HOLDING steadfast in the mission to realise Penang’s ‘Roadmap for Active Ageing’, the state government has taken another step to make Penang an ‘age-friendly city’.
The Penang government launched the ‘Roadmap for Active Ageing’ at the end of last month.
Now, the state government through Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Malaysia Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) to give the cause a further boost.
MHAS president Prof Dr Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman said the society has been a strong advocate for healthy ageing for the past 20 years.
“We have been collaborating and partnering with the communities, the public and private endeavours. However, there is no better time than the present.
“It is so timely that the various conversations we had with organisations across the country culminated in the best place for our partnership now, and that is Penang.
“Penang has been very welcoming. Good things happen in Penang.
“With the Penang2030 vision, there have been many initiatives showcasing social integration, participation, and enthusiasm from the community.
“We have thought about age-friendly city initiatives for many years, and we felt that Penang has always been the best choice for the initiatives.
“Penang is well situated for medical and social tourism. The state has a wonderful heritage site which places itself very well in Asia,” she said, adding that it would be a memorable one for Penang and the region when the state becomes an age-friendly city.
Prof Shahrul Bahyah said the achievement, which she believed that Penang would achieve, is for the community and by the community.
“For the coming months, we will work closely with you (the Penang government). There are many phases which we have to go through.
“We will study the state initiatives which have been implemented to elevate Penang to where it is now. Following the World Health Organisation’s Age-friendly cities initiatives, we will identify where are the gaps.
“We hope to refine the state initiatives and address the gaps, through the perspectives of the people, stakeholders, and Penang. We aimed at addressing barriers to the well-being of the people and improving matters like transportation, social participation, healthcare facilities and healthcare access.
“We appreciate and are grateful for the opportunity to work with the Penang government. We look forward to having a good discussion and participation from all stakeholders in Penang,” she told a media conference in Komtar today.
State Social Development and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Chong Eng said her office met MHAS in March this year to discuss ways to turn Penang into an age-friendly city.
“The chief minister has tasked me to lead the discussion between the state government and MHAS to create an age-friendly city for Penang. The meeting was also attended by PWDC chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng.
“The Penang Age-Friendly City project will cost RM400,000 which will be borne by the Penang government through PWDC and made progressively.
“The three-year project would start from November 2022 to November 2025,” Chong Eng said.
Ong, in her speech, said PWDC looked forward to realising the initiatives with its partner.
“We strive to be a model for others in the country,” she said.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the MoA enabled the state to take a step closer towards realising the Penang2030 vision.
“We have been making consistent efforts in advocating the importance of active ageing for the past few years.
“This campaign brings in the possibilities of transforming Penang’s current and future social development values.
“We must be ready with a proper healthcare system.
“By instilling positive values in our young generation such as respect, support, and providing better care for the elderly, the young will also be able to help themselves in their own journey towards becoming productive senior citizens in the future.
“We need to be prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.
Chow said the campaign hoped to focus on building a system that is easily accessible and affordable.
“For this to succeed, we need to develop ‘Age-Friendly Hubs’, whereby all relevant health, social, cultural, and recreational facilities and resources can be found in every area or constituency – with all the relevant facilities and services being provided in one specific area.
“I believe that this can work because it will be a community effort created by the community, for the community,” he said.
Chow said that Penang is now the second highest ageing state in Malaysia, after Perak. About 15% of the state’s 1.77 million population are aged 60 or more.
“George Town and Butterworth have the highest number of the elderly population as we speak.
“The United Nations Population Project predicts that by 2040, Penang will have the highest ageing population in Malaysia. Roughly 26.2% of our people will be 60 years old or more,” he added.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis