Community awareness is vital in shaping a more caring, understanding needs of senior citizens, says Teck Wan

KUCHING, May 2 2026: Community awareness is vital in shaping a more caring, understanding and responsible attitude toward the needs of the elderly, Political Secretary to Sarawak’s Premier Kho Teck Wan has emphasised.

Kho Teck Wan says that rising number of senior citizens also carries financial implications as the number of taxpayers decreases while healthcare costs continue to rise. 

She said acceptance and understanding of the changes experienced by the elderly will help foster a more compassionate and inclusive society.

“We need to understand that as they age, they require more attention and support.

“When there is awareness, we do not easily feel pressured, instead, we are better prepared to help,” she said at the senior citizen health awarenss programme: Age Well With Growing Resilience and Cognitive Empowerment (GRACE) at Tropics City Kuching today.

Representing Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian, Kho said Sarawak is expected to be among the first states to reach ageing society status in Malaysia, with rural areas experiencing faster ageing rates due to the migration of youth to cities.

She added that the rising number of senior citizens also carries financial implications as the number of taxpayers decreases while healthcare costs continue to rise.

In relation to this, she noted that the Sarawak government has implemented several initiatives, including the Kenyalang Gold Card (KGC), which offers discounts on daily necessities, pharmacy services, and health screenings.

Kho added the state  government has implemented the Senior Citizens Health Benefit (SCHB) scheme, providing an annual credit of RM500 to eligible individuals aged 60 and above to obtain basic treatment at private clinics and dental services.

She emphasised that the responsibility of caring for the elderly does not rest solely on the government but requires the involvement of the entire community.

Also in attendance was Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Wee Hong Seng.

Abang Johari's tight schedule in the United Kingdom

UNITED KINGDOM,  May 2 2026:  Premier Abang Johari Openg is leading an official working visit to Manchester and Bristol, United Kingdom (UK) as well as Dublin, Ireland from  May 2 and 5.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg arriving in United Kingdom for a five-day working visit 

His arrival with the delegation in Manchester at 1.15am Saturday local time is seen as a strategic mission to position Sarawak in the global value chain encompassing data centre infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, semiconductors and world-class talent development.

In Dublin, the premier is scheduled to visit the K2 Strategic Data Centre Campus including the DUB4 and DUB5 facilities which are among the important hubs of large-scale data centre operations in Europe.

In Manchester, he will participate in the Sarawak Agenda-Townhall with the premeir’s programme as a platform to strengthen networking with the Sarawak diaspora, in addition to attending the Lan Berambeh Anak Sarawak Dinner which continues to be a symbol of community unity abroad.

He is then scheduled to hold an engagement session with representatives of the Manchester Regional Government at the British Muslim Heritage Centre involving roundtable discussions and strategic networking sessions as well as the signing of a Letter of Collaboration (LoC) and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

In Bristol, Abang Johari is scheduled to attend an engagement session with SMD Semiconductor and the University of Bristol and deliver a keynote address at the event.

He will also witness the exchange of MoU documents between SMD Semiconductor and Bristol Research Group as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between SMD Semiconductor and the Sarawak Foundation.

The agenda continued with a visit to the National Composites Centre (NCC) and the Isambard-AI supercomputer facility which symbolises world-class research and innovation capabilities in the field of high-performance computing.

NCC is a world-class composites research and development centre in the UK with its main focus areas including composites, digital engineering and sustainability which brings together the best expertise and advanced technology to help solve the most complex engineering challenges globally.

Accompanying the premier's entourage were Sarawak State Secretary Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali and Sarawak Finance Secretary Wan Lizozman Wan Omar.

Welcoming the premier's arrival were the Chief Political Secretary to the the premier Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Director of the Sarawak Foundation Mohamad Junaidi Mohidin as well as Sarawak students and Sarawak Volunteers.