Money Remittance from Children to Older Person in Felda Bukit Tangga, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract

Older population is growing in all countries, developed and developing countries. Although developed countries have a relatively high proportion of older persons, older persons in developing countries is growing at a fast rate. The majority of older persons in developing countries are living in rural areas. The present paper presents the result of a cross-sectional survey conducted in rural Kedah, Malaysia, to investigate money remittances from adult children who live out of their village to their elderly parents at home. More specifically, the present paper analyzes (1): demographic and socioeconomic profiles of older persons in rural Kedah, Malaysia; (2): income status of older people; (3): level of money remittance from adult children, and (4) the importance of money remittances to older people in rural Kedah, Malaysia. This study was conducted in Felda Bukit Tangga, in the state of Kedah. This paper is basically employed a descriptive research design. Data for the study were collected through structured and unstructured interviews with research participants, coupled with observations on their daily lives. Data were analyzed using descriptive and thematic approach. Results of the study revealed that: (1) from 75 older persons interviewed, 38 are women, whilst 37 more are men. Older persons in this survey aged between 50 to 79 years. They are categorized as young old, having only a primary school certificate, working and still married; (2) although half of respondents have a monthly income of above poverty level, their income is not enough, and all of this income is used for daily expenses; (3) money remittance from children is small; some older persons perceive it as not enough, while other older persons feel the remittance is enough, and; (4) only a small portion agrees the remittance is important for them; some other respondents feel the remittance is not important. Because most of older persons in the study have their own income, money remittance from children, although important, it is not an urgent need for these older persons.

Keywords: population ageing, older persons, rural areas, money remittance, well-being