Kuala Lumpur - Establishing a resilient family institution and fostering a caring Malaysian society are highly emphasised under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).
In achieving both goals, a number of family development oriented programmes has been rolled out especially to assist those vulnerable to social ills.
The government`s efforts will be complemented by the private sector and the non-governmental organisations (NGO) through shared and joint programmes.
Emphasis will also be given to foster unity and further integrate the Malaysian social fabric through improved programmes and policies.
In further empowering women, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi even went to the extent of proposing that 30 percent of the decision makers will be from the fairer sex.
The current administration has drawn long term plans to increase the participation of women professionals in the administrative role not only in the public sector but also in the private sector.
HAPPY FAMILY THE NATIONAL AGENDA
Happy family is the national agenda and the government is working towards helping the families to achieve this in many ways. Among most pertinent is childcare and the government is encouraging mothers and housewives to open creches and provide childcare services from their home for their working counterparts.
A total of RM10 million has been allocated to NGOs to train housewives in childcare.
In strengthening the role of pre-school education, at total of 280 kindergartens will be opened nationwide with an allocation of RM105 million, bringing the government run kindergartens to 7,600 that can accommodate up to 300,000 children between four to six years of age.
In assisting senior citizens to help strengthen their financial resources after retirement, Bank Negara will issue bonds worth RM2 billion for senior citizens above 55 years.
The senior citizen assistance has been increased to RM300 monthly effective Jan 1, 2008 and the poor ones also enjoy a host of other facilities like free hospitalisation and medicines.
THE DISABLED
The welfare assistance for the disabled has been revised as well, with the monthly allowance for disabled workers increased to RM300 a month.
Special monthly assistance worth RM300 also provided for the bed-ridden disabled and tax exemptions are given to employers who spend on preparing facilities at the work place for the disabled.
The development programme for children, disabled and senior citizens under 9MP will be enhanced with financial assistance like aid for the children, disabled and senior citizens.
This financial assistance is expected to benefit 150,000 recipients.
Apart from that, a senator has been appointed to take care of the affairs for the disabled in the Parliament.
In ensuring the well-being of all, the social delivery system is being constantly fine tuned to increase efficiency.
In short, the family and community development programmes are meant to provide access to better quality of life for the people through a more efficient service delivery system by the government.
In the meantime more efforts are also being taken to strengthen solidarity and social integration among the younger generation.
Source: www.bernama.com (22 Februari 2008)
