Dr Soon: Retirees in need of more recreational facilities

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SIBU: The lack of leisure and recreational facilities here has forced retirees to turn to `kopitiams’ (coffee shops) to interact with friends.

Speaking at Sibu Chiang Chuan Association’s `Senior Citizen Night’ on Saturday, former Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Soon Choon Teck said although it was not a bad idea to meet regularly over a cup of coffee, it remained something worth pondering vis-à-vis community building.

SOCIAL INTERACTION: Dr Soon (second right) with some Hokkien clan members.

“In cities in China and Singapore, recreational facilities are well built. In Singapore, a high-rise apartment might each have its own recreational centre for retirees. In China, aged people gather in parks for morning and evening tai chi sessions, calligraphic writing, folk dancing, Chinese chess and many other leisure activities.”

Dr Soon, who is also the association’s advisor, said although it was good to keep up with the kopitiam culture, “but, I hope retirees will do something more.

“Learn from what young people are doing in coffee shops. With advanced technology, youths are fiddling with smart phones and ipads in kopitiam too. They go online and network with people worldwide through social networking.”

He said this was something retirees should learn about the information superhighway to keep themselves updated.

“Many older folks told me they use their handphones just for receiving and making calls; some don’t know how to send SMS texts.”

He said Sibu Chiang Chuan Association had in the past been hosting computer courses for children.

“Consider such classes for the retirees too. They need to keep ahead as well.”

Dr Soon said keeping abreast socially and physically was something very important.

“The life span for women in Malaysia has increased to 76 and for men 72. In 1900, the average life span was 50. This has come from medical advancements and better health knowledge of people in the modern time.”

He said it was not surprising these days for people to live up to over 100 years old.

“Therefore, we must focus on providing better facilities and services for this group of people. This is the lifestyle trend worldwide today.”

Meanwhile, Chiang Chuan association chairman Chua Then Sian paid tribute to the elders, saying they had played important social and economic roles in helping to build Sibu.

“They brought about harmony by working with the others and took Sibu to greater heights of development. The prosperity we enjoy today was sown by them decades ago.”

Organising chairwoman Chua Siew Kee, on the other hand, urged senior citizens to always think positively in order to stay happy.

“There are two sides to a coin for every happening. To stay happy and optimistic will ensure a better life quality. Always look at the lighter side of life.”

Sibu Chiang Chuan Association is a social organisation meant for people of the Hokkien Clan.