Kuala Lampur, May 5 -- As Malaysia ages, the question of elderly care is becoming more urgent. But the issue is not only legal or financial. It is also deeply psychological. Filial piety is often understood as duty: children should care for ageing parents. But care is not produced by duty alone. It is shaped by attachment, empathy, family history, emotional capacity and the support available to the caregiver. In many Asian societies, including Malaysia, filial piety carries strong cultural expectations.

Children are expected to repay parental sacrifice, provide emotional support, contribute financially and remain present when parents grow old. These expectations are deeply embedded in social norms, religion and upbringing. They serve an ...