By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 13: There is a need to establish a senior citizens activity centre (PAWE) in each district as Sarawak moves towards being an ageing population by 2030.
Community Wellbeing Development Assistant Minister Mohamad Razi Sitam said there are 13 existing PAWEs across the State.
“To cater for an ageing society, we have come up with a proposal to establish an additional 32 more PAWEs so that we can provide better accessibility and facilities for our elderly in each district.
“We will present this proposal to Women, Childhood and Community Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah by tomorrow evening,” he said.
He said this at a press conference after officiating at the 2022 Sarawak Senior Citizens Action Plan Empowerment Workshop held at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre today.
A total of 22 agencies and departments were involved in this workshop, including JKMS, Resident Office, Sarawak Education Department, Community Development Department (Kemas), and Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE), to name a few.
Razi, however, reminded that the proposal was just part of the 216 ideas generated from the workshop.
The establishment of more activity centres for the senior citizens can only be materialised pending the Ministry’s approval and the local community’s endorsement to have such facility in their area.
Based on the 2021 statistics from the Ministry, there are about 345,000 senior citizens in Sarawak.
Also present were the ministry’s permanent secretary Dr Rashidah Bolhassan, Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) director Noriah Ahmad, deputy director Mohamad Ali Taib and the workshop facilitator Mohd Ariff Adzohari. — DayakDaily
