KUCHING, Sept 21: Bintulu will be hosting this year’s State-level Senior Citizen Day celebration on Oct 1 which will see some 3,000 senior citizens from 12 divisions across Sarawak simultaneously partake in the ‘We United In Health’ mass aerobic workout for an attempt at entering the Malaysia Book of Records.
Organised by the Welfare Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sport Bintulu branch, the celebration themed ‘Resilience and Contribution of Golden Age’ will be held at Naim Bintulu Paragon Street Mall.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said that the participants involved in the mass aerobic workout comprised those from Senior Citizen Activities Centre (PAWE) and Senior Citizen Service Centre (PPWE) throughout Sarawak.
“The celebration this year hopes to raise awareness about the preparation for the challenges of an aging nation which the country will face,” she said in a statement today.
Various interesting activities and meaningful programmes have also been planned to enliven the celebration, including a tree planting programme across the 12 divisions in support of the government’s initiative to go green.
Other activities include community sports, Senior Got Talent show, and an exhibition where agencies and institutions under the Welfare Department will set up booths to promote their services and products.
In addition, senior citizens who have yet to apply for the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) can also do so at the event.
Fatimah said as of August 2022, a total of 310,296 applications for KGC have been received, of which 225,668 cards have been printed and 217,754 cards have been distributed throughout Sarawak.
“Compassionate assistance (RM3,000) which is one of the benefits of KGC has also successfully helped a total of 9,637 beneficiaries of cardholders with a total expenditure of RM28.9 million so far,” she added.
Sarawak Welfare Department director Noriah Ahmad was also present at the event. — DayakDaily
