By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 20: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has kicked off its first Age-Friendly City Workshop today as part of early preparations for the city’s transition into an aging society by 2028.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS), MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng sounded the alarm that Kuching South cannot afford to delay action.
“By 2028, Kuching South will officially become an aging city. This is not just a statistic, it will affect healthcare, transportation, housing and the way we design our public spaces.
“The way we prepare today will decide how our seniors live tomorrow. We cannot wait until 2028 to act,” he stressed in his speech.
He urged participants to bring forward bold and practical ideas for the formulation of a comprehensive Kuching South Aging Plan, reminding: “One day, all of us will grow old in this city, so this plan is for ourselves as much as it is for our parents and grandparents.”
The workshop brought together government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics, councillors and community leaders.
Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) Prof Ida Fatimawati Adi Badiozaman presented key findings on “Preparation for Ageing Sarawak: The Profile and Ageing Issues of Older Persons in Sarawak”, which highlighted health concerns, accessibility gaps in public infrastructure and the importance of social inclusion.
The session, chaired by MBKS Age-Friendly City Committee chairlady Judy Kho, also saw active engagement from councillors, senior officers and various stakeholders.
Kho said the workshop marked only the beginning of broader engagement efforts.
“We will continue to consult stakeholders and study best practices so that Kuching South can become a model age-friendly city for Sarawak and beyond,” she said.
Participants concluded the session by pledging support for continued collaboration to build age-friendly infrastructure, public services and community programmes that promote healthy and dignified ageing. — DayakDaily
