Latest news with #Rosita
The Star
14-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Seniors find joy in booming network
BURSTS of laughter fill a senior citizen activity centre in Taman Gombak Permai, Selangor, where men and women gather for a morning of making friends and sharing stories. But this is not your typical place where the elderly socialise with their peers; it's a growing network of 'Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas' (senior citizens activity centres), or PAWE, all over Malaysia where the able-bodied silver-haired community congregates with gusto, purpose and dignity. With 15% of Malaysians projected to be over 60 by 2030, ageing has become one of the country's most pressing demographic shifts. Participants engaging in a cognitive health check activity at the Sungai Tua PAWE. As such, these centres are emerging as lifelines to keep seniors engaged, independent and even economically productive. Sanctuary for seniors Rosita says the Lembah Pantai PAWE has 332 registered members.A vacant plot initially earmarked for a community hall in Taman Gombak Permai, is now the Sungai Tua senior activity centre under Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). It is Selangor's first such centre under a local authority. Before any PAWE existed, the elderly local community had no place to spend their time when their children and grandchildren went off to work or school, said retired kindergarten teacher Ruslina Othman, 61. 'There is nothing much to do at home,' she said. 'The activities here are good for our physical and spiritual well-being. 'We can make new friends, and sometimes reunite with old friends. Mohd Sharizwan finds the Sungai Tua PAWE centre conducive and convenient.'When we return home, we feel happy. 'I hope this (centre) lasts,' she said. The Sungai Tua PAWE, located on 0.58ha of government land and having a built-up area of 4,387sq ft, is just one of the 192 centres operating nationwide. According to Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, all the centres are administered by voluntary organisations registered with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and supervised by the Welfare Department (JKM). 'JKM provides annual operational financial assistance of RM50,000 for each PAWE,' the ministry's corporate communication said in reply to StarMetro. To date, there are 21 PAWE in Selangor and 10 in Kuala Lumpur. Retiree Phriya Mayavan, 69, takes a 15-minute walk from her home nearby to the Sungai Tua PAWE in Jalan Laksamana 2 almost every day. 'It is good exercise for me. I like the health talk organised today. 'It keeps our mind active and open,' said the former production operator. The PAWE is where Phriya socialises with other seniors and accompanies them to run errands and even visit the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso), Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and JKM office if need be. 'Some seniors here even sponsor food for those who don't have much money,' she said. The bright and airy centre houses a games area with carrom tables and board games, a lounge with two massage chairs, classroom, surau, kitchen and disabled-friendly toilets. Mohd Sharizwan Kang Abdullah, 65, a retired security officer, finds the centre conducive and convenient for them to socialise – an important activity to ward off loneliness among the aged. 'Socialising can help reduce the occurrence of depression among seniors,' said Sharizwan. Pensioner Misnan Mohd Damin, 65, concurs, sharing that now that he is retired, he needs to take better care of his physical and mental health. 'The world of retirees can be lonely. 'We need to learn to be with people and make new friends,' added Misnan, acknowledging the supportive centre staff for catering to the seniors' needs. Building more PAWE According to the ministry, new centres are set up with development budget allocations approved under the Malaysia Plan. A total of RM17mil had been allocated since 2018 for PAWE under the 11th Malaysia Plan. Initially, all states received the allocation based on the planned number of approved PAWE. However, at the end of the 12th Malaysia Plan (2025), only nine states received the allocation for the establishment of PAWE. Several states have channelled funds to improve PAWE premises and services. The Johor government, for example, allocated RM385,000 in 2024 and RM584,000 in 2025 to upgrade 12 PAWE premises and services improvement projects. State initiative MPS Community Development Department director Affendei Samingan said the Sungai Tua PAWE opened on Sept 1 last year. He attributed the centre to Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari who is Selangor Mentri Besar and Sungai Tua assemblyman. Affendei said Amirudin was instrumental in the initiative to care for the elderly at the local council level. 'We had to work out something since we had the site already. 'While our department's forte is community programmes and sports, building a PAWE made us go further,' he said. He added that building the centre cost RM2.5mil. Affendei said MPS reached out to international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Japan's Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (JCLAIR). 'We submitted a paper requesting for a subject matter expert to be sent from Japan to guide us in building a PAWE,' he said. Adapting similar architectural concepts like PAWE centres in Japan was challenging, said Affendei. 'These included accommodating public transport adjacent to PAWE locations. 'Their centres are more clinical in architecture too, with more advanced technology. 'We did our best in adopting their design in terms of use of air-conditioning and open space for the seniors to meet,' he added. At the moment, the Sungai Tua PAWE is managed by MPS staff, comprising a chairman (MPS deputy president), secretary (Affendei) and a treasurer. A PAWE needs to be run by a registered association under ROS. 'We are getting this done because we need to form the executive committee. 'We are spending public money to give back to the community, so good governance is needed, including checks and balances to run the centre at an optimum level,' Affendei said. For now, it is open from 9am to 12pm Mondays to Fridays. Registered members, now at 481, come for activities in the morning and return home in the afternoon. 'Once the centre gets approval from ROS, there will be a supervisor and assistant to manage it,' said Affendei. He said they were also open to university students and corporations to conduct their corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects with the seniors at the centre. Beyond day care All PAWE are encouraged to carry out programmes and activities based on five dimensions under the National Senior Citizen Policy. These are Positive Ageing (holding positive beliefs), Healthy Ageing (forming healthy lifestyles), Active Ageing (optimising involvement in family and society), Productive Ageing (contributing to economic activities) and Environmental Ageing (senior- friendly internal and external environments to age well). Intergenerational membership In Kuala Lumpur, the Lembah Pantai PAWE at Jalan Sri Sentosa 8 in Taman Sri Sentosa started operations on Jan 2, 2020. It is open from 9am to 3pm on weekdays, and if there are events, on weekends too. Its chairman Rosita Rahim, 68, is busy making the premises, parked under Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), a vibrant one for the elderly. They now have 332 registered multi-racial members. The outspoken pensioner's last post was with the Prime Minister's Office as a secretary, and she also lectures at the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan). In fact, she said they have opened their PAWE to younger members aged 18 and above to drive intergenerational membership. 'The younger generation needs to socialise and realise that they will be senior citizens too one day, so they must be prepared to cope in the environment,' she said. Managing a PAWE is hard work, Rosita said, as it involves a lot of collaborations and networking with NGOs, universities and private entities to equip the centre with facilities. She said Universiti Malaya (UM) and EPF offered support like conducting workshops and useful skills courses. Rosita said more needed to be done to make PAWE more accessible and senior citizen-friendly. 'Lembah Pantai has six zones and many seniors cannot drive, so there is a lack of transport. 'Railings and wheelchair ramps need to be installed at the bus stops. 'The infrastructure for seniors needs to be improved,' she stressed.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Chinese martial arts star Vincent Zhao's daughter stuns netizens with good looks
BEIJING: Renowned Chinese actor and martial arts star Vincent Zhao recently shared a series of personal family photographs to commemorate his eldest daughter Rosita's high school graduation. The 53-year-old, known for his roles in martial arts cinema, posted on Weibo on Wednesday, expressing immense pride in 17-year-old Rosita's achievements. In his heartfelt message, Zhao congratulated Rosita on reaching this significant milestone, highlighting her academic and artistic successes. Her accomplishments include accolades in biology and the arts, as well as the prestigious Highest Achievement prize. Zhao also took the opportunity to acknowledge his younger son, 13-year-old Zilong, who received an academic award, noting that the successes of his elder children have served as an inspiration for their youngest sister, nine-year-old Luna. "I applaud your hard work. Keep it up," the actor penned in the captions accompanying the images. The graduation ceremony photos, shared alongside the congratulatory message, quickly garnered significant attention from online users, particularly captivated by Rosita's striking appearance. Netizens widely praised her for inheriting her parents' good looks and for her graceful demeanour. One comment read, "Rosita has grown to be so tall and beautiful." Vincent Zhao, best recognised for his portrayal of the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-Hung in Once Upon A Time In China IV (1993) and its 1994 sequel, also has an older son, Joseph, 22, from a previous relationship. He married Chinese actress Zhang Danlu, 45, in 2006, and together they have three children.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Vincent Zhao shares family photos, 17YO daughter stuns netizens with good looks
Chinese actor Vincent Zhao recently marked his eldest daughter Rosita's (1st from left) high school graduation by sharing a series of rare family photos. Photos: Vincent Zhao/Instagram Chinese martial arts star Vincent Zhao recently celebrated his eldest daughter Rosita's high school graduation. In a Weibo post on Wednesday (July 2), Zhao, 53, congratulated Rosita, 17, on reaching a milestone and expressed pride in her accomplishments, which include awards in biology and the arts, as well as the Highest Achievement prize. He also gave a shoutout to his younger son Zilong, 13, for receiving an academic award, adding that their successes have inspired their youngest sister Luna, nine. 'I applaud your hard work. Keep it up,' the actor wrote in the captions. Zhao's post was accompanied by a series of rare family photos from the graduation ceremony, but it was Rosita's striking visuals that really grabbed netizens' attention. Many praised her for inheriting her parents' good looks and for carrying herself with grace. A photo of (from left) Zilong, Luna and Rosita at the latter's graduation ceremony. 'Rosita has grown to be so tall and beautiful,' one netizen commented. Another said: 'Rosita looks very elegant.' 'It's amazing. The whole family is good looking. The genes are too powerful,' added a third. Zhao – best known for portraying the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung in Once Upon A Time In China IV (1993) and its 1994 sequel – has an older son Joseph, 22, from a previous relationship. He married Chinese actress Zhang Danlu, now 45, in 2006 and went on to have three children with her.
Daily Mail
27-04-2025
- Daily Mail
The eerie case of 'the grey-haired man who deleted his past': Tourist with no record of entering the country checked into a hotel under a fake name - three days later he was dead and 16 years on, there are still no answers...
On a warm June afternoon, a grey-haired man with a German accent checked into the Sligo City Hotel. He'd arrived by taxi, after getting a bus on from Derry to Sligo, a seaside town in the west of Ireland. He checked in with the name Peter Bergmann. He paid with cash, and then carried three pieces of luggage to his room. Four days later, his body washed up on the beach. His death marked the first act of a mystery that has baffled police forces and compelled journalists and internet sleuths for more than a decade. Why? Because Peter Bergmann didn't exist. The mystery man used a fake name, gave a fake address, and apparently appeared in Ireland without a passport or any record. At the hotel he gave an address in Austira as his home, but police later discovered, the address didn't exist. The man looked to be in his late 50's or early 60's, he was 5ft 10in with blue eyes and a slight tan. Over the next three days, he was captured by security cameras leaving the hotel with a full plastic bag and returning to his room with nothing. On the fourth day, he went to the nearby seaside village of Rosses Point, where he would later wash up on the shore. Bizarrely, he hadn't drowned, the official cause of death was determined to be acute cardiac arrest, as there was no water in his lungs, it is thought that his heart failed just moments before he went into the sea. Irish Times journalist Rosita Boland, who spent years investigating this case, joined Sarah McGlinchey to go through the bizarre details of the case BBC podcast The Man With The Plastic Bag. Rosita spoke to every witness in the case and visited the hotel and the beach were his body was found to try and find out some answers. She said: 'He had a navy T-shirt on and he had a pair of Speedo type swimming trunks but then over those he had his underwear, which is just bizarre, why wouldn't you take off your underpants and T-shirt if you were going swimming.' Other items of the man's clothing were carefully folded nearby, however no ID was found and the tags had been cut off all his clothing. It appeared he had gone to great lengths to remain anonymous. In the hopes to uncover why he was in Ireland and how he managed to go undetected, police looked back at the man's final footsteps, but 16 years on, it remains a mystery. Rosita said: 'The first we know of his existence in Ireland is him turning up at the bus station in Derry on that Friday afternoon, it's very unlikely he was living in Northern Ireland but we don't know how he got there. 'He was caught on CCTV at Derry bus station, he was consciously looking for the bus to Sligo, he first got on a bus to Galway and then got off when he heard it wasn't for Sligo.' Arriving at 6.30pm in Sligo he took a taxi to 'somewhere cheap to stay' so the driver took him to the Sligo City Hotel. He was dressed in a black leather jacket and he had two bags with him, one was a small laptop bag. During the police investigation they discovered the address in Vienna that 'Peter' used to check into the hotel didn't exist. He was spotted leaving the hotel 13 times with a purple plastic bag, each time the bag was full on contents but when he returned the bag was nowhere to be seen. 'Either he dumped the contents and put the empty bag back in his pocket or he had lots of bags in his room,' Rosita said. 'One person emailed me and said maybe he had murdered somebody and he was disposing of the limbs in those bags, maybe a small person or a child, the bags were not terribly big.' However police didn't think the bags were that suspicious, saying he may have had clothing or personal items in them. On his first day in Sligo he made his way to the General Post Office at 10.50 AM, where he bought eight stamps and some airmail stickers. However he was never seen posting anything and the stamps were not found on his possession after his death. On Sunday, in the early afternoon he left the hotel for the town's only taxi rank and asked to be taken to a quiet beach, where he could swim. The driver took him to Rosses Point, however on arrival he surveyed the beach, seemed satisfied with the choice and asked for the taxi to take him back to Sligo. After requesting a late check out 'Peter' left the hotel and deposited his key at reception. He was then seen carrying the three bags he arrived with, a black holdall, the laptop bag, and a purple plastic bag. However by the time he got to Sligo bus station the holdall bag was missing, it was never found by police. Later, he was spotted by 16 people on the beach, but no one saw him enter the water. At 10.30 that evening he was seen along the beach carrying his purple plastic bag. The last time he was seen was at 11.50 walking along the edge of the water. The next morning, not long after six, he was found washed up on the beach by a father and son who were out for a jog. Peter Bergmann's body had been taken to post mortem there wasn't any hint of foul play. The post-mortem revealed that he was in poor health, he had advanced stages of prostate cancer and bone tumours. Meanwhile his heart had signs of previous ischaemic heart disease - despite all of these conditions, there was no trace of medication in his system. Rosita said: 'Was he thinking that perhaps I'm terminally ill, I'm just going to go into the ocean, we know that he didn't die of drowning, did he tae something that brought on a heart attack. 'It's a crazy coincidence, did he die spontaneously, did he have a hand at his own death. It's a total mystery.' In 2019 the Guardi, allowed Rosita to inspect 'Peter's' clothes which were kept in evidence. 'They were still full of sand, his T-shirt, trunks and underpants, they lifted those out and there was just sand falling out. 'It was the items in his pocket, those were the only things that he choose to keep, there was no passport, no phone, no credit cards.' Found in his pockets was a watch, a packet of German tissues, a small bar of soap which wasn't from any hotel in Ireland. The Guards kept the man's body for three months in the hopes that some family member would come forward but he was eventually put to rest. 'The state had to step in and provide a plot and cover the cost of the funeral. 'There was one other unidentified body underneath him and the plot can take three, but there was nobody to go on top in case they did find out who he was, they could dig his remains up and repatriate the bones to wherever he came from. 'There is a small wooden cross but it's not for him it's for the person who was underneath him who was also unidentified. ' Guardí circulated the man's DNA profile and pictures of an Interpol system but nothing has flagged up. They also made public appeals in Austrian and German publications in an attempt to find out who he really was. 16 years on from the mysterious death, the man is still unidentified, with no relatives or friends coming forward.
Irish Independent
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
‘The objective of the book wasn't to hurt my family, it was to free myself' – Author and activist Rosita Sweetman on her candid new memoir
Rosita Sweetman talks about finding catharsis in writing a new memoir that delves into her childhood, as well as the broken marriage in which her husband had an affair with her sister, leading to Rosita's estrangement from her siblings Today at 21:30 Although much of Rosita Sweetman's explosively honest new memoir, Girl with a Fork in a World of Soup, documents the turbulent years of her marriage, the crux of the story, the two events from which it feels all subsequent events follow, come almost at the start, when she is only a child. After a small, unexpected inheritance, Sweetman and her twin sister, aged nine, are sent to boarding school. 'Mum got 300 quid in an envelope one night from Archbishop McQuaid. Because a relative of hers had left his millions to him,' she tells me almost casually.
