TEN years into retirement, 70-year-old Suhaimi Abdul Latif continues to serve the community through Rumah Sejahtera, a care home for men with mental disabilities in Kampung Lebak, Harian Metro reported.
A former psychiatric department staff member at Hospital Temerloh, Suhaimi said his years of experience inspired him to help those often neglected.
“After retiring, I felt a responsibility to continue caring for them. Many don’t get the attention they deserve,” he said.
Set up in 2013, Rumah Sejahtera now houses 25 men aged between 30 and 70, most of whom were sent by families unable to cope at home. The centre operates with only three staff members – Suhaimi, a nurse and a warden.
“Many had been hospital patients but relapsed after stopping medication or being left unsupervised,” he said.
The home relies on monthly fees of between RM600 and RM1,000 and public donations, as it receives no regular government funding.
Suhaimi hopes for greater support to expand such facilities.
> Age is no barrier for actress Norlia Ghani, who at 77 has found a new way to stay active and independent through social media, Berita Harian reported.
Affectionately known as “Mama” in the entertainment industry, Norlia now earns an income by doing paid reviews for food, beauty products and services, mostly around Selangor.
“There aren’t many acting offers these days, so Mama does reviews. I don’t demand much,” she says.
After more than five decades in the industry, the actress said she no longer relies on acting to make ends meet.
Roles for older women are limited, and competition is stiff. Still, she cherishes every opportunity that comes her way.
“I do miss acting, of course. If there’s a good project, I’d love to be part of it,” she said.
Norlia enjoys the flexibility and camaraderie that come with her new work, saying it allows her to stay engaged without the long hours demanded by filming.
The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
