aged 60 and above rose to 11.6 per cent.
He said the framework aims to create a sustainable economic cycle while addressing social issues like the care of the elderly and children.
“With many parents in the state highly educated and working in professional fields, there is a growing need for sustainable and cost-effective child care solutions,” Amirudin said.
The policy will involve state agencies and the local authorities to facilitate training and recognition for informal caregivers, particularly those caring for children and the elderly in homes or communities.
“The state government recognises the importance of stakeholders involved in the care economy and is committed to ensuring fair wages for caregivers.
“We hope the Selangor Care Economy Policy will be fully implemented to benefit the elderly, children with disabilities, caregivers, and the people of Selangor as a whole,” he said.
Meanwhile, state executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari said the state’s focus for the next five years will primarily be on the aging population.
“We are conducting an evaluation by establishing a special committee to improve care centres, chaired by Subang Jaya state assemblyman Michelle Ng.
“We are currently exploring improvements, including developing jurisdictional frameworks through local council laws, guidelines, or the potential drafting of legislation focused on elderly care, child care, and caregivers centres,” she said.
Source: Selangor Journal
