Abang Jo keeps an eye out on robots to help the elderly

Sarawak's premier, Abang Johari Openg, has expressed interest in exploring the use of robots to aid the state's elderly population, as reported by Dayak Daily. At the Borneo Makers Festival in Kuching, Abang Johari pointed to Japan and Europe as examples of other regions utilizing robots in healthcare services. He highlighted the challenges posed by the state's vast size and relatively small population when it comes to providing healthcare and assistance, but suggested that technology could help bridge the gap.

Abang Johari emphasized that robots could improve precision in medical procedures, such as surgery, and help health workers perform tasks more efficiently. The premier noted that Sarawak's population aged 60 and above is the second-largest in the country, after Perak. Three years ago, he had already expressed the possibility of creating a robot for healthcare, similar to the Japanese Grace robot designed to interact with the elderly and those isolated due to Covid-19.