Dr Abdul Rahman (right) presenting a contribution to a senior citizen in Serian yesterday.
SERIAN: The Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Ministry aspires to establish Senior Citizens’ Service Centres and Senior Citizens’ Activity Centres in each state constituency.
Assistant Minister of Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said presently, a total of 22 Senior Citizens’ Service Centres and Senior Citizens’ Activity Centres have been established throughout the state with a membership of around 35,000.
However, he said such programmes will be expanded from time to time to all the state constituencies depending on the requests from the senior citizen community in that particular area.
“The aim of Senior Citizens’ Service Centres and Senior Citizens’ Activity Centres is to provide opportunities to our senior citizen community and the public to be directly involved in programmes or activities that are beneficial to the local residents.
“Such programmes are also intended to encourage the younger generation and senior citizens to interact by getting involved, especially in volunteer works,” Dr Abdul Rahman said when officiating at the closing of ‘Program Komuniti Prihatin Warga Emas Harmoni’ at Kampung Hulu Serian Community Hall here yesterday.
He explained that community-based programmes are also organised to ensure that senior citizens continue to stay relevant, respected and appreciated by the community, especially among the younger generation.
“The government aims to nurture a community that is inclusive as well as concerned towards not only senior citizens but also other target groups.
“We must treat senior citizens as an important asset in the community who can contribute to the country and not as a burden to the community.”
Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Rahman also said the state government, through his ministry, is also providing assistance for senior citizens amounting to RM300 per month to assist them in meeting their basic needs as well as support the wellbeing of senior citizens who are poor, sick and have no fixed source of income.
The scheme, he said, has benefited more than 22,528 recipients throughout the state with an allocation of RM13.5 million as of February this year.
“At the same time, they are also entitled to receive other assistance, such as support equipment and business launch grants if they are interested in involving themselves in small-scale business.
“This shows that the government is very concerned and aware of the development and needs of our senior citizens, especially in the aspect of providing a quality social support system such as protection, care, health and survival that are capable of ensuring the wellbeing of senior citizens.”
Earlier, Dr Abdul Rahman also took the opportunity to visit the homes of three senior citizens at Kampung Munggu Limo and Kampung Hulu Serian and presented various assistance to them.
Among those present at the event was state Welfare Department director Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji.