Perak Set to Become the State with the Most Elderly Population – ‘A Land of Grandparents!’
Perak is on track to make history as Malaysia’s first aging state by 2030. With the elderly population increasing rapidly, the state is expected to have over 18% of its residents aged 65 and above within the next five years.
According to a report by Bernama, a region is considered “aging” when 14% of its population is 65 years or older. Statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DoSM) indicate that by 2023, approximately 14.6% of Perak’s population was already aged 60 and above. Given this trend, Perak is projected to fully achieve aging status before 2030.
Perak Government Strengthens Facilities for the Elderly
Recognizing the increasing number of elderly residents, the Perak State Government is proactively improving infrastructure and public amenities to be more senior-friendly.
According to the Chairman of the Perak State Housing and Local Government Committee, Sandrea Ng Shy Ching, various aspects must be reassessed, including accessibility, safety, and comfort for the elderly.
“We need to evaluate whether the buildings, public markets, and bus stops that have been constructed take into account all aspects such as accessibility, safety, and comfort for the elderly. We also need to determine how audits can help identify weaknesses in existing facilities,” she stated.
As an initial step, the state government will engage with various parties through the Sejahtera Warga Emas Komuniti Mesa Usia Program to discuss strategies and preparations that can be implemented.
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Source: SAYS
