12/03/2026

THURSDAY | MAR 12, 2026

3

Iran women football team lands in KL after tournament KUALA LUMPUR: The Iranian Embassy in Malaysia has confirmed that the remaining members of the Islamic Republic women’s football squad who participated in the Asian Cup campaign in Australia arrived in Malaysia on Wednesday morning. Footage of the squad’s arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport circulated on social media earlier in the day. According to the embassy, the players are expected to return to Iran, subject to flight availability and the reopening of Iran’s airspace. “They want to return home,” the embassy said. Bernama reported that the development follows reports that seven other members of the team have sought asylum in Australia, citing fears of persecution upon returning to Iran after refusing to sing the national anthem before their opening match of the tournament on March 3. According to reports quoting Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke, the players were moved to a safe location by Australian police. Burke was also reported as saying that the remaining members of the squad had been informed they were welcome to remain in Australia. The players had initially been scheduled to return home after the tournament, but supporters had raised concerns over their safety following the team’s decision not to sing the national anthem ahead of their match against South Korea. The move drew criticism from some commentators in Iran, with one conservative commentator reportedly accusing the team of being “wartime traitors” and calling for harsh punishment. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmaeil Baghaei, on Tuesday, urged the players to return home. “To Iran’s women’s football team: don’t worry - Iran awaits you with open arms,” he wrote on X. Separate reports said the players later sang and saluted the national anthem during their remaining two matches in the tournament.

March 18 extra school holiday for Hari Raya PUTRAJAYA: The Education

additional holidays on March 19 and March 20. The ministry added that the additional holiday is also in line with its commitment to prioritise the welfare of the education community. – Bernama

holiday on March 19. Meanwhile, schools in Group B, comprising Malacca, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, were granted two

allow teachers, students and parents adequate time to prepare for the festivities. It said based on the 2026 Academic Calendar, schools in Group A states, comprising Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu, had already been allocated an additional

Ministry has declared March 18 this year as an additional school holiday for all schools nationwide in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri. In a statement, the ministry said the additional holiday is intended to

Ageing Malaysia needs new housing approach

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Universal design and senior-living models crucial as population aged 60 and above reaches 15% by 2036: Experts

integrated housing models that combine residential living with healthcare services.” Universiti Teknologi Mara Shah Alam College of Built Environment senior lecturer Dr Hafiszah Ismail said adapting existing urban environments will also be a key challenge. “Many of our existing buildings and urban environments were developed decades ago without considering the needs of an ageing population. “When we talk about preparing cities for older residents today, it is not only about building new infrastructure but also about adapting existing environments to make them more accessible.” She said housing design must evolve to support multi-generational living arrangements common in households. “Ageing in place means the elderly continue living within their communities and family homes. In many households today a single home may accommodate multiple generations – grandparents, parents and children. This means housing developments should incorporate elderly-friendly elements to support multi-generational living environments.” Hafiszah added that several cities have already begun incorporating infrastructure designed to support ageing populations such as in Petaling Jaya, Penang and Shah Alam.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s housing sector may need significant adjustments as the country moves toward becoming an aged nation by 2036, when 15% of the population will be aged 60 and above. This is according to projections cited by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry from the Department of Statistics. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia property economics and finance associate professor Dr Muhammad Najib Razali said age-friendly housing features remain limited across much of the country’s residential market. “As Malaysia gradually transitions toward an ageing population, the incorporation of age-friendly features in housing developments remains limited and inconsistent. “While some modern developments are beginning to include universal design elements such as step free access, lift access, wider corridors and safer bathroom layouts, these features are not yet standard across most housing projects.” According to the Housing Statistics 2020–2024 report published by the Housing and Local Government Ministry in December last year, 23,149 completed residential units remained unsold nationwide in 2024, raising questions about whether current housing supply aligns with emerging demographic needs.

may reach around RM60,000.” He added that this creates challenges for elderly individuals living with long-term health conditions. “Standard residential designs often include narrow bathrooms, staircases without supportive railings and limited turning space for wheelchairs, which can create difficulties for elderly individuals with mobility limitations, stroke-related disabilities or chronic illnesses. “Because of this, many families must retrofit their homes by installing ramps, grab bars or medical equipment to accommodate ageing relatives.” Najib added that the demand for specialised senior housing is expected to grow as Malaysia approaches aged-nation status. “As the population ages and family sizes become smaller, many households may find it difficult to provide full-time care for elderly family members, increasing the need for professionally managed senior living environments. “This will likely drive greater demand for retirement villages, assisted-living facilities and

Najib said some specialised developments have begun demonstrating how housing can better support elderly residents. “Projects such as Sunway Sanctuary and GreenAcres Retirement Village demonstrate how barrier-free layouts, accessible bathrooms, emergency response systems and wider circulation spaces can support older residents. “However, most mainstream housing developments, particularly terrace houses and affordable apartments, still prioritise affordability and density rather than universal accessibility.” Najib said the cost of modifying homes to accommodate elderly residents can also be a major barrier for families. “Basic accessibility features such as grab bars may cost around RM300 per unit and when applied across multiple units in a housing development the overall cost can increase significantly. “More extensive home modifications such as installing wheelchair ramps can cost between RM5,000 and RM70,000, while stair lift systems for double-storey homes

Travel agencies must bring home stranded umrah pilgrims: Minister PUTRAJAYA: Travel companies and agencies managing umrah packages must take responsibility for bringing home pilgrims stranded due to the conflict in West Asia if the pilgrims travelled through their services, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said. government alone,” he told a press conference after a ceremony to present contributions to the Palestinian People’s Humanitarian Trust Fund here yesterday.

Giam (left) presents mock cheque to Mohamad for the Palestinian People’s Humanitarian Trust Fund yesterday. – PIC COURTESY OF BERJAYA CORP

Among those who contributed were Berjaya Corporation Berhad (BCorp) General Manager ( Corporate Communications & Sustainability) Giam Say Khoon, who handed over a RM100,000 mock cheque to Mohamad. Mohamad said three groups of Malaysians were affected following the closure of airspace in several West Asian countries. The first group involves Malaysians stranded at airports such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain after transiting for flights back to Kuala Lumpur. “We are prioritising those who have been stranded at airports for three to five days while waiting for their return flights,” he said. The second group comprises Malaysians who travelled to perform umrah independently, while the third involves Malaysians who live, work or

He said the agencies concerned should also arrange the rescheduling of the pilgrims’ return flights. At the same time, Mohamad said the government is prioritising efforts to assist Malaysians stranded overseas, particularly those trapped at airports while in transit on their way home. “Those who travelled through travel agents must be brought back by the agents. If the ticket is with Malaysia Airlines (MAS), MAS must bring them home. If it is an AirAsia ticket, AirAsia must do so and if it is Batik Air, Batik Air must also bring them back. “Normal flights have resumed. If pilgrims can show confirmation of their tickets, it is the responsibility of the airline to bring back those who have paid. It cannot be left to the Malaysian

reportedly escalated since Feb 28 following a series of attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes by Tehran against US interests in Gulf countries. – Bernama

He said the group, about 500 to 600, is being temporarily accommodated at Tabung Haji facilities, with food provided while arrangements are being made for their return flights. Tensions in West Asia have

reside in the countries concerned. Nevertheless, Mohamad said the government is assisting those who performed umrah on their own and were left without any form of travel management.