Rumah Seri Kenangan Sibu.
SIBU: Rumah Seri Kenangan Sibu at Mile 13, Jalan Ulu Oya, will be rebuilt at a cost of over RM20 million to provide a bigger, more comfortable and conducive living environment for elderly residents.
Sarawak Welfare director Abang Shamshudin Abang Seruji, who disclosed this, said the project funded by the state government was expected to be completed by 2018 or early 2019.
“Presently it is at the design stage with arrangements being made to temporarily house residents in Seri Kenangan Kuching and the Children’s Home in Sri Aman.
“We are preparing these two places to settle them when construction gets underway. We expect to move them there this October,” Abang Shamshudin told reporters after officiating at a mini carnival for UMK 2016 (central region) in the lobby of Wisma Sanyan here yesterday. It started on July 29 and ends today.
Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, who is also Dudong assemblyman, officiated at the function.
Abang Shamshudin said the completed facility would be able to accommodate about 100 residents. It would be equipped with a better kitchen and hall among others.
“We want a more friendly design for the elderly. It was built years ago and we decided to make it bigger and better to accommodate people from the central region and elderly residents of Rumah Seri Kenangan.”
He said the home was to be a last resort as it was preferable for the elderly to reside with their own families.
Earlier Tiong said this was the third carnival after those held in the northern and southern zones.
He described as a ‘good initiative’ the Welfare Department’s effort to gather entrepreneurs to promote their products at this carnival.
“This will enable welfare entrepreneurs to succeed in their businesses without depending on welfare assistance.”
Tiong said entrepreneurs were fortunate as Sibu – gateway to the central region – was an attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists so they should seize the opportunity to promote their products and services.