Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Welfare Regime, Social Protection and Poverty Reduction

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Policy Regimes and the Political Economy of Poverty Reduction in Malaysia

Part of the book series: Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction ((POD))

Abstract

This chapter examines various policies and schemes of social protection, security and assistance, and innovative agricultural programmes, with an emphasis on their impacts upon poverty. The social security schemes include the pension scheme, Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Armed Forces Fund (AFF) and the Employer’s Liability Scheme. The main social insurance scheme to be discussed is the scheme provided by the Social Security Organization (SOCSO). The social assistance programmes are mostly those provided by the Department of Social Welfare (in the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development). Detailed discussions of the programmes of social assistance are linked to the design of Malaysia’s welfare regime as well as its evolution to eradicate poverty. The discussions on the social security schemes focus on the adequacy of retirement benefits. This chapter also contains a section on reforms and structural changes to the social protection programmes to tackle the issues of poverty associated with inadequate income.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Asher, Mukul G. 2002. Behavioral Economics and Retirement Well-being in Asia. www.spp.nus.edu.sg/docs/wp/wp21_OnlinePDF.pdf (accessed on 28 December 2004).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beattie, Roger A. 1998. ‘Pension systems and prospects in Asia and the Pacific.’ International Social Security Review. Vol. 51. No.3. pp. 63–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bloomberg. 2006. ‘EPF returns fell in QI despite high investments.’ The Star, 19 May.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caraher, Kevin. 2003. ‘Approaches to income security in old age.’ Social Policy & Society, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 295–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Central Bank of Malaysia. 2006. Monthly Statistical Bulletin. Central Bank of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur:

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan, Kam W. 2006. Rethinking Asian welfare model: social development or risk production? Paper presented at The Third East Asian Social Policy Research Network International Conference on GDPism and Risk: Challenges for Social Development and Governance in East Asia. Bristol. 12–13 July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, Ha-Joon. 2004. ‘The role of social policy in economic development: some theoretical reflections and lessons from East Asia.’ In Thandika Mkandawire, (ed.) Social policy in a development context. Macmillan. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chong, Pooi K. 2007. ‘When retirement dreams seem elusive.’ The Star. 18 September. pp. 48–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Social Welfare, Ministry of Women, Family and Community, Malaysia. n.d. The National Policy for Older Persons Ministry of Women.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2002. Peranekaan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2004. Perangkaan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2005. Profail Statistik Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Statistics, Malaysia. 1995. Housing Census of Malaysia 1991. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1998. Senior Citizens and Population Ageing in Malaysia — Population Census Monographs Series. No. 4. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2005. Population and Housing Census of Malaysia 2000. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Economic Planning Unit. 2007. Data on incidence of poverty by age group 1999–2004. Kuala Lumpur

    Google Scholar 

  • Employees Provident Fund. (various years). Annual Report. Government of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esping-Andersen, G. 1990. The three worlds of welfare capitalism. Polity Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. The social foundations of post industrial economies. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, Ian. 2000. Welfare Regimes in East Asia and Europe: comparisons and lessons. Paper presented at the Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics Europe 2000. Paris, 27 June 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haaga, John G., Julie DaVanzo, Christine E. Peterson, Tey Nai Peng and Tan Boon Ann. (1993). The Second Malaysian Family Life Survey: Overview and Technical Report. RAND, Santa Monica

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller, Peter S. 1997. Ageing in the Asian ‘Tigers’: Challenges for fiscal policy. IMF Working Paper. www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/wp97143_OnlinePDF.pdf (assessed on 2 July 2003).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, Catherine. 1993. ‘The Pacific challenge: Confucian welfare states.’ In Catherine Jones (ed.), New perspectives on the welfare state in Europe. Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee Hock Lock. 2001. Financial security in old age: whither the Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia? Pelanduk, Selangor.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera. 2000. Annual Report 1999. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malaya. 1957. First Malaya Plan 1956–1960. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1959. Second Malaya Plan 1961–1965. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malaysia. 1965. First Malaysia Plan 1966–1970. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1970. Second Malaysia Plan 1971–1975. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1980. Overview Skim Pencen. Bahagian Pencen Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1983. The First National Agriculture Policy 1984–1991. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1991. The Second National Agriculture Policy 1992–1998. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 1994. Undang-Undang Malaysia: Undang-Undang Umum Jilid Dua - Akta Pencen1980 Akta 227 Peraturan-Peraturan Pencen 1980. Bahagian Pencen Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2006. Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006–2010. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Malaysia. 2007. Data on area and year for agropolitan project.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nizam Yatim. 2007a. ‘Miskin selepas pencen’ Utusan Malaysia. 19 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2007b. ‘Keluaran simpanan umur bersara meningkat.’ Utusan Malaysia, 20 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2007c. ‘Terpaksa kerja semula tampung hidup.’ Utusan Malaysia, 20 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2007d. ‘Bantu pencarum urus harta.’ Utusan Malaysia, 20 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2007e. ‘Golongan pesara nikmati keuntungan.’ Utusan Malaysia. 20 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omar Osman. 2007. Personal communication, 3 August.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ong, F. S. 2002. ‘Ageing in Malaysia: A review of national policies and programmes.’ In David R. Phillips and Alfred C. M. Chan (eds), Ageing and Long-Term Care National Policies in the Asia Pacific. www.idrc.ca/en/ev-28476– 201–1-DO_TOPIC.html (accessed on 22 June 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ong, F. S. 2001. Ageing in Malaysia: National policy and future direction. Working Paper. Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragayah Haji Mat Zin. 2005. Revisiting urban poverty and the issue of social protection in Malaysia. www.eadn.org/reports/urbanweb/u07_OnlinePDF.pdf (accessed on 22 June 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  • —. 2002. ‘The impact of the financial crisis on poverty and income inequality in Malaysia.’ In K. Shahid (ed.), Impact of the East Asian Financial Crisis Revisited. The World Bank Institute and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh, M. 2005. ‘One and a half cheers for provident funds in Malaysia and Singapore.’ In H. Kwon (ed), Transforming the Developmental Welfare State in East Asia. New York: Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rusma Ibrahim. 2004. Financing challenges facing social security schemes: The experience of the Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia. Paper presented at the Thirteenth Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific, Kuwait. 8–10 March 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rusma Ibrahim. 2007. Personal communication, 18 July.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sujata, V. P. 2007. ‘Providing for civil servants.’ The Star. 30 August.

    Google Scholar 

  • Social Security Organization (SOCSO). (Various years). Annual Report. Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, C. C. 2007. ‘No more abandoned.’ New Sunday Times. 22 April.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. 2002. World ageing 1950–2050. Population Division, DESA. www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/index. htm (accessed on 22 June 2007).

  • United Nations. 2003. Social policies in Malaysia. United Nations. New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahid, W. A. 1970. Problems in Pensions Administration. Project paper in partial requirement for Diploma in Public Administration, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, J. B. and F. C. Pampel. 1998. ‘Does the privatization of social security make sense for developing nations?’ International social security review, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 3–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. 2004. Averting the old-age crisis: Policies to protect the old and promote growth. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yaacob, Mohamad F. 2000. ‘Formal old age financial security schemes in Malaysia.’ In J. Doling and R. Omar (eds), Social welfare east and west – Britain and Malaysia. Ashgate, London.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Saidatulakmal Mohd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Developing Economies, Japan

    Khoo Boo Teik (Executive Senior Research Fellow) (Executive Senior Research Fellow)

Copyright information

© 2012 United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Mohd, S. (2012). Welfare Regime, Social Protection and Poverty Reduction. In: Teik, K.B. (eds) Policy Regimes and the Political Economy of Poverty Reduction in Malaysia. Developmental Pathways to Poverty Reduction. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137267016_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation