Care is the invisible infrastructure that holds Malaysia together — from cradle to grave.

Today, at the launch of the RECARE Report, I reminded us of a simple truth: our care workers carried this nation through COVID-19, and they remain the backbone of our families, communities, economy, and future.

As Malaysia ages and AI reshapes the world, we must stop treating care as charity. It is essential national work—deserving of real protections, fair wages, disaster-readiness, and sustained public investment.

Unpaid care in Malaysia is worth RM379 billion, the care & silver economy is a US$25.5 billion opportunity, and just a 5% increase in public investment could create 1.3 million jobs. The moral case is clear — and so is the economic one.

My call is simple: let us build a humane, human economy. Recognise all care workers as Essential Workers. Reform the laws. Protect their dignity. And finally care for those who have always cared for us.

Because no machine can replace empathy.

No algorithm can replace compassion.

And no nation can rise without those who hold its people together.

This video was originally posted on Facebook by YB Howard Lee.