As Malaysia moves towards becoming an aged society by 2030, property developers are being urged to look beyond individual homes and focus on building townships and communities that support residents as they grow older.
MTT Group property and asset director Leonard Theng said one of the biggest gaps in the country’s housing stock today is its focus on the property itself, rather than the wider environment around it. He said developers and stakeholders must consider how residents will actually live as they age, including their access to amenities, healthcare, wellness facilities, nature and social activities.
Theng, who also represents Eden at Botanica CT (EABC), said the development is being planned as an integrated ecosystem, where independent living is complemented by care support within the wider Botanica.CT township, including a care residence and the upcoming Selgate Specialist Hospital Penang.
Looking ahead to Budget 2027, he said the government should treat ageing as a broader economic and quality-of-life opportunity, covering not only healthcare and welfare but also urban planning, housing, employment and financial planning. He pointed to the World Health Organization’s Age-Friendly Cities and Communities framework and Penang’s existing Age Friendly City Project as foundations to build upon. He also called for more senior-friendly hiring practices and flexible employment options so that older adults can remain active and continue contributing their experience.
Theng stressed that no single stakeholder can address Malaysia’s ageing challenge alone. In his view, the government must provide the right policies and standards, developers must create age-friendly communities, healthcare providers must offer more accessible and proactive care, and financial institutions must develop solutions for retirement and future care needs.
He cited EABC’s Signature Retirement Experience with AIA Pension and Asset Management Sdn Bhd (APAM) as one example. Under the programme, purchasers receive a RM25,000 contribution towards their Private Retirement Scheme (PRS), linking financial preparedness with the retirement living experience.
He also called for a shift in public perception. Senior living, he said, is too often seen as a last resort for those who can no longer manage on their own, when it should be a proactive lifestyle choice.
“There is a difference between simply being alive and truly living your life,” he said.
At EABC, the Fun Hub brings wellness, recreation and social activities into everyday living. A hospitality-led management approach facilitates activities, services, care and community life, so that the development feels neither like a healthcare institution nor like just another condominium.
Theng added that today’s senior living market is largely focused on Baby Boomers in their 60s to 80s, but Gen X, now in their 40s and 50s, will increasingly enter this stage of life within the next five to ten years. Because this generation is more globally exposed and well-travelled, it is expected to place greater emphasis on lifestyle, choice and experiences. That will shape everything from home design and amenities to wellness, mobility and access to services, which is why developers need to start planning and building ahead of that demand today.
Source : The Sun : Property developers must start building with Malaysia’s ageing population in mind
Source : Newswav : Property developers must start building with Malaysia’s ageing population in mind