Fostering Strong Family Ties

DAP national chairman Karpal Singh wants the government to enact a law making it a crime for children to abandon their aged parents.

He said this in view of a latest survey, conducted by the National Malaysian Population and Family Survey which showed that 675,000 citizens, or one out of three people, aged 60 and above, have been abandoned and do not receive financial support from their children. The survey based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census included senior citizens abandoned in hospitals and those living in welfare homes.

He proposed the government to enact a Maintenance of Parents Act to protect parent’s rights from callous children. He also highlighted the high penalty imposed on children in other countries which have implemented similar acts where the punishment included hefty fines or imprisonment.

In India, children who fail to provide monthly allowance as ordered by court can be punished up to three months in prison or imposed a Rs5,000 fine (RM305.50) while in Taiwan those who abandoned their parents may face up to a year in prison or a fine up to $200,000 (around RM20,740).

In Singapore, the Maintenance of Parents Act 1995, states that parents are entitled to make maintenance claims from their children. The punishment for failure to provide maintenance, included a maximum fine of S$5,000 (RM12,200) or up to six months imprisonment.

A healthy relationship between parents and their childen can only take place through the power of love, not by enactment of law.

In the Ten Commandments which are divided into two tables, the first lays the foundation of all duty in our relation to God, while the second rears the superstructure in the various offices of love between man and his fellow.
God honours his own ordinances, the family. He gives parents rank next after himself. Filial love stands near, and leans on godliness. Love to parents ranks next under reverences to God.
Honouring thy father and mother is an ornament of solid gold.

Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. NIV

Honoring our parents has no age limit.

Mother Teresa said : "Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty".

No Place To Call Their Home

Upon read 'The Star' newspaper on Sunday, this headline struck my attention "No Place To Call Home".

I was reminded of our recent visit to the General Hospital 'neuro' ward where the neighbouring bed patient after being knocked down by a motor vehicle, could only remember his home address and his wife name. Upon further probing from visiting church members, we found that his wife passed away a week ago and his only daughter is married to Singapore. We suspected that he could be in a state of depression or denial due to his wife departure. The hospital authorities is now facing problem to discharged him as there is no one to take him home.

It is very sad that youngster nowadays while busy earning a living, forget about their responsibilities to care for their elderly parents. What is a big house for, when there is no one staying in to create a HOME ? What is all the money for, when there is no one to share it with ?

We have to remember that our children are observing us and they can do the same to us when we grow older, it could be a vicious cycle as the saying goes, WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.

The Bible in Ephesians 6 : 1-4 reminded us that ... Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"—which is the first commandment with a promise— "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.