Fatimah says her ministry introducing programmes to take care of ageing populace

DALAT (Aug 12): The ageing phenomenon in Sarawak is one of the 14 social issues being addressed by the Social Development Council (MPS), said Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.

She said Malaysia is anticipated to embrace the status of an ageing nation by 2030, with projections suggesting that 15 per cent of its populace will be aged 60 and above.

“Sarawak has borne witness to a marked reduction in live births, with the figures dropping by half in 2021 and 2022, in contrast to the annual average of approximately 40,000 births in preceding years.

“Consequently, Sarawak is undergoing the process of ageing, a phenomenon that will manifest in 2028, earlier than the national trend.

“Estimates suggest that by 2028, about 15 per cent of Sarawak’s population will be aged 60 and above,” said Fatimah.

She was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Senior Citizens Community Empowerment Programme: Hands-On Digital Literacy Workshop at Dalat District Welfare Complex today.

According to her, to enhance the well-being of the elderly, her ministry plans and implements various targeted programmes and activities involving five dimensions of ageing; namely positive, active, productive, healthy and supportive.

She, therefore, congratulated the participants of the digital literacy workshop in Dalat for their active involvement in the programme.

“We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to gain digital knowledge and skills related to online services shared by SPay Global this morning.

“Hopefully, the knowledge and skills acquired through this programme will be beneficial and facilitate digital financial transactions and a cashless society among the elderly in Dalat,” said Fatimah.

The digital literacy workshop was conducted by Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak and Foundation Rolf Schnyder (FRS) under their Digital Technologies Seniors Programme (DSTP).