PETALING JAYA, June 13 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is enhancing its policies, infrastructure and planning to create a more age-friendly city as its senior citizen population continues to grow, Mayor Dato’ Mohamad Zahri Samingon said.
He noted that around 12 per cent of Petaling Jaya’s population, or approximately 80,000 residents, are senior citizens, making it increasingly important for the council to improve facilities and services that cater to their needs.
“As the number of senior citizens continues to increase, we must also improve the facilities available for them,” he told Media Selangor after the Petaling Jaya Neighbourhood Safety Team (PKKPJ) Grant Presentation ceremony at MBPJ Civic Centre last night.
He was responding to Kampung Tunku state assemblyman Lim Yi Wei, who said Malaysia is not yet fully ready to face an ageing society, raising concerns over the health of senior citizens.
She said efforts to promote a healthier lifestyle should start earlier, including classes to help the elderly use smart technology, although she noted that many initiatives are ongoing with MBPJ to improve local facilities to make them more age-friendly.
Zahri said measures implemented by the local council include introducing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and streamlining processes for companies seeking to establish elderly care centres in the city.
“We provide guidance to operators who want to open care centres and we have simplified the procedures to make the process easier.”
He added that MBPJ has registered with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC), enabling the council to better align its programmes and initiatives with global standards and best practices.
Beyond policy improvements, Zahri said the council is incorporating universal design principles into future developments to ensure public spaces are more accessible for both senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
"Facilities such as ramps and other accessibility features are being prioritised to make the city more inclusive and easier to navigate for residents of all ages and abilities.”
