5.) V. A Proposal for an Old Age Monthly Allowance

V. A Proposal for an Old Age Monthly Allowance

With the RM 2 billion a year, we can also contemplate social welfare for our poor and elderly.

The average person works from about 18 years till about 60 years of age, each in his/her own way toiling and contributing to our community, state and nation. By their 7th decade, many would have been weakened by sickness or infirmity and would not be able to further apply themselves to gainful work. Thus, it is societal responsibility, it is Government responsibility to repay and look after them in their twilight years.

The young parents of today face formidable pressure in providing for the upkeep of their own nuclear family, what with the ever rising cost of living. They find themselves in severe hardship, if they have aged parents to support, especially should they e infirm or need more medical care as they age. The young and the aged both need a break!

I would like to call upon the Government to consider for Senior Citizens aged 60 years and above, a Monthly Welfare Allowance of RM200.

There are currently some 160,000 Sarawakians who are 60 years and above. A breakdown of figures according to the Sarawak Year Book of Statistics for 2004 is as follows:


Age range Number
60-64 53,800
65-69 39,100
70-74 26,800
75+ 34,300
Total 154,000


If we are to give RM200 per month to each and every 60 year old in Sarawak, it will only incur an expenditure of some RM384 million a year. This is a figure which is only about half the amount we are wasting through the 1st Silicon annually!

A caring society, true to description, should incorporate such concept of care under an institutionalized framework. In an Asian society traditionally respectful of elders, an obligation of an elected Government is surely the support, care and protection of the older citizens. Such concept of societal concern and care must not be left to the limited resources of charitable individuals, organisations or religious linked groups, though their contribution is praiseworthy, edifying and to be encouraged.

A start has to be made, and made right now, if the Government is to establish its position as the fountain of care and concern of the people. Such must also necessarily be the precondition for a government to remain relevant for it to be fit to govern; for it to be creditable in promoting desired societal culture such as caring society.

It is fitting that, a start to be made with the aging and aged citizens as our flag-bearing social sector initiative, to be expanded in scope and greater comprehensiveness as we go along.