SEPANG: The RM7.15 million allocated by the government this year for the operation of 143 Senior Citizen Activity Centres (Pawe) reflects its commitment in serving senior citizens, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun.
She said that under Budget 2021, the government had raised the annual financial aid for each Pawe from RM33,330 to RM50,000 for it carry out programmes and activities in line with the concept of active and productive senior citizens.
“The government wants to ensure that the agenda towards healthy and active ageing continues to be implemented by taking into account Malaysia’s ageing status by 2030,” she said when officiating the annual operational financial assistance presentation ceremony and establishment of a new Pawe in the Central Zone here today.
There are currently 143 Pawes, involving 47,627 members, in 131 parliamentary constituencies in the country. They are run by non-governmental organisations through strategic cooperation with the ministry.
On the breakdown of the allocation, the 17 Pawes in Selangor are allocated RM850,000, RM550,000 for 11 Pawes in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and RM300,000 for six Pawes in Negeri Sembilan.
For this year, Rina said the Social and Welfare Department was allocated RM2 million for the setting up of 20 new Pawes.
The ministry, she said, was also in the process of drafting a Bill especially for senior citizen, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year.
The ministry is also developing a National Senior Citizen System (System e-Wen) to meet the need for an information and integrated data system on senior citizens, she said, adding that the government had also increased the aid for poor and needy senior citizens from RM350 to RM500 monthly.
At the event, a briefing on the national Covid-19 immunisation programme was also held and it was attended by about 120 senior citizens. – Bernama
