Third centre planned for Mersing to help older people stay active

MERSING is expected to have a new Activity Centre for Older Persons (PAWE) this year, which can cater to 50 senior citizens in a session.

Endau assemblyman Alwiyah Talib said that Mersing Welfare Department (JKM) and Mersing District Office were currently working on the paperwork.

“We currently have two PAWE centres in Taman Nakhoda and Tenggaroh.

“We hope to be able to open a new one either in Tanjung Resang or Tenglu.

“The paperwork is in the final phase, so we expect to submit it to Johor government by April.

“From there, we hope to be able to get an allocation to modify a building so that it can be turned into a PAWE.”

Alwiyah explained that she had decided to use space available within existing government buildings, rather than build a new centre, to save on cost and time.

“There are a few government facilities we have identified in Tanjung Resang and Tenglu that can be turned into a PAWE.

“But we hope to do it in Tanjung Resang, as Tenglu is close to Taman Nakhoda.

Alwiyah says utilising available buildings will save money, time.

“One of the activities that we already have in place is to teach senior citizens some farming skills, with the help of Johor Agriculture Department,” she said.

Alwiyah said Tanjung Resang was one of the oldest towns in Mersing district and had quite a number of elderly.

“Some are living alone without next of kin.

“There are also others who are living with their families but have no activities to keep them occupied.

“We hope that once the centre is open, we can offer a dedicated space that caters to the elderly,” she added.

Johor women, family and community development committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail said the plan was currently in the proposal stage.

“There are a few criteria that we must look at, such as the number of elderly people and whether they have an interest in taking part in community activities.

“The centre must also be located in a strategic place which can be easily accessed by the public.

“Most importantly, there has to be a non-governmental organisation or active community behind the initiative that can support activities and programmes for the elderly,” said Khairin-Nisa. — By REMAR NORDIN