Social work is unique because it deals with human problems within the societal context.
Guided by professional values and ethics, social workers utilise their knowledge on human behaviour, social systems, law, and policies to assist clients in navigating complex structures like the court system, as well as providing psycho-social care and support.
The decisions they make may impact a client’s life forever. That is why they need to be trained and supported, so that they can confidently support their clients.
In Malaysia, social workers are employed by diverse government agencies such as the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) and its Department of Social Welfare at national, state, and district levels, the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the National Anti Drugs Agency.
They also work in civil society organisations (CSOs) such as in shelters for survivors of intimate partner violence.
The Social Work Profession Bill, under development since 2010, is critical in strengthening and bringing professionalism to social work in the country.
This proposed legislation will establish clear standards, accountability, and a code of ethics, ensuring that social workers are supported by a structured framework. It is targeted to be presented to parliament at the end of 2025.
Sadly, like most critical legislation that affects children, persons with disabilities, women, and marginalised persons, the process by which the bill is currently being developed lacks transparency, accountability, and professionalism.
There is no provision for enabling civil society to review the draft and contribute to strengthening it. The entire process for such an important community legislation is strangely placed under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
The KPWKM is planning a two-hour town hall meeting next week in Putrajaya to explain the bill to other government agencies, academicians, civil society organisations, corporate companies, and relevant international organisations.
While we welcome this town hall meeting, it is of limited value. It is a face-to-face meeting with large numbers and usually there is no access to read the bill.
Experience with past town hall meetings suggest that very limited time is allocated for feedback, and it is uncertain if the concerns are heard.
It is also not inclusive as it is very difficult and expensive for those who live in Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Penang, etc to travel just to be able to offer a few words, if at all.
Town hall meetings must be more meaningful, more frequent and conducted online. A town hall meeting must not be a rubber stamp exercise to say, “Yes, we have engaged and consulted civil society regarding this bill”.
The KPWKM had, on April 15, 2025, shared some aspects of the bill with a few non-governmental organisations. The Social Worker Alliance Malaysia (SWAM) has discussed the bill and has many concerns regarding it. A list of all our concerns can be found here.
Of the many concerns, there is one that is most critical, one that overrides all the others. This concern is that the Social Work Profession Bill only covers social workers and social work outside of government agencies and does not compulsorily apply to social workers and social work in government agencies and ministries.
Bear in mind that a large proportion of social work takes place in government agencies; especially critical areas like child protection, domestic violence, those living in poverty, and stateless individuals.
It makes no logical sense to exempt the Social Work Profession Bill from applying to the Welfare Department and other government officers. In fact, this is what the bill was originally designed for, to strengthen professional social work within government agencies.
Imagine for a moment that we have a medical practitioners bill that only applies to private doctors, but not to government doctors. Imagine that private doctors are registered, credentialed and monitored–they need to show proof of qualification as doctors, and their practice and professionalism are regulated.
But doctors working in government agencies and the MOH are exempted from the legislation. They are not required to prove to the public, the public, that they have the same minimum qualifications as private doctors, and they do not have to follow the same professional standards. This would be ludicrous, to put it mildly.
In its current form, the Social Work Profession Bill is seriously and fundamentally flawed.
Civil society is not against the government or intentionally obstructive. We want what is best for society.
There has been an increasing tendency in the development or revision of legislation to include an ouster clause to exempt civil servants from their responsibilities and from action when they fail. This must stop.
In the past our lawmakers, our DAP and PKR Members of Parliament (MPs), would have championed this. But now we only witness their silence and complicit agreement with failed legislation.
We are reluctant to delay a vital bill that has been so long in its process. But it is better to fix this bill than pass a non-meaningful bill that does not solve our problems and one that is not useful.
We appeal to our MPs to please get involved to fix this bill rapidly, before it reaches Parliament.
We lead Asean this year, but in reality, we are Asean followers, left decades behind our neighbours in enacting a meaningful Social Work Profession Bill.
This is probably one of the single most important bills we can pass for our children and for our nation. We appeal to our MPs and the KPWKM to correct the failures and ensure that a meaningful Social Work Profession Bill is passed.
Signatories
- Dr Amar-Singh HSS, Consultant Paediatrician, Child-Disability Activist.
- Malaysian Association of Social Workers.
- END CSEC Network (ECPAT Malaysia).
- Protect and Save the Children.
- Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor.
- Family Frontiers.
- Women’s Centre for Change Penang.
- Yayasan Chow Kit.
- Childline Foundation.
- Anisa Ahmad, Child Advocate.
- PurpleLily Social Association Kuching.
- Srividhya Ganapathy, Co-chairperson, CRIB Foundation.
- Voice of the Children.
- Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation, Malaysia.
- Malaysian Child Resource Institute.
- Pertubuhan Kebajikan Vivekananda Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.
- SAWO (Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group).
- Association of Women Lawyers (AWL).
- All Women’s Action Society (AWAM).
- OrphanCare Foundation.
- Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO).
- Melissa Akhir, Access to Justice Consultant, Kemban Kolektif.
- Justice for Sisters.
- Social Welfare Council Sarawak.
- Sarawak Women for Women Society.
- Sarawak Shiang Fatt T’ng Benevolent Society.
- Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society.
- Sarawak AIDS Concern Society.
- Mental Health Association of Sarawak.
- Kuching Parkinson’s Society.
- PIBAKAT (Pertubuhan Ibu Bapa Kanak Kanak Keperluan Istimewa Sarawak).
- Cindy Biding, President Organisation for Addiction Prevention Treatment and Recovery (OAPTAR).
- Methodist Pilley Institute, Sibu, Sarawak.
- Brenda Yong, Society of Entrepreneurial Educational Development.
- Chin Saw Sian, Consultant Paediatrician.
- Dr Ling How Kee, Social Work Educator (Sarawak).
- Joan Sim Jo Jo, Social Work Educator & Practitioner (Sarawak).
- Gill Raja, Social Work Educator & Practitioner (Sarawak).
- The OKU Rights Matter Project.
- Persatuan Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya (MARTABAT PJ).
- Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas (DHRRA).
- PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out!
- PT Foundation.
- Pride Borneo.
- Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
- Rehak (Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan).
- Dr Ismail Baba, Former Dean and Professor of Social Work, USM, President of MASW (2017-19), Mental Health Professional, ICCHP.
- Prof Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, Faculty of Law, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
- Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower).
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
