Malaysian social workers are heroes in the shadows whose vocation remains unrecognised

Social workers help vulnerable families and children in Malaysia, protecting them and empowering them to achieve their full potential. Photo: Freepik

For vulnerable families and children in Malaysia who are surrounded by issues such as poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness, social workers play a major role in their day-to-day lives, protecting them and helping them achieve their potential.

Unfortunately, Malaysia still lags behind other South-East Asian countries in recognising social work as a profession, says Malaysian Association of Social Workers (MASW) president Dr Teoh Ai Hua.

“The Social Work Profession Bill has been drafted since 2010, but it has yet to be tabled in Parliament. The Philippines has enacted laws to professionalise social work in 1965. Other countries like Singapore (2009), Thailand (2013) and Indonesia (2019) have followed suit,” says Teoh.

Social workers are professionally trained to help the vulnerable, recognise trauma and assist with applying for aid, says Amy.Due to this, many in Malaysia still view social workers as volunteers, and this creates challenges for these trained professionals in their roles, adds MASW vice-president Amy Bala.

“Volunteers may have the skills and desire to help, but what happens after they assist with a police report?” she asks.

“Social workers, on the other hand, are professionally trained to help the vulnerable, recognise trauma, and assist with applying for aid, including housing.”

Having served in the Social Welfare Department for 32 years, Amy, 76, believes the Social Work Profession Act will not only give social workers recognition, but also fair compensation, without which there will be a shortage of social workers to meet society’s needs.

Social worker Nur Syafiqah Zainal, who works in a children’s shelter in the Klang Valley, agrees it’s hard to explain her job to others.

“Once, while accompanying a client to lodge a police report, the officer thought social workers are like guest relations officers,” she laments.

But Nur Syafiqah, like many other social workers, is a professional with a university degree in social work counselling.

'Someone once asked why I was always concerned about others when I had problems of my own. If everyone thinks that way, how will people get the help they need?' says Nur Syafiqah. Photo: Unicef Malaysia

“Many people neither understand the role of social workers nor value them. Someone once asked why I was always concerned about others when I had problems of my own. If everyone thinks that way, how will people get the help they need?”

The 27-year-old highlights that social work is not a job for the fainthearted, as it requires persistence and determination.

Her work includes liaising with government agencies and departments, case management and planning, accompanying clients to medical appointments and courts of law, and helping them obtain documentation.

“We’ve to be on standby 24/7 so it can be exhausting,” she admits.

“But there’s a sense of satisfaction when we manage to help someone change his or her life.”

Read more: Social work profession left in limbo

Help hindered

Malaysia still lags behind other South-East Asian countries in acknowledging social work as a profession, says Teoh. Photo: Malaysian Association of Social WorkersTeoh stresses the importance of setting the standard and professional practice for social workers in Malaysia. For now, eight public universities and four private institutions offer social work programmes, including Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD degrees.

“Recognising social work as a profession allows for the recruitment of qualified individuals, improving service quality and capacity. It also protects the public from malpractice by unqualified or untrained individuals,” he says.

The absence of a Social Work Profession Act in Malaysia hinders the work of social workers, reiterates Tuan Noor Hasini Tuan Omar, who’s been a social worker with Yayasan Chow Kit for 16 years.

“There’s a law to govern counsellors in Malaysia, yet no protection for social workers. All counsellors must be registered with the Board of Counsellors and be accredited, but not social workers.”

The industry also suffers from a shortage, with one social worker per 8,576 people in Malaysia, compared to one per 490 in the United States, one per 1,040 in Australia, one per 3,025 in Britain and one per 3,448 in Singapore.

Tuan Noor Hasini says proper laws will attract young people to pursue a career in social work. Photo: Unicef Malaysia

Tuan Noor Hasini believes proper laws will attract more young people to pursue social work as a career.

The 41-year-old Social Administrative graduate from Universiti Malaya has seen the lives of street children transformed through social workers’ efforts.

But despite their vital role in helping clients – from child abuse victims to persons with disabilities – their work often goes unnoticed.

For instance, social workers’ reports aren’t recognised in court, unlike reports from Welfare Department officers, she explains.

Her work includes applying for birth certificates and identity cards for children, and ensuring education for stateless children.

Read more: Delay of Social Work Profession Bill a travesty, say NGOs, activists

Need for change

Siti Nur Fitriah says she is ‘addicted’ to helping people. Photo: Unicef Malaysia

Siti Nur Fitriah Zaid, 28, a social worker from Yayasan Chow Kit, is passionate about her job, describing herself as “addicted” to helping people.

“It brings me joy seeing proper closure in the cases I handle. That sense of satisfaction keeps me motivated,” she says.

But she adds it’s far from a typical 9-to-5 job.

“Sometimes, we work late into the night, answering distress calls and rushing to the scene.”

She has handled cases where individuals were on the verge of suicide, requiring immediate intervention.

One challenge is assisting young clients with incomplete documentation due to delayed birth registration.

“We help them submit forms to the National Registration Department, but it can take years to resolve.”

She is currently managing nine – including child abuse and medical aid – cases, and she admits the pay doesn’t commensurate with the effort.

“But I persevere because I’m passionate about my job.”

She hopes the Malaysian government will introduce regulations to support social workers.

“In other countries, social work is a regulated profession. If you’re unwell, you see a doctor. For social problems, you need a social worker,” she adds, stressing the need for change in Malaysia.

‘Social workers are the unsung heroes on the frontlines of child protection’, says Blume.Unicef Malaysia chief of child protection Saskia Blume says now is the time for Malaysia to push for reform and increase its investment in child protection.

“A key step is the tabling of the long-awaited Social Work Profession Bill. With Malaysia set to chair Asean in 2025, the country’s leadership will be in the spotlight, especially in the area of strengthening the social service workforce through new laws, policies and strategies,” says Blume.

She cites the 2020 Hanoi Declaration, which calls for stronger social work across the Asean.

Blume underscores the urgency for the tabling of the Social Work Professional Bill, noting that one in 20 children and one in 10 adults in Malaysia live with disabilities, and from 2020 to 2022, 18,750 child abuse cases were recorded (by the Social Welfare Department), and from Jan to Aug 2023, 24,346 distress calls were received (through the HEAL Line 15555).

“Social workers are the unsung heroes on the frontlines of child protection. Adequate funding is crucial to protect children and their families.

“The Bill isn’t just about professionalising social work. It’s about investing in the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens – children,” concludes Blume.