KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Petaling Jaya currently still has several unlicensed care centres for children and older people, but Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will work on getting all remaining centres to be made legal, city mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said today.
According to Zahri, almost all care facilities in Petaling Jaya are licensed — 140 out of 147 childcare centres; 100 out of 108 centres for children, welfare and persons with disabilities; and 67 out of 70 homes for older people.
He said most of these operators would open their centres first when there is a need, and would deal with licensing later on.
“This data clearly reflects that the care sector in Petaling Jaya is huge, active and critical. Therefore, MBPJ is committed to ensure all these care centres operate secara sah (legitimately), safely and with quality, in line with the spirit and commitment of the state government,” he said in his opening speech at the Selangor International Care Summit 2025 here.
“The data that I mentioned, we don’t hide the data. If they are sah (legitimate), we say they are legitimate. If they are not legitimate, we legitimise them later with SOPs and regulations,” he added.
Zahri and Selangor exco for women and family empowerment, welfare and care economy Anfaal Saari were present at the ceremony here to officiate the PJ Care Economy Action Plan 2025-2030.
Zahri listed MBPJ’s targets under the action plan:
- Improving guidelines for the operation and approval of care centres;
- Expanding training programmes and certification for professional carers;
- Providing incentives for care institutions that meet standards;
- Encouraging investment and innovation in social care services.
“With these measures, Petaling Jaya will become a model city and a reference point for the implementation of the care economy at the local level, not just in Selangor but nationwide,” he said.
The mayor added that Petaling Jaya is the first local council in Selangor to implement its own action plan for the care economy.
He said MBPJ’s aim is to turn Petaling Jaya into a city that provides inclusive care, where everyone can access support and the opportunity to live with dignity, regardless of age, gender or ability.
The PJ Care Economy Action Plan 2025-2030 is in support of the implementation of the Selangor Care Economy Policy 2024-2030.
