Malaysia needs a long-term care strategy, not one-off handouts

According to DOSM, the country is expected to become an aged nation by 2040, raising urgent questions about how to care for a growing number of elderly citizens.

While the 13th Malaysia Plan flags ageing as a key national challenge, and Budget 2026 allocates RM1.26 billion to support elderly welfare, experts warn that funding alone will not address structural gaps in long-term care. Chai Sen Tyng, Senior Research Officer at UPM’s Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), explained that cash transfers such as Bantuan Warga Emas provide some relief but are insufficient to cover the real costs of care.

“If you move into an aged care facility, you lose your eligibility for the fund because it’s assumed the facility takes care of you, but residents still have to pay for some services,” Chai said.

He added that many elderly recipients are bedridden or rely on family members to manage their aid, highlighting deeper gaps in accessibility and delivery.

“It’s never enough to just have one solution. We need home and community-based care services. We also need long-term care facilities. We also need long-term care financing, but perhaps we also need a lot of laws. These are all spelt out in RMK 13 as part of the implementation plan,” he said.

Chai highlighted workforce challenges, pointing out that Malaysia’s aged care sector depends heavily on foreign labour.

“If someone serves 10 or 15 years as a caregiver, they should be entitled to a small, stable pension. That would make care work a respected and sustainable profession.” he said.

While Chai focused on policy gaps and workforce development, Delren Terrence Douglas, President of the Association for Residential Aged Care Operators Malaysia (AGECOPE), shared how these issues play out on the ground for private care providers.

Delren said AGECOPE’s member centres care for about 11,000 residents, mostly from B40 households, but face regulatory and financial pressures.

“Many operators fear joining associations because they risk penalties for operating without licences, yet ministry bottlenecks make licensing difficult. It’s a chicken and egg issue,” he said.

“We’ve seen cases in Negeri Sembilan and Penang where officers cut off Bantuan Warga Emas once it’s used to pay for care. RM600 is barely enough to sustain the centres or meet residents’ needs.” he said.

He also called for stronger coordination among ministries and greater involvement of the private sector in policy discussions.

“All ministries should work under one umbrella, and AGECOPE must be part of that conversation. Solutions exist, but political will is missing.” he said.

Both experts stressed that Malaysia’s approach to ageing must move beyond welfare disbursements to a comprehensive long-term care strategy that is inclusive, adequately funded, and workforce-ready.