PENANG: Kuching is taking bold steps to prepare for an ageing population, with the city’s efforts showcased at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Mayors’ Meeting on Healthy Cities here.
Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng, who was a panellist at the event, shared how the city is strengthening age-friendly planning ahead of reaching ageing-city status by 2028.
“A healthy city is not just about healthcare services. It’s also about clean surroundings, safe public spaces, and supportive community environments,” he said during a session on ‘Good Practices, Lessons Learned, and Key Considerations for Ensuring Healthy Cities Moving Forward’.
Private-sector initiatives are playing a key role in building support for seniors in Kuching.
These include Borneo Medical Centre’s Hospital-Led Home Care, Elica Equity’s Senior Retirement and Community Living project offering independent and assisted living, rehabilitation, and dementia care, and Ibraco’s upcoming elderly-friendly apartments designed with easier access to medical facilities and transport.
MBKS is also enhancing urban accessibility through its new Pay and Go Smart Parking System, which now includes an Elderly Easy Payment (EEP) feature, allowing seniors to register once and have parking fees automatically deducted without needing to use apps or make manual payments.
“These initiatives create a continuum of care for our seniors and show our commitment to inclusive, long-term city planning,” Wee said, reflecting Kuching’s drive to become a model age-friendly city under the WHO Healthy Cities framework.
