TEMBURONG – The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports launched Temburong’s first senior citizen centre today located at the grounds of the National Service Programme’s Training Camp in Batu Apoi.

The first floor of the training camp’s main building has been dedicated for the new centre, called Pusat Masyarakat Bestari Temburong (PMB), where senior citizens will be able to use the facilities as a focal point to conduct activities.

The space will be used to help improve the the quality of life of the district’s elderly, by providing senior citizens a space where they can socialise amongst each other as well as with the younger generation, said the newly appointed Committee Manager of the PMB Hj Md Jaidin Hj Tahir.

“We have a number of activities already… that will be conducted at the centre include weaving, sewing and physical fitness among others,” he said.

“These activities will not only be limited to Temburong’s elderly, as we will also involve youths and the residents of the district”.

The location of the centre will only be temporary, with government agencies in the process of identifying buildings in Temburong that would be more suitable for the centre’s permanent location.

Although the senior citizens said they were grateful to have a space that they could call their own, a number of them raised concerns about the location, stating many feel it is “out of their way”.

“You will see that a lot of us tend to meet and socialise each other within the Bangar Town area, so we are looking into that, whether there is a location within the suggested area that can be turned into the PMB centre,” Hj Md Jaidin said.

Acting Director of the Community Development Department (JAPEM), Rostinah Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Sura Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Tahir, told The Scoop that they are also looking into the feasibility of constructing a new building for the centre, but she declined to mention specifics.

Temburong is Brunei’s least populated district with only 10,500 residents.

According to JAPEM, the number of senior citizens (defined as 60 and above) in Temburong stands at around 1,200 people.