THE Ministry for Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development has been allocated RM1.4 million to conduct research on Preparation for an Ageing Nation: The Profile and Ageing Issues Affecting the Elderly in Sarawak.
Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the ministry is currently looking into effective policies and good practices by Singapore for healthy, active, productive and positive ageing.
“This includes looking at their intergenerational approaches as well as evidence-based activities and programmes for their elderly that could be adapted to Sarawak,” she said when winding up the debates on her ministry yesterday (May 23).
Touching on the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC) initiative, Fatimah said the ministry has received 2,285 applications manually and another 1,954 online as of April this year.
She encouraged the public to register for SarawakID as there are currently more than 60 government online services including iSarawakCare accessible through the platform.
“Although the ministry has embarked on online KGC application through iSarawakCare since last September, all welfare offices including those in Pejabat Kebajikan Masyarakat Bahagian (PKMB) Kuching still accept manual application.
“In fact, PKMB Kuching do provide counter services to assist applicants applying online,” she said.
To date, there are approximately 253,535 senior citizens who are KGC holders.
