SIBU: A total of 132 senior citizens were revered and presented with gifts at the Grand Height Community Association (GHCA)’s lunar new year dinner reception held at Sibu Foochow association’s hall on Jalan Salim here on Saturday.
The event was graced by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing who was represented by his special function officer, Agatha Ting Li Nee, while Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, Alice Lau Kiong Yieng was represented by her private secretary, Stanley Chiew.
In his welcoming speech at the occasion, GHCA chairman, Ting Swee Nguong said the association annually held a respect for the elderly event during the Lunar New Year.
He hoped the seniors will continue to maintain a cheerful attitude, and continue to play the role they should play in society.
In addition to relying on the care of their children, he asserted that the elderly should also take care of each other and find places and spaces suitable for them to carry out activities so that they can live a more fulfilling and healthier life.
He said they should not be a burden to their family and society for after all, a healthy body, mind and spirit is the greatest wealth.
Pointing out that filial piety and respect for the elderly are traditional virtues of the Chinese, he stated that through teaching and promotion, people’s awareness of respecting the elderly has gradually increased.
He noted that there are also increasingly more welfare benefits that care about the physical, mental and spiritual health of the elderly, such as the Kenyalang Gold Card, medical assistance, etc.
“So the elders living in this era are more blessed. With the change of the times, the structure of society and family is gradually changing. I found this phenomenon is not very healthy. The number of elders has increased, but the number of young people has decreased.
“In the last century, like the elders present here, we all had a big family, and each family basically had more than six or seven siblings. Later, the family members gradually decreased to two or three siblings. Now there are only one or two children left in the family.
“Now the family lacks a communication platform due to the reduction of members, and with a lot of reliance on television, computers and mobile phones, today’s children have become withdrawn and lack the skills to communicate with others.
“Everyone must arrange time to communicate with their children. To ensure that children can integrate into society when they grow up and become healthy and useful people,” he further stated.
Meanwhile, Tiong’s speech relayed by Agatha, highlighted Sibu as always being known as “multi-cultural harmony and integration.”
When it comes to the Spring Festival, he said Sibu is undoubtedly one of the places with the strongest new year atmosphere in Malaysia.
During the festival, whether they are abroad or local villagers, he noted that they all return to this hometown to reunite with their families, visit relatives and friends, and express New Year’s blessings to each other.
He stressed that the event brings together the people in the Grand Height residential area, allowing everyone to feel the strong nostalgia and New Year atmosphere, including respect for the elderly, reflecting respect and gratitude for the elders, and also reminding them to always remember it.
“The traditional virtue of filial piety and respecting the elderly, respecting and loving elders is our responsibility and an important foundation for family harmony and social harmony.
“The association has long made outstanding contributions to the community, and has enriched our cultural life by organising various types of activities. I believe that in the future, this spirit will continue to be carried forward and make greater contributions to the community construction of the Grand Height residential area and even the entire Sibu.
“Therefore, I encourage the members of the association to uphold the spirit of unity, actively participate in activities to promote community development, and promote interactive communication among residents,” Tiong added.
