Pengasuh pemangkin ekonomi keluarga, kata Tengku Zafrul

A gala event held in Kuala Lumpur's Convention Centre in Ampang Jaya celebrated the importance of informal family caregivers in supporting family economies, according to Tengku Zafrul. The event, organized by the Merdeka Center in collaboration with the Yayasan Sime Darby and the Ministry of Finance, gathered around 600 informal family caregivers, family members, mentors, program participants and stakeholders.

Tengku Zafrul emphasized the crucial role of caregivers in allowing parents to work with peace of mind, while ensuring children receive proper care. He likened the responsibility of caring for children to safeguarding Malaysia's future. The gala event served as a platform for caregivers to interact with the community, highlighting the vital role they play in supporting families, particularly in enabling parents to continue working and ensuring the well-being of their children.

The event aimed to discuss training, certification, recognition, and legislation related to caregiving, and share perspectives and challenges among caregivers through relevant programs. These programs, including the Advanced Childcare Briefing (Karisma), the Childcare Briefing Seminar (Semai), and the Professionalization of Childcare Training (Bitara), have been implemented since August 2025, reaching over 1,000 caregivers across four states: Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Kedah, and Pulau Pinang.

The Ministry of Finance, alongside the Yayasan Sime Darby, has been focusing on skill development, career planning, leadership, personal branding, and mentorship to strengthen the professionalism of caregivers. The event underscores the need to shift the perception of caregiving as just a job and recognize the significant contribution it makes to the nation's socio-economic fabric.