KUCHING: A total of RM8 million has been allocated under the MADANI Budget 2026 to the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) to strengthen the care sector, including efforts to produce 50,000 skilled caregivers by 2030.
KPWKM Minister Dato Sri Nancy Shukri said RM3 million of the allocation would be used for caregiver training, while the remaining RM5 million would be channelled towards the development of Care Standards.
“The training is important to ensure caregivers possess the right knowledge and skills in areas such as safety, communication, behavioural management, as well as the physical and emotional needs of the individuals under their care,” she said.
She said this when officiating at the Launching Ceremony of the KPWKM Care Sector Initiative and Caregiving Campaign 2026, themed ‘Ilmu Menjaga, Kasih Dirasa’, here on Monday.
According to Dato Sri Nancy, the initiative was important in developing a more professional care ecosystem that meets the needs of society, particularly as Malaysia is expected to enter the ‘Ageing Nation’ phase by 2036, with the population aged 60 and above projected to exceed 15 per cent.
Meanwhile, she said the RM5 million allocation for the development of care standards aimed to ensure the establishment of a clear, consistent and trusted quality benchmark.
She said KPWKM had taken the initiative to develop the National Care Standards for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (OKU) to ensure every individual received care that was safe, quality-driven, compassionate and respectful of their dignity.
Also present were Women’s Development Department director-general Dato’ Hanani Sapit, National Welfare Foundation chief executive officer Nordina Haron, KPWKM Community Wellbeing Division secretary Asmar Asmadi Abdullah Sani, Malaysian Social Institute director Norhaslinda Mohd Sibi, Sarawak Welfare Department director Semawi Mohamad, as well as senior ministry and agency officials and representatives from non-governmental
organisations (NGOs). -UKASnews
