Rep to raise request of senior citizens
The Samarahan Senior Citizens Service Centre’s ( PPWES) request for a building and product collection centre will be raised at divisional government meetings.
Sadong Jaya assemblyman Aidel Lariwoo said the requests are valid as the senior citizens have sacrificed and contributed much to society.
He said PPWES would hopefully be allowed to convert abandoned or unused buildings to fulfil their needs.
“As a civilised society we must appreciate and acknowledge the roles, sacrifices and contributions to community development and nationbuilding. Therefore I think PPWES’ requests for a building of their own is justified. I will raise this matter at our divisional meetings to come,” he said when representing Muara Tuang assemblyman Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Mahmud at the PPWES dinner in conjunction with the Samarahan-level Senior Citizens Day on Tuesday.
Aidel also agreed that senior citizens should be allowed to continue improving their household income through cottage industries and village trade.
PPWES chairperson Salbiah Emon said the association was set up in 2012 and now has almost 6,000 members.
They have held various activities including gotong-royong, visiting and helping the needy and hardcore poor as well as a study tour to Kuching.
She said there is an urgent need for senior citizens to improve their livelihood and called on the various government agencies to assist them.
Planned projects include planting vegetables and rearing livestock in the compounds of their village houses, she said adding that a collection centre for their products would be a great help.
The dinner was also a farewell party for outgoing Welfare Department Samarahan assistant director Norhayati Abdul Rahman, who will be transferred to Sibu.
Among those present were Welfare Department state director Abang Shamsuddin Abang Seruji; new Welfare Department Samarahan assistant director Hadiah Ramli; and Welfare Department Senior Citizen Division head Zulkifli Ismail.