Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak brought cheer to many elderly people today with two announcements he made at a luncheon meeting with about 1,500 old folk.

He said the Health Ministry would conduct health inspection visits at least once a month with immediate effect to all the 48 old folks' homes under the auspices of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

najib in penang usm dialogue 220412 He also said that Astro satellite radio and TV service would be installed free of charge at 39 elderly care centres registered with the Social Welfare Department nationwide and subscription would be waived for three to five years.

Old folk from care centres in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur attended the luncheon with the prime minister under the Karisma senior citizens programme, at Rumah Sejahtera in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.

Najib said the health inspection visits would involve health screening and follow-up treatment.

Statistics indicated that elderly people in the country had made 1.4 million visits and repeat visits to health clinics.

"The Health Ministry will not only provide treatment to senior citizens at health clinics but also make visits to the 48 care centres for the elderly to provide follow-up treatment," he said in his address at the function.

Najib, who is also acting minister of women, family and community development, said the health inspection visits would provide the elderly folks with better health care.

On the Astro service, he said it would enable the senior citizens to watch and/or listen to the news and entertain and sports programmes over the radio and television.

'Safeguard eastern community values'

"Even the old folk need activities to fill their spare time because active minds would help promote physical health. Idle minds would lead to a deterioration of physical health," he said.

Najib also urged the people to safeguard eastern community values by taking care of the elderly well, saying they had contributed a lot to the nation and society.

"We have to uphold these values because in some developed countries, the elderly are neglected and left to their fate in old folks homes.

"The government can provide help but there is no substitute for family in taking care of the well-being of the elderly. If we can do this, our society will be a much happier one with the love that one generation showers on another,"

he said.

The prime minister said the government had introduced several initiatives and incentives under Budget 2012 for the benefit of the elderly, among them waiving the outpatient registration fee at all hospitals and health clinics.

- Bernama