RM601mil in monthly cash aid paid to seniors, says Nancy

 

Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukry said 2,300 volunteers are helping some 6,000 senior citizens who live alone. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

The government has given RM601 million in monthly cash aid to senior citizens this year, and an extra RM116 million to chronically ill and bedridden patients to encourage families to care for them at home, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

The cash aid went to 151,000 senior citizens and 29,000 bedridden patients from January to August, said women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukry in a written reply to Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) yesterday.

Nancy said 2,300 volunteers are helping some 6,000 seniors who live alone. The volunteers undertake household chores, cleaning and accompanying them for hospital appointments, as part of the household help programme under the ministry.

Old folks without any next of kin who are unable to take care of themselves are housed at the Rumah Seri Kenangan welfare homes,

 she said.

High divorces rates

Nancy also revealed that the divorce rates are high among men aged 35 to 39 and women aged 30 to 34, with most divorces happening before 10 years of marriage.

She said the government has implemented pre-marriage counselling programmes and family planning services and a 

second honeymoon

 programme to tackle the divorce problem.

Most Malaysians get married at an average age of 27 and 28, she said.

Other written replies in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday touched on tourism and trade.

16.4 million tourist arrivals

More than 16.4 million international tourists arrived in Malaysia between January and August, a 29.5% increase over the same period last year, said tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing.

Tourists from Singapore topped the list, followed by those from Indonesia and China.

Malaysia-EU trade

The Cabinet is to decide whether to carry on with talks on a free trade deal with the European Union, which have been suspended since 2012, said investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.

He said a Cabinet memorandum in August had raised the possibility of resuming the talks. Key areas of disagreement remain, though substantial progress has been made, he said in a reply to William Leong (PH-Selayang).

Tengku Zafrul said negotiations would adhere to key principles where Malaysia derives 

optimal benefits

 from the agreement, and that no aspect of the deal will be finalised until both sides fully agree on all terms.- FMT