The recommendation was made by Mastura Yazid (BN-Kuala Kangsar) to prevent children from leaving the responsibility of caring for their parents solely in the hands of healthcare centre staff.

“There must be continuous connection either through visits or via virtual meetings such as through Skype and these conditions must be spelt out before their parents can be accepted at these centres,” she said when debating the Private Aged Healthcare Facilities and Services Bill 2017.

The bill which was previously tabled for a second reading by Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam, among others aims to regulate healthcare institutions for the aged to ensure the well-being of the care recipients as well as to encourage unregistered institutions to obtain a license to ensure compliance of regulations.

Mastura added that the children of the care recipients should also sit as committee members at these centres and be made responsible for the welfare of their parents.