MBKS proposed as pilot for Sarawak’s Healthy Ageing Communities project

KUCHING (Feb 3): The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has been proposed as a pilot local authority for the implementation of a Healthy Ageing Communities project as Sarawak prepares to reach aged state status by 2028.

State Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the pilot project was one of Sarawak’s key resolutions at the Sarawak International Conference on Ageing (SICA) last year, following projections that more than 15 per cent of Sarawak’s population will be senior citizens by 2028.

“We are proposing MBKS as a model local authority for the development of age-friendly cities and healthy ageing communities, covering financial, health, mobility, social and overall wellbeing aspects of senior citizens,” she said during the Chinese New Year Sejambak Kasih 2026 programme at the MBKS community hall here.

Fatimah added that MBKS was selected based on its strong track record as a pioneer of the Child Friendly City Initiative, later adopted by other major cities in Sarawak, as well as the successful implementation of projects such as the Autism Park.

“MBKS has the ecosystem, facilities and environment suitable to kickstart this pilot project. We want a healthy ageing community model that can be emulated across Sarawak,” she said.

With the proposed pilot project, MBKS has the potential to become Sarawak’s first model city for healthy ageing communities and position Kuching as a benchmark for age-friendly cities at the state level.

“The move is aligned with the Sarawak government’s aspiration to develop the state in an inclusive and sustainable manner, anchored on the wellbeing of the people alongside economic and infrastructure development,” she said.

At the same event, 150 recipients of monthly welfare assistance were presented with RM100 in cash and a food hamper worth RM80 in conjunction with this year’s Chinese New Year.

Overall, 2,729 Chinese recipients out of 10,883 monthly assistance recipients in the Kuching division are celebrating Chinese New Year this year, with all recipients receiving RM100 ang pow, including those who did not attend the event.

Fatimah reiterated that the Sejambak Kasih programme is an annual Sarawak government initiative also carried out in conjunction with other festive celebrations such as Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Gawai and Deepavali, symbolising social inclusivity and the principle that no one is left behind.

“The Sarawak government does not assist only one race or one festival, but all people regardless of background. This is the spirit of unity and social justice that we uphold,” she said.