Bandar Kuching parliamentary office placing high priority on welfare of elderly this year

KUCHING: This year, Bandar Kuching parliamentary office places high priority on the welfare of the elderly.

Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Dr Kelvin Yii said he would work with nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) that have a good track record in caring for the welfare of the people.

As an example, he said Hun Nam Siang Tng would continue to be assisted in terms of grant allocations.

“Today, I am allocating RM10,000 as a start-up to Hun Nam Siang Tng, founded 63 years ago, as it has a good record of caring for the elderly.

“Keeping the welfare of the elderly is the main focus of my parliament office for this year and for now, we are in talks with several NGOs for that purpose,” he said when met by the media at the handing-over of Chinese New Year contributions to 35 residents of Hun Nam Siang Tng here recently.

Dr Yii also said statistics showed that senior citizens aged 60 and above constituted 10.3 per cent of Malaysia’s population in 2019.

“While older people 65 and above are eight per cent. In fact, these statistics are close to Kuching’s. By 2030, the composition is expected to increase to 15.3 per cent.

“According to World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, if senior citizens are over 15 per cent, the country is considered an aging society,” he said.

On the event, Dr Yii said the objective was to lighten and ease the burden of the elderly during the Chinese New Year festivity besides fostering relationships with people from all walks of life and fostering respect for the elderly.