Sarawak Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah (second right) with Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park director Nanthini Elamgovan (second left) during the visit to the park in Singapore.
KUCHING: Sarawak is keen to learn from Singapore's intergenerational support systems and best practices to care for the state's ageing community.
State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said Singapore's experience could be adapted into Sarawak's delivery services for the wellbeing, happiness and quality of life for the aged.
"Sarawak will be an ageing region by 2028, with 16% of the total population of 2.8 million expected to be aged 60 and above," she said in a statement issued from Singapore on Tuesday (Feb 28).
Fatimah is leading a delegation from her ministry on an official visit to Singapore from Feb 27 to March 1 to learn about new initiatives, interventions and policies for the aged and disadvantaged groups in society.
This will provide input for Sarawak's blueprint for an ageing society by 2028.
Fatimah said social inclusivity was one of the state's seven strategic thrusts to accelerate economic growth by providing high living standards with affordable and innovative service delivery for Sarawakians.
"Continuous efforts are needed to prepare our community to be future-ready," she said.
During the visit, Fatimah's delegation paid a courtesy call to Singapore's Social and Family Development Ministry, where they discussed the ministry's policies, community infrastructure and services with its second deputy secretary Esa Massood.
They also visited the International Longevity Centre, which promotes the wellbeing of older people; Kampung Admiralty, a prototype for meeting the needs of Singapore's ageing population with public facilities and services under one roof; Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, an integrated urban park for the elderly and special needs groups; and the Centre of Ageing Research and Education at the Duke-NUS Medical School.
In addition, Fatimah and her team visited the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Singapore, where a one-stop collection centre will be set up for products made by Sarawak's women entrepreneurs.
