PENANG’s first integrated senior living resort will be built in Balik Pulau when its plan gets the approval from the state government and local authorities.
A joint venture agreement for the RM180 million project was signed between MTT Group of Companies executive chairman and Botanica Hills Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Kenny Ong and Eden-On-The-Park Sdn Bhd chairman John Chin during a ceremony at Evergreen Laurel Hotel in Gurney Drive today.
It was also witnessed by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state Housing, Local Government, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo.
The 32-acre project, known as Eden at Botanica.CT, will feature a nursing care residence and a low-density Active Living Resort comprising villas and condominiums in two tower blocks in Botanica.CT, a thriving township in Balik Pulau on Penang island.
The state planning committee has in principle agreed to the project but the developers are subject to certain guidelines that would be firmed up.
The joint venture will be modelled after Eden’s award-winning Kuching Care Residence in Kuching, which was built five years ago and licensed by the Health Ministry and Sarawak Welfare Department.
Chow said having a senior care model such as the planned integrated senior living resort is very much in line with the state government’s Penang2030 vision of a ‘Family Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.’
“In the next decade, the number of Penangites aged over 60, including myself, will nearly double, thus adding pressure on healthcare services and increasing demand for aged centre,” Chow said in his speech.
“Elderly care facilities are one of the important components of an ageing society. Of course, there are many other areas that require our attention.
“As the government, we need to be prepared for an ageing society. I think it will be very challenging for the government as the ageing population grows bigger and bigger.
“We hope that no one will be left behind in terms of care facilities for senior citizens. And there is definitely a great demand and a great opportunity to provide such services, whether by the public sector or government sector.
“The state is all for the idea of an integrated senior living resort.
“Kudos to Eden-On-The-Park and Botanica Hills for your effort in this private initiative.
“This project is a great example of corporate organisations whose ethos are to contribute to positive social change.”
Chow added that the investment by the two companies would contribute to job opportunities for youth while setting a new trend to meet the needs of the seniors in our midst.
He said the Penang-based international standard nursing facility would be akin to those in mature countries like Australia and the United States.
Chow said over the years, Balik Pulau has seen great potential with the many developments happening within its boundaries. It has seen its first hypermarket TF Value Mart, the first Starbucks and first KFC drive-through in Botanica.CT recently.
Jagdeep stressed the importance of carrying out the pioneer project in Penang properly by the two companies to set a good example for others to follow.
“We welcome this meaningful project but it is important that we have to come up with guidelines since this is our first project.
“I hope this is not a money-making industry because not everybody can afford it. It is just like the state government building affordable homes for the people of Penang.
“And I also hope that this will not be the only senior living resort in Balik Pulau but also in other areas in Penang,” Jagdeep said in his speech.
He said he could understand the difficulty faced by aged people when his late father, Karpal Singh, was wheelchair-bound for 10 years.
“Our family could afford to take care of him, but what about other people who could not afford?”
Ong said their aim is to provide senior citizens a comfortable, safe and tranquil place to live out their golden years.
He said according to the Department of Statistics, Malaysia is well on its way to becoming an ageing society.
“It is projected that by 2030, 15% of our population will be 60 years old and above. By 2040, it is projected that one in five Malaysians will be aged 60 and above, hence, giving the country an ageing status.
“The lush greenery and natural environment in Balik Pulau offer just the right fit for those seeking a new lease of life after retirement.
“Riding on our ethos of ‘Care with Dignity’, this nursing centre will be furnished with state-of-the-art technology for remote monitoring of the residents, fall monitoring and care services delivery,” Ong said.
Eden-On-The-Park managing director Victory Fong said unlike the more developed countries, Malaysia unfortunately does not have a well-developed system to look after its elderly.
He said for a population of 32 million, the Federal Government has only 17 care centres at Rumah Seri Kenangan and Rumah Ehsan. The rest are privately operated.
He said based on official estimates, there are over 3,000 private nursing homes. Of these, only 357 care centres are registered under the Care Centres Act, 1993, and 26 registered under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act, 1988.
“The industry is therefore substantially unregulated. Many of our nursing homes are house based, over-crowded and as a general rule, not monitored.
“Because of the generally squalid, and depressive conditions in many such homes, there is a taboo associated with the prospect of moving parents into such facilities.
“Eden at Botanica.CT is about to change all that.
“We want to change the society’s perception towards nursing care, and retirement living. Nursing services should be professional, and service oriented. Like in many western societies, retirement can be a phase of life that one can look forward to and plan for.”
He said instead of reinventing the wheel, the Eden system was created based on the best practices from Australia, a country noted for its aged care. The company was also fortunate to find a partner in Optimum Aged Care Services which has over 40 years of management, consultancy, and development experience in the industry.
He elaborated that his company’s branding is based on 3Rs (rest, recreation and rejuvenation) and its principles are centred around the 5Ss (security, safety, services, support and sustainability).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Alvie Cheng