The Sungai Tua senior citizens activity centre or Pawe is located in Taman Gombak Permai. — Photos: RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) is the first local authority to have a senior citizens activity centre (Pawe) under its purview.
The centre looks set to become a popular place for those over 60, as some 170 registrations were recorded during its soft launch.
Centre facilities include a games area with carrom tables and board games, a lounge with two pay-per-use massage chairs, classroom, surau, kitchen and disabled-friendly toilets.
At the event, MPS president Shahman Jalaludin said construction started in February last year.
It occupies 0.58ha of government land and has a built-up area of 4,387sq ft.
Pawe Sungai Tua is located at Jalan Laksamana 2, Taman Gombak Permai in Selangor.
The building design is based on a modern tropical concept and is a collaborative effort between RBA Akitek and RHM Usahawan Berjaya, a contractor appointed by MPS.
Based on sustainable design standards, the centre is equipped with solar and rain-harvesting systems.
In order to be energy efficient, the building is also designed to allow in plenty of natural light and fresh air.
The centre, which has a capacity for 150 people, will be managed by the MPS Community Development Department and is the result of a strategic partnership between MPS and Rexpoint Resources Sdn Bhd.
The Gombak Welfare Department is also involved in the project.
Various free activities covering health, social, economical and spiritual aspects will be carried out at the centre.
Although walk-ins are welcome, visitors are encouraged to register so that they can be included in invitations to upcoming events and programmes.
The centre is open from 9am to noon on weekdays for registration and is estimated to be operational by next January.
There are 150 Pawes nationwide, of which 18 are in Selangor.
The majority of them are run by the Welfare Department.
Pawe, formerly known as old folk’s daycare centres, were established by the government in 2002.
Amirudin (second left) greeting guests playing carrom at the Pawe soft launch.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who was guest of honour at the Sungai Tua Pawe soft launch, said the centre was timely as Malaysia was demographically shifting towards an increasingly ageing population.
“In 2008, the typical lifespan was 68 years but the latest figures from the Statistics Department show it has risen to 78 years, an increase of 10 years.
“This is a good sign as it shows that we have improved where healthcare facilities, education and awareness are concerned.
“In line with this, facilities for the elderly are necessary so that they can engage in healthy activities,” he said.
Amirudin said a holistic approach for public facilities, infrastructure and development policies regarding the needs of the elderly would be discussed during the state executive councillors’ retreat.
He said caring for the elderly is under the purview of Selangor women development and social welfare committee chairman Anfaal Saari.
“Local councils will also have to conduct studies on how to create a complete ecosystem that will cover the medical and basic needs of the elderly, especially in terms of equipment and facilities.
“We used to do this for kindergartens. Now we will have to do the same for Pawe,” he said.
Visitors trying the pay-per-use massage chairs.
Expressing his own hopes on how he would like to spend his retirement years, Amirudin, who is a father of six, said that in addition to making up for lost time with his children, he was looking forward to playing with his grandchildren, tending to his farm and spending more time at the mosque.
“I also want to remain close to and be surrounded by my community. It’s not nice to live alone,” he said.
The Pawe Sungai Tua soft launch was carried out in tandem with the groundbreaking ceremony of Kompleks Islam Wira Damai across the road.
A project by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), the complex is expected to be completed by 2027 and will be able to cater to 2,700 people.
During the event, PNSB chief executive officer Raja Ahmad Shahrir Iskandar Raja Salim also presented a mock cheque of RM20,000 to Pawe Sungai Tua for the purchase of equipment.
