Social security amendments expected before current Parliament session ends, says Ramanan

 

Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan Minister of Human Resources (KESUMA) and Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, Chairman of the PERKESO Board posing with winners at the PERKESO iLINDUNG Media Awards and Deepavali Celebration with the Media. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017(Act 789) amendments are expected to be brought to Parliament by the end of the current session, says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.

Ramanan said upcoming legislative changes included amendments to Act 789 on the “Commuter Scheme”, which is expected to benefit about 400,000 Malaysians commuting to Singapore for work daily.

He added that amendments to the Employment Insurance System Act were also expected to be tabled before the end of the year, with the proposed changes expected to benefit more than 132,000 female workers.

“The Government wants the amendments passed before the current parliamentary sitting ends and the new year begins,” he said in his speech at the Perkeso iLindung U Media Awards 2026 at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel on Wednesday (Nov 11).

He said both initiatives were part of the government’s efforts to strengthen social protection and safeguard workers’ welfare.

The Star's journalist Tarrence Tan Jian Wai won the third place forBest Print Media Report at the PERKESO iLINDUNG Media Awards and Deepavali Celebration with the Media. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

On the welfare of media practitioners, Ramanan said he had instructed his secretary to obtain details of the PERKESO contributions of two journalists from the New Straits Times and Bernama who were involved in an accident on Oct 25.

He said he had also directed that their PERKESO benefits be expedited.

“Social protection must reach those who genuinely need it,” he said.

He also paid tribute to all media practitioners, adding that their contributions in providing accurate information to the public were greatly appreciated.

“We politicians, we come and talk, drink some coffee, and then we go home.

"But you reporters have to dissect what was said, make sure the facts are accurate and think about how best to present it.

“It is a very important duty and a big task,” he said.

During the ceremony, The Star’s senior writer Tarrence Tan won third place for “Best Print Media”.

He dedicated the win to regular Malaysians who were willing to talk about a bad week in their lives so others could learn from it.

"Social security can sound like a line on a payslip until you meet the people it catches.

"I also thank PERKESO group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed for answering our questions in detail, and my editors at The Star for giving the story the space it needed," he said.

The event was also attended by Perkeso chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, and The Star Managing Editor Brian Martin. - Star