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PENANG, Malaysia / The Star / January 30, 2009
Story and photos by SALINA KHALID
GOING on retirement is a fearful thing for many people, with many expecting their time to be boring with nothing much to do.
But it doesn’t need to be so. There are many things one can do during the golden age. Just ask the members of the Kelab Warga Emas Shah Alam in Section 24 in Shah Alam.
Life is never idle for these passionately active people, although they have completed the rat race, claimed their trophies and resting on their well-deserved laurel.
Traditional touch: The Kelab Warga Emas Shah Alam in Section 24, Shah Alam.
Besides having more time with their family members, especially grandchildren, these senior citizens are fully occupied with all sorts of activities at their own clubhouse at Section 24.
According to club secretary Yem Ismail, life can be boring for some people once they retire.
“After all the years of being employed, they suddenly find themselves with too much time and nothing to do.
“But it does not have to be like that and for all of us at the club, there is always something to do,” Yem said.
“The club was initiated to ensure that the senior citizens in the city live an active and healthy lifestyle during the retirement age.
It has organised various activities for the members. The RM8.2mil club complex on a 4ha site was completed in 2005.
The complex is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city life, providing a serene area for the seniors to enjoy rest and recreation. It has a spacious area and facilities for all sorts of activities and events.
Refreshing sight: The fishing pond located next to the complex.
The building design features a combination of traditional Malay architecture with contemporary touches, and is one of the landmarks in Shah Alam. There are ample parking lots outside and inside the premises.
The main building is surrounded by gazebos. The cool breeze from the nearby Klang River attracts visitors to the gazebos.
The complex boasts a line of facilities for the senior citizens, including a library, surau, cafeteria, gymnasium, jacuzzi, massage room, reflexology walkway and a badminton hall which could be used to hold parties and other functions. There is even a clinic housed in the complex.
“We are also probably the only club in the country that has a lawn bowl field,” Yem said.
Anglers can test their skill at the nearby fishing pond, which charges special rates for club members.
Yem said those keen on gardening but did not have the space at their own house could do so at the club.
There is a plot where the members can plant vegetables. The harvest is shared among themselves.
“The Agricultural Department had recently given us an enlightening briefing and has said it is willing to show us how to start growing commercial mushrooms. We are thinking about it seriously so that this will keep our members occupied and enable them to earn some money as well,” Yem said.
Although the club is for senior citizens, people of all ages are welcome to join in its activities and use its facilities.
To keep fit: Equipment for exercise is also available for the senior folk.
Members, of course, are given priority and special rates when using the facilities, while non-members will have to pay a little bit more. Some of the facilities are provided for free to members.
A series of talks, seminars and workshops have been conducted regularly at the complex to benefit both members and non-members.
Besides providing a venue for senior citizens to get together and hold events, it is also a move by the Selangor state government to recognise the contribution of the senior citizens.
Events for all age groups can also be held there to bridge the generation gap between the youngsters and senior citizens.
Yem said some senior citizens preferred to spend their time at the complex as they would feel lonely staying at home when their children were at work.
He said they would ask their children to drop them at the complex in the morning and be picked up again in the evening.
According to Yem, among the activities planned for this year are the annual senior citizen sports event and family day plus overseas trips for members.
Membership is open only to Shah Alam residents, aged 56 and above. There are now more than 1,400 members.
“We have many plans for our members and are planning to expand the services to include a shelter for the senior citizens and an orphanage in the vicinity,” Yem said.
“Once completed, the complex will always be vibrant and busy. We want to add life to our years, not add years to our life,” he said.
Copyright © 1995-2009 Star Publications (M) Bhd
Traditional touch: The Kelab Warga Emas Shah Alam in Section 24, Shah Alam.
Besides having more time with their family members, especially grandchildren, these senior citizens are fully occupied with all sorts of activities at their own clubhouse at Section 24.
According to club secretary Yem Ismail, life can be boring for some people once they retire.
“After all the years of being employed, they suddenly find themselves with too much time and nothing to do.
“But it does not have to be like that and for all of us at the club, there is always something to do,” Yem said.
“The club was initiated to ensure that the senior citizens in the city live an active and healthy lifestyle during the retirement age.
It has organised various activities for the members. The RM8.2mil club complex on a 4ha site was completed in 2005.
The complex is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city life, providing a serene area for the seniors to enjoy rest and recreation. It has a spacious area and facilities for all sorts of activities and events.
Refreshing sight: The fishing pond located next to the complex.
The building design features a combination of traditional Malay architecture with contemporary touches, and is one of the landmarks in Shah Alam. There are ample parking lots outside and inside the premises.
The main building is surrounded by gazebos. The cool breeze from the nearby Klang River attracts visitors to the gazebos.
The complex boasts a line of facilities for the senior citizens, including a library, surau, cafeteria, gymnasium, jacuzzi, massage room, reflexology walkway and a badminton hall which could be used to hold parties and other functions. There is even a clinic housed in the complex.
“We are also probably the only club in the country that has a lawn bowl field,” Yem said.
Anglers can test their skill at the nearby fishing pond, which charges special rates for club members.
Yem said those keen on gardening but did not have the space at their own house could do so at the club.
There is a plot where the members can plant vegetables. The harvest is shared among themselves.
“The Agricultural Department had recently given us an enlightening briefing and has said it is willing to show us how to start growing commercial mushrooms. We are thinking about it seriously so that this will keep our members occupied and enable them to earn some money as well,” Yem said.
Although the club is for senior citizens, people of all ages are welcome to join in its activities and use its facilities.
To keep fit: Equipment for exercise is also available for the senior folk.
Members, of course, are given priority and special rates when using the facilities, while non-members will have to pay a little bit more. Some of the facilities are provided for free to members.
A series of talks, seminars and workshops have been conducted regularly at the complex to benefit both members and non-members.
Besides providing a venue for senior citizens to get together and hold events, it is also a move by the Selangor state government to recognise the contribution of the senior citizens.
Events for all age groups can also be held there to bridge the generation gap between the youngsters and senior citizens.
Yem said some senior citizens preferred to spend their time at the complex as they would feel lonely staying at home when their children were at work.
He said they would ask their children to drop them at the complex in the morning and be picked up again in the evening.
According to Yem, among the activities planned for this year are the annual senior citizen sports event and family day plus overseas trips for members.
Membership is open only to Shah Alam residents, aged 56 and above. There are now more than 1,400 members.
“We have many plans for our members and are planning to expand the services to include a shelter for the senior citizens and an orphanage in the vicinity,” Yem said.
“Once completed, the complex will always be vibrant and busy. We want to add life to our years, not add years to our life,” he said.
Copyright © 1995-2009 Star Publications (M) Bhd
