Budget 2025: Proposal submitted to support single mothers seeking child support in court, says Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development will propose support for single mothers who seek maintenance payments from their ex-husbands in court under Budget 2025, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Picture).

The minister said this was one of the ministry's wish lists following discussions with stakeholders who had asked for support to underprivileged single mothers who are taking legal action to assert their rights in court.

“We have included this in the ministry's budget proposal to support single mothers, especially those who are unemployed. Attending court hearings can be challenging for them, so we want to help them,” she told reporters after releasing the directory of the community-based organisation (CBO) KPWKM@WPKL here on Wednesday (Sept 4).

In addition, Nancy said that aged care is a key focus for the ministry in Budget 2025, particularly in preparing Malaysia for its expected transition to an ageing nation by 2030.

She said the ministry also proposes setting up centres to train parents of autistic children, with the aim of improving their understanding and ability to care for their children with special needs.

At the same time, Nancy said that the declining birth rate in the country is also a focus of the ministry in budget planning. The National Board for Population and Family Development will intensify health programs to encourage couples to have children.

After discussions with the Malaysia Rare Disorders Society, she added that the ministry is considering providing assistance to this community to ease their burden.

In the 2024 budget, the ministry was allocated RM3.52 billion, of which RM3.25 billion was for operating expenditure and RM265 million was for development expenditure.

Of this amount, the Social Welfare Department received RM2.4 billion to be distributed to over 450,000 people, particularly low-income households, senior citizens, children and people with disabilities. – Bernama