Boosting quality of living for senior citizens in Penang

Efforts to provide quality living for the aged got a shot in the arm in Penang when the international welfare organisation – Rose Charities Malaysia’s chapter revealed plans to open a senior activity centre near Pulau Tikus by this year – end.

Its president Datuk Seri Lawrence Cheah Seong Paik said that the centre would be officiated by the Yang di – Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and it will herald a new era in allowing senior citizens a platform to grow as graceful as possible in old age.

The center is a joint collaboration between the charitable organisation, senior citizens activity centre (PAWE) and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

“It will serve as a space for individuals above 60 to engage in activities such as exercises, gardening, digital literacy, arts and crafts. It will allow our seniors an opportunity to stay active, make new friends ad enjoy lifelong learning in a supportive environment.”

Cheah said this at the 15th anniversary dinner of the charity, which has about 800 members of which 95% are women aged between 20 and 95.

Present was Ahmad Fuzi, who presented awards to several individuals for helping Rose Charities including Lord Mayor and MBPP president Datuk Anthony Rajendran, who allowed the council to lease a bungalow to them at Codrington Avenue here.

Cheah, the doyen of old age living in Penang, spoke of the importance of having facilities and services to cater to the old in the state.

Penang is in badly need of such facilities and platforms in view that the state will become among the firsts in the country to reach the milestone of an aging state by next year.

By then, Penang would likely be categorised as an aging state because the percentage of the population aged 66 and above is around 7.7% whereby seven per cent is the benchmark for an ageing state.

The Department of Statistics Malaysia projects that by next year, 7.7% of the state’s population—or 143,805 residents—will be aged 65 and above, positioning Penang as the second state with the largest elderly population in Malaysia.

The increase in the number of senior citizen in Penang, will have a significant impact on the state’s socioeconomic development and fiscal position.

In a separate event, Rajendran told journalists that MBPP is now integrating universal design elements into social amenities to support the elderly and the disabled.

He emphasised MBPP’s commitment to ensuring accessibility across all infrastructure projects, saying, “We are committed to upgrading roads, walkways, public spaces, and public housing to incorporate age-friendly and universal design principles.”

Current efforts include installing ramps, lifts, and accessible units prioritised for the elderly and the disabled at the SP Chelliah public housing project.

“Future projects will involve a mobility van, senior citizens’ activity centres, urban farming, and recycling initiatives to create employment opportunities,” Rajendran said.

The council also plans to upgrade all public housing schemes to further embed universal design, enhancing independence and accessibility for Penang’s ageing population.

Penang earned its status as an age – friendly city after MBPP joined the Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities last year.

With a rapidly ageing society, these efforts are crucial for supporting the well-being of older residents and enhancing their quality of life, said Rajendran.