Proposed Social Workers Profession Bill to be tabled in cabinet

He said the bill, which was in the midst of a final review, is crucial as the country prepares to face old age status by 2030 when the population, aged 60 and above, reaches 15 per cent out of the total population in Malaysia.

"I will make sure the bill is tabled to the Cabinet within a month's time from today," he said, adding that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim would be presenting it.

When opening the maiden National Welfare Month 2017 at the Bangi Industrial Training and Recovery Centre here, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said the bill took some time before it is tabled in the Cabinet following some technicalities from the legal aspect.

"An act needs to take into account all aspects, including the validity period and the possibility of any problems encountered during that period. It is better if we are prepared for any eventuality," he said.

Meanwhile Ahmad Zahid said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has directed that a dialogue session (townhall) be held in the near future to discuss and find ways to deal with social ills that were increasingly worsening.

He said the dialogue session through the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) involved all quarters including ministries, departments, agencies, non-governmental organisations, psychologists and political parties to provide constructive views.

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry would be tasked as secretariat of the dialogue session to discuss comprehensively on ways to find solutions, he said.

"Social illness is quite serious (though) I don't have the figure. But Prime Minister and I are very concerned about social illness that is happening in our country," he said, adding that he wanted the townhall session to be conducted within 45 days at the latest.

Citing an example, Ahmad Zahid said drug abuse among juveniles as young as aged seven, gangsterism and teenage pregnancy was alarming in the country at present.