20 NEW PAWE PLANNED NATIONWIDE THIS YEAR - WELFARE DEPT DG

NIBONG TEBAL, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- The government plans to establish up to 20 new Senior Citizens Activity Centres (PAWE) nationwide this year to strengthen community support systems for the elderly.

Social Welfare Department (JKM) director-general Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan said each PAWE established would receive an annual grant of RM50,000 to implement programmes and cover operating costs.

“To date, there are 217 PAWE nationwide with nearly 49,000 active members, clearly demonstrating the need and importance of such community centres for senior citizens to carry out various activities.

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“There is a plan to add up to 20 new PAWE this year, subject to available allocations. Each PAWE receives RM50,000, so we will look at the funds available and determine how many additional centres can be established this year,” he told reporters here today.

He said this after the Semarak Sejahtera Warga Emas PAWE programme at Jalan Sungai Acheh here, which was officiated by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, who is also the Nibong Tebal Member of Parliament.

Che Murad Sayang said the centres serve as premises for senior citizens to carry out daily community-based activities focused on social outreach and developmental aspects for the elderly, involving strategic and multi-sectoral collaboration.

He said PAWE concept provides facilities for senior citizens to engage in activities with the community, emphasising community-based, intergenerational and interactive programme elements.

“The objectives of PAWE include diversifying and expanding facilities for the well-being and development of the elderly, improving their quality of life in line with the active and productive senior citizen concept, as well as appreciating them through the sharing of their experience and expertise,” he said.

According to him, emphasis is also placed on the implementation of intergenerational PAWE programmes aimed at connecting senior citizens with the younger generation through the transfer of knowledge, skills and cultural heritage.

Such intergenerational programmes could potentially help generate income for senior citizens through the production and sale of products such as handicrafts and traditional food, while strengthening social bonds across different segments of society, he said.

“Senior citizens possess valuable knowledge and expertise. If these are not shared with the younger generation, the knowledge will simply be lost. Through intergenerational PAWE programmes, we encourage activities such as traditional handicrafts, daily living skills and the preparation of heritage food so that these can be passed on,” he said.

Che Murad Sayang said the department has also initiated the PAWE Anytime, Anywhere, Any Place (PAWE 3A) concept to assist communities without dedicated premises, ensuring that senior citizens’ activities can continue through collaboration with mosques, surau or other community facilities.

“Sometimes there are communities who said they do not have premises to operate (PAWE). Therefore, we introduced the PAWE 3A concept and provide a grant of RM20,000 so they can focus on social outreach and the development of senior citizens together with the local community,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Sungai Acheh area has been selected as a Kampung Angkat MADANI (MADANI adopted village) under his department this year, with various programmes to be implemented there throughout the year.

-- BERNAMA