22/12/2025
🌏 Learning Visit to Penang: A Truly Age-Friendly City in Action
Jomkhwan Eamrucksa, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student from Nagasaki University, Japan (originally from Thailand), recently had the opportunity to travel to Penang with Professor Dr Shahrul Bahyah and Dr. Sangeeta Singh to attend a key presentation on the Penang Age-Friendly City (AFC) Initiative to the Datuk Bandar of MBPP on 17 December 2025.
✨ First Impressions of Penang
Upon arrival, she immediately felt that Penang is a city where people of all ages can live comfortably. Beyond being a UNESCO World Heritage Site with rich culture and beautifully preserved architecture, Penang impressed her with its efficiency, safety, and thoughtful city design.
Accessible public transport, safe walkways, inclusive parks, and age-friendly public buildings all reflect Penang’s commitment to ensuring older adults and people with mobility limitations can thrive.
🤝 Engaging with Penang’s Community Partners
During the evening meeting, Jomkhwan met representatives from Penang-based NGOs, including:
Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC)
Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS)
Penang Healthy Ageing Society (PHAS)
These organisations have partnered closely with MHAS, PHAS and MBPP to advance the Age-Friendly City vision.
📊 Project Achievements Presented
Dr. Sangeeta shared key achievements across recent years, highlighting improvements in:
✔️ Age-friendly public spaces and accessible buildings
✔️ Transportation systems designed for older adults
✔️ Safe and suitable housing environments
✔️ Increased social participation through community activities
✔️ Better access to health information and age-inclusive healthcare services
⚠️ While challenges existed, the strong collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, healthcare professionals, and local communities has created meaningful progress, enabling Penang Island to achieve WHO recognition as an Age-Friendly City.
🌟 A Model for Malaysia’s Future
As Malaysia moves rapidly toward an ageing society, Penang Island’s experience offers an inspiring model for other cities aspiring to become age-friendly, inclusive, and prepared for demographic change.