Abandon Parents (value)





Monday July 27, 2009

Ministers lash out at children who abandon their aged parents

Reports by FOONG PEK YEE, SIRA HABIBU, HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH, LESTER KONG and YENG AI

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Stop the cruel act of abandoning old people, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said.
“Those who abandon their parents are being extremely cruel,” she said, adding that old people have feelings and would like to live with dignity throughout the remaining period of their lives.
“Those who really could not afford to care for the old folk should seek assistance from the nearest welfare offices.”
“Don’t simply abandon them in hospitals, or on the streets. Also don’t leave frail old people unattended to in homes,’’ she said.
Shahrizat said this when asked to comment on the growing number of old folk being dumped at hospitals and on the streets as highlighted in a Starprobe report yesterday.
“We do not want a culture of abandoning parents to thrive here. Just stop being cruel.
“People who abandon their aged parents should be prepared to experience the same nightmare during their twilight years,’’ she said.
MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat called the act of abandoning one’s parents “pitiful”, and made a mockery of the Chinese community’s values of filial piety.
“It is indeed pitiful to note that there is such a phenomenon. It is contrasting to the traditional norms and values within the Chinese community because caring for parents is part and parcel of the obligations of the Chinese worldwide,” said Ong on the high number of old people being abandoned.
He said by legislating the act of caring for one’s parents, it was only ‘compulsive legislation’.
“Laws could only ensure that the parents are taken care of monetarily. Perhaps monthly dues to be paid to their parents,” he said after opening the Wangsa Maju MCA community education centre yesterday.
He said this in response to Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s statement that having a law to compel children to take care of their aged parents should only be the last resort.
Liow was asked to comment on Singapore’s Maintenance of Parents Act 1996 which came with a jail term of up to six months.