KUALA LUMPUR: With the country moving towards an ageing society in less than 10 years, it is timely for the government to set up a Senior Citizens Bureau.
Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said those aged 60- years and above will make up about 15 per cent of the country's population by then, and necessary preparations are needed to provide for the group.
He believes the bureau will be able to address all the concerns involving the group.
A major concern for those aged 60 years and above is health, he said.
"The government should provide them with free annual medical screening and check-ups plus treatment at government hospitals.
"These should be supplemented by the provision of aids such as hearing aids, reading glasses, wheelchairs, and dentures at subsidised costs," he said in a statement today.
He said some of the senior citizens were abandoned by their immediate family members and constantly be made to feel like an unnecessary burden.
This affects their mental health and causes emotional imbalances that could lead to a sense of insecurity and fear, he said.
He also said there is a need for a social security mechanism to assist the group especially those in the B40 category.
This could include special subsidies or discounts for groceries, utility bills, and other essential services.
He said the elderly population are also vulnerable to financial scams in view of the increasing cases of financial abuse of the elderly.
About one in every 100 seniors in Malaysia has experienced financial abuse by people they know and trust or strangers according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (2018).
"As such, programmes must be put in place to help the elderly embrace digital technology and equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate digital space," he added.
On the other hand, he said priority treatment for the elderly has taken a back seat.
He said many of them were seen queuing at vaccination centres, hospitals, banks and others for hours even under the hot sun.
He said it is not uncommon to see Malaysians giving way to senior citizens at supermarkets and other locations.
However he said that it is still the responsibility of the government to start planning now to cater to the multifarious needs of our senior citizens.
"This situation needs to be rectified.
"I propose the setting up of the bureau to put in place all the safeguards necessary for the well-being of our aging and aged population," he said.