KUALA LUMPUR – The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry aims to set up more senior citizen activity centres in parliamentary constituencies that do not have one yet.
Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the move was to enable more senior citizens across the country to have access to facilities to carry out activities or programmes at the community level, thus ensuring that the group remains active and productive.
“Currently, there are 161 centres in 146 parliamentary constituencies across the country, which are used by more than 52,000 senior citizens.
“The approval of the establishment of a centre is based on five main criteria, namely location, elderly population, driving community, premises, and the support of the Social Welfare Department in the district and state,” she said, when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Meanwhile, Nancy said that the ministry is of the view that the role played by the National Senior Citizens Advisory and Consultative Council is sufficient thus far.
She said that the council, established under the National Policy for Older Persons and the Action Plan for Older Persons, comprised representatives of relevant ministries, private parties, non-governmental organisations, geriatric experts, and academics who specialise in the senior citizen field.
“The implementation of the policy and action plan is a regular agenda item in council meetings, held twice a year and chaired by myself as the minister responsible for welfare affairs.
“The policy and action plan are a strong government commitment to create independent, dignified, and respected senior citizens, by optimising their potential through healthy, positive, active, productive, and supportive ageing,” she said. – Bernama, March 9, 2023
