MALAYSIA is stepping up its preparations to become an ageing nation by 2030, with 190 registered Activity Centres for Older Persons (PAWE) now operating actively across the country under the Social Welfare Department.
Social Welfare Department director-general Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan said each PAWE centre receives RM50,000 annually from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) to run its activities, which aim to support the well-being of the elderly through health and social programmes.
“The members in PAWE include former government officers, private sector employees and members of the public who will create more ideas and turn the centres into an attractive programme as they become places to gather,” Bernama cited him saying during the opening of a PAWE centre in Kampung Benoni, Sabah, officiated by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is also MP for Papar.
He explained that the centres offer a range of initiatives such as health checks, fitness sessions tailored to seniors, and intergenerational activities involving youth, who have the opportunity to learn traditional skills like handicrafts.
“With intergenerational activities in PAWE, youth in each area can learn certain skills that have various traditional and cultural values,” he added.
Che Murad Sayang also announced the introduction of the PAWE@3A initiative — short for Any Where, Any Place, Any Time — which aims to reach older individuals through mobile and community-based programmes. These activities do not require a fixed building and are carried out in collaboration with government bodies, NGOs and local communities.
Sabah currently hosts 23 PAWE centres with a combined membership of 6,471. Two more are expected to open in Kota Belud and Pantai Dalit by October.
Kampung Benoni PAWE chairman Pg Abdul Halim Pg Rambang, 71, a retired teacher, shared that their centre has attracted 155 members since it began operations in November last year. “We are very grateful for the PAWE building located near Assalam Benoni Jamek Mosque,” he said, adding that their activities have included educational seminars.
Meanwhile, KPWKM deputy secretary-general (operations) Farah Adura Hamidi highlighted that the ministry's ‘Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025’ initiative, currently being held in Sabah for the first time, aims to bring government services to rural communities. As part of this outreach, mobile buses have been introduced to serve as Local Social Support Centres.
“The facility, which includes buses and trucks, will be left to the Sabah State Welfare Foundation to be used for communities in the state continuously,” she said, noting that the mobile units will improve access to expert support, particularly in health-related matters. - May 18, 2025
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