Social Welfare Services in Malaysia: The Role of Government

摘要

Social welfare is the crux of the social system and development of any nation. However, in a country that aims to become a high income nation by 2020, Malaysia seems to have foregone developing and expanding its social welfare system, other than the cash assistance program. The social welfare system in Malaysia is less studied and appreciated, compared to the western welfare delivery mechanisms argueably because of the complexities of the structure and its social order. Against this background, this study seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the role of government in the social welfare services from the bureaucratic perspective. Through interviews and thematic analysis, findings reveal that perception of non-responsibility is prevalent within the actors in the government machinery. While politicians feel strongly that the society and family must be more responsible towards social welfare services instead relying on the government, many community leaders, NGOs and street-level bureaucrats who are nearer to the society feel that the society and family, especially in more vulnerable and less affluent communities are not yet capable of managing and organizing themselves what more their problems. The study concluded that the existing structure and system has not been fully entrenched to nurture the role of government in social welfare in Malaysia.