KUCHING: Sarawak’s expected transition into an ageing state calls for greater preparation beyond infrastructure, with more community activities and age-friendly measures.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the council is working to create more events and improve facilities for the elderly as the ageing population continued to grow.
He said MBKS has introduced dedicated parking spaces for senior citizens at markets and plans to extend the provision to shopping malls and other public areas.
“If you go to the markets now, you will see that two additional parking spaces for the elderly have already been provided.
“We hope other users will make sure that if they are not of that age, they leave those spaces for the elderly,” he told reporters after officiating the fourth edition of the Cheongsam Cultural Festival 2026 at Kuching Community Hall here today (Sept 20).
Wee added that MBKS is also looking at measures to make parking more accessible, including a proposal to waive parking fees for vehicles using OKU parking spaces.
“Another thing we will be doing soon is to appeal for OKU parking users to have their parking fees waived. We will put this forward for adoption by Full Council before submitting it to the Minister for approval. These are some of the things we are trying our best to do,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said MBKS had registered 1,500 senior citizens for its Grocery Voucher Programme in conjunction with the coming Mooncake Festival.
Under the programme, each senior citizen receives RM30 in grocery vouchers to purchase daily necessities at participating MBKS markets.
“We chose our markets because, besides helping with daily needs, we also want to encourage our senior citizens to come out, meet people and support our local hawkers and traders,” he said.
He added MBKS markets and hawker centres also provide tables specially allocated for senior citizens.
“These are practical things. They may seem small, but they can make daily life more convenient,” he added.
He also said there is still more for MBKS to improve and urged senior citizens to provide feedback on the facilities and services they use.
“MBKS wants to work together with you. Tell us what you need. Tell us what we can improve.
“We need to hear directly from our senior citizens because you are the ones using these facilities every day,” he stressed.
