Nutrition Expert Dr Tee E Siong Named Senior Citizen Icon

SEREMBAN, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Dr Tee E Siong, a Nutrition Consultant at a consulting firm, was honoured as the Senior Citizen Icon at the 2025 National Level Elderly Day celebration here last night.

Tee, 78, a former Nutrition Officer at the Ministry of Health's Institute for Medical Research, received the award in recognition of his ongoing charitable work and his excellent contributions at the community, state, national and international levels.

He remains highly active in several organisations, such as the Nutrition Society of Malaysia, the Allied Health Professions Council and the Malaysian Elderly Health Awareness Society, reflecting his profound commitment to the field of nutrition, which he undertakes voluntarily through policy development, community work and public awareness initiatives.

The Seremban-born expert also leads numerous programmes for women, children and the wider community, which include the Positive Healthy Ageing Programme, launched in 2022, to share knowledge on healthy lifestyles so that senior citizens can continue contributing to their families and the nation.

The Senior Citizen Icon Award was presented by the Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, who also officiated the closing ceremony for the celebration.

Also present were her deputy, Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, the Ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff, and director-general of Community Welfare, Datuk Che Murad Sayang Ramjan.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Tee expressed his gratitude for the recognition and shared his hope that it would inspire other senior citizens to remain active and continue contributing to society and the nation.

“In any field, including healthcare, senior citizens must continue to contribute. Even in our later years, we can still play a valuable role; we shouldn't just sit quietly at home. Maintaining our health is also crucial to ensure we can stay active in our old age,” he said.

Earlier, in her speech, Nancy said that this year's Elderly Day, themed "Senior Citizens, The Face of Our Future," is a reminder that the elderly are not only remembered for their past contributions but are also respected for their present roles and serve as an inspiration for future generations.

She said the celebration, organised by the Social Welfare Department, carries a clear message that senior citizens represent a future that everyone will share, expressing hope that the culture of respecting the elderly and cherishing the young will be firmly upheld.

Meanwhile, the Elopura Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PAWE) in Sandakan, Sabah, received the Excellent PAWE Award.

The centre was recognised for its active participation in various community and volunteer activities, as well as its ongoing efforts to improve the well-being of senior citizens from diverse races and ethnicities.

In addition, the Subang Jaya City Council in Selangor, Kulim Municipal Council in Kedah, and the Kuala Pilah District Council in Negeri Sembilan were presented with the 'Prihatin Warga Emas' (Elderly-Care) certificate of appreciation in the local authorities category. 

In the statutory body or corporate category, certificates of appreciation were awarded to the Employees Provident Fund, Mydin Mohamed Holdings Berhad and 99 Speedmart Sdn Bhd, in recognition of their commitment to implementing various corporate social responsibility initiatives. 

A two-day Senior Citizens' Carnival was also held in conjunction with this year's Elderly Day celebrations at the Negeri Sembilan Youth and Sports Complex, which concluded yesterday.

Over 3,000 participants, including members of Senior Citizens Activity Centres (PAWE) nationwide, attended the event. 

-- BERNAMA