KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail revealed that 13.7 million Malaysians were not covered by any form of social security protection policies.
She said that the figure was alarming and should be addressed by all parties.
“Hence the Government urges the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to extend coverage to all platform of workers of the new economy.
“The benefits should also include workers in the informal sector,” she said when launching the International Social Security Association (ISSA), a Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific 2018 here, today.
Also present was Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran and President of International Social Security Association, Dr Joachim Bruer.
Dr Wan Azizah said there was a need to attend to other vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, older persons, housewives, children and other layers of society.
“To address this, we need to set up an integrated social security system where all the social partners are able to share their data.
“Data sharing from various parties will ensure that the right benefits reach the right persons.
“This way, all social partners in the country will be able to operate more efficiently in delivering social protection to the people,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah also advised the social security practitioners to start moving from ‘payer’ to ‘player’ so that social security benefits could be designed to include giving back to the society.
“It is my sincere hope that ISSA forum will not only serve as a platform for participants to discuss a system-based approach and its applications but also the sharing of practical experiences,” she said.