Mr. Anuar Bin Che Mahmud
Deputy Director, 
Pahang Social Welfare Department,
Kuantan Municipal Council, 
Malaysia

CONTENTS

1. City Report

2. Action Plan

2.1. Action Plan Outline
2.2. Housing Problem
2.3. Insurance Scheme
2.4. Health Services (1 to 3 years)
2.5. Poverty Among the Aged
2.6. Action Plan Flow Charts

1. City Report

Kuantan is a medium sized city on the East Coast of Malaysia in the State of Pahang. In 2005 its total population was roughly 403,000. Past mortality declines produced a period of rapid population growth. Economic development brought in many migrants. Fertility began to fall in the 1980s, reducing the proportion of the young population, but not yet increasing the proportion of the aged. In 2005 the young (0-14) constituted 32 percent of the population, down from a previous percentage of over 40, but the aged still constituted only 4 percent. This will change in the near future as the proportion of young will decline and the aged proportion will rise.

At present, the city has no special organizational unit or office concerned with the aged. This is still a state or district level responsibility. The District level government has been given responsibility for the young and the aged together. The elderly who need special housing are sent to other states (Johore). There is an old-age pension scheme at the state level that provides RM 200 per month to the aged poor. The city recognizes that serious problems lie in the near future regarding caring for the growing number of aged, but as yet the city has not been given responsibility for the problem

To TOP

2. Action Plan

2.1. Action Plan Outline

The problem of ageing is not very serious for Kuantan, Malaysia. There is no special plan to be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare or The City Council. But the development process in Kuantan is growing fast, so an action plan must be set up for elderly people.

There are several issues to be considered before we develop an action plan. The major issues are:
1. Our perception towards aging issues
2. Lack of community and family support
3. Lack of knowledge about centers for the aged: why these centres will be an important issue in the future
4. Absence of laws and ordinance specialized for the aged

Related to this issue, I have specified 5 action plans for the sake of elderly people regarding:
1. Housing Problem
2. Health Services
3. Insurance Scheme
4. Poverty among the Aged
5. Family Problems

(I will request my colleagues and university experts to work together on data/observation in all action plans at the same time)

2.2. Housing Problem

Upon returning to the office, I will present this suggestion/problem to my Department to explore the housing problem in the city within the first month.

Then I will discuss this matter with my colleagues (2nd to 3rd month), and also discuss with City Officials and university experts for assistance.

Upon getting endorsement from my office and committee,  I will go to the field to conduct data collection and observations, and request my colleagues and university experts to assist me in conducting the analysis (from the 4th to the 8th month).

Then I will start to review the data analysis with key City Officials and relevant agencies in the 9th to 10th month.

Public dissemination of the result of the data analysis will be carried out through daily papers, department report and bulletin, city bulletin, and mass communication (11th to 14th).

The policy will be recommended to the Mayor and Key Political Leaders in the 15th to 17th months for revision and consideration, and to get information from them if needed.

I will establish a unit and sub-committee to deal with ageing issues regarding the housing problem (18th to 20th month).

Lastly, the units will start to work with the plan. (from 21st month onwards).

2.3. Insurance Scheme

I will submit the report immediately upon returning to the office and will discuss the rationale, impact, and justification with the the City Department Head. Consultation meetings will be held with the officers and political leaders, NGOs and private agencies to establish the Insurance Scheme and get their support.

>A Health Service Plan will be issued to the City Officials and City Legislative Body for The Enactment of the City Ordinance. A campaign will be conducted for the elderly and middle-aged and other interested members (see flow chart for details).

2.4. Health Services (1 to 3 years)

I will report to the Head of Department upon arrival as soon as possible and present my plan to explore the matter (within the first month)

A committee will be formed among our department and city officials.

When all the data is ready, I will discuss it with the Head Department and Key City officials (9th to 10th month).

Publishing and announcing the data analysis and relevant aging issues in the Department and City Bulletin and Media for information and comment will be carried out (10th to 12th month).

The policy recommendation will be provided to the Head of Department, Mayor and key political leaders for support and consideration (13th to 14th month).

A unit to deal with population aging, especially on health services, will be established. (15th to 16th month).

Lastly, the unit will start to work with the action plan (17th month 0n).

2.5. Poverty Among the Aged (1 to 5 years)

A report and action plan will be submitted to the Director, Department Of Social Welfare from December, 2006 to January, 2007.

Consultation will take places with colleagues, city officials and relevant government agencies regarding an action plan between February and April, 2007.

Consultation will then be with experts in the city and universities about aged poverty, by the arranging of workshops and seminars.

Data analysis and review will occur from May to September, 2007.

Public dissemination of data analysis will be in the form of City Bulletins, Department Reports, Daily Papers and the arranging of workshops/seminars (October to December, 2007).

There will be policy recommendation by the City Mayor/Head of Department (Jan to Feb, 2008).

A unit for this plan will be formed (Feb to May, 2008), and the unit will start to formulate programs and policies for the aged.

2.6. Action Plan Flow Chart

Action Plan Flow Chart for Housing Problem

Action Plan Flow Chart for Insurance Scheme

Action Plan Flow Chart for Health Service

Action Plan Flow Chart for Poverty among the Aged