THE state government is allocating RM53 million for next year’s i-Sejahtera programme of which most of the beneficiaries will be none other than its senior citizens, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Speaking at the 40th-anniversary celebrations of the Senior Citizens Association Penang at Lot33 Prangin Mall today, he said he saluted those who are ageing actively and graciously.
“The state government has plans for our warga emas as they approach their twilight years. All of them can be rest assured that they will be well taken care of, if not by their family members, then at least by the state government through our age-friendly policies.
“In fact, we have been making consistent efforts in advocating the importance of active ageing for the past few years. The Penang government, in collaboration with the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) through the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), is working continuously on this cause,” Chow said in his speech.
He said the fact that elderly care homes are mushrooming all over the state indicates that our life span is getting longer, and we are becoming an ageing society.
Like it or not, Chow added that this is the trend in Malaysia and also globally, especially for developing countries.
“Hence, what we are doing is important because it brings in the possibilities of positively transforming our current and future social development values.
“We have to be ready with a well-trained and well-informed healthcare system so that we can understand what being a true caregiver means. For this to happen, we need to bridge the inter-generational gaps effectively.
“We begin by instilling positive values in our younger generation to respect, support and provide better care for the elderly population. This way, they will also be helping themselves in their own journey towards becoming a productive senior citizen in the future. We all need to be prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” Chow said.
He also congratulated SCA president Katherine Ong and her management committee for having successfully run the SCA for the past years and ensuring the Penang warga emas have a place to go and spend their leisure time with their elderly friends and others.
Noting that some of the SCA members have just crossed the threshold to officially become warga emas and most of them present are in their 70s, 80s and even 90s, Chow wished them all good health and live life to the fullest in the greener and friendlier beloved state of Penang.
Also present were Chong Eng, the state exco for Social Development and non-Islamic Religious Affairs, Senior Citizens Association Penang (SCA) trustees Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff and Yeoh Ghee Tin, SCA legal adviser Khoo Gaik Yee and SCA medical adviser Dr Prabu Ramasamy.
Chong Eng said it was important for the young and old to pick up a hobby that would occupy their time meaningfully.
“I’m happy to see a number of these senior citizens active in dancing.
“Having a hobby will keep their mind active and hence slow down the ageing process. Boredom can kill,” she said.
According to Ong, SCA will always be on hand to assist the retirees of society as they make the transition from being active participants in the workforce to facing a new beginning and not feeling they are being put out to pasture.
“There are still challenges to encounter that can make their life meaningful and fulfilled,” Ong said.
She added that although Covid-19 hampered their activities for almost three years, the association managed to add 100 new members since the association occupied the new premises at 120A, Jalan Scotland. This has brought the total membership to about 800.
As a show of appreciation for their steadfast support and devotion, Chow, on behalf of SCA, presented ang pows to those aged from 60 to 90 and above.
SCA also invited children from the Children Protection Society and Pusat Kanak Kanak Cacat, and the seniors from Persatuan Penyayang Warga Tua.
Ong also appealed to members to give generously to the association, which has planned to hold its annual traditional ‘Yee Sang’ dinner during the Chinese New Year.
It was a lively celebration after the three-piece band could not have picked a more apt song, The Young Ones, to kick off the night celebration.
From then on, SCA members let their hair down, taking part in line dancing, Latin dance, Nyonya dance and rock-and-roll dance.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud