13/06/2026

SATURDAY | JUNE 13, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Elderly encouraged to discard walking stick stigma

Huge victory for M’sia at prestigious global real estate awards

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has once again proven its mettle on the international property stage, emerging as the top-performing nation at the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2026 held in Vienna, Austria. At the ceremony – widely regarded as the “Oscars of Real Estate” – Malaysian developers walked away with seven gold and six silver awards spanning multiple categories, lifting the country’s cumulative gold medal count to 47 since the inception of the awards. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming hailed the result as a powerful endorsement of the nation’s property development credentials. ”Malaysia emerging as the biggest winner at the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2026 is the best testimony of our world-class housing and property development capabilities.“ He added that the win extends beyond individual developers, reflecting positively on the country as a whole. “This is not just a win for our developers but also pride to our nation. “It proves beyond doubt that our developers are capable of delivering sustainable, high-quality projects and building thriving communities that match international benchmarks.” Nga also credited a series of regulatory reforms introduced by the ministry for strengthening the sector’s competitiveness. Among the initiatives cited were the Housing Integrated Management System, Teduh programme, electronic Sale and Purchase Agreement and the Housing Development Account audit – all of which, he said, were beginning to yield tangible results. He called on the wider property industry to treat the achievement as a springboard for further progress, particularly in expanding access to quality, affordable housing nationwide. ”We hope that the rest of the industry will see this remarkable achievement as an inspiration to keep innovating and continually elevating the benchmark for our property industry.” Nga further emphasised the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving the industry forward. Investigation launched over mass fish deaths KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Department of Environment (DOE) has launched an investigation and monitoring operation at Sungai Padang Kijang near Kampung Alor Pasir following complaints over a large number of fish found dead in the river. State DOE deputy director Mohamad Zamzani Ibrahim said the department despatched two officers to the location immediately after receiving the complaints to assess the situation and collect river water samples for analyses. “Preliminary inspections were conducted using YSI ProDSS equipment to obtain in-situ water quality parameter readings as an initial assessment of the river condition.” He added that drones were also used to identify any activities or possible causes that may have contributed to changes in the river water condition. “Samples obtained from the river would be sent to the Chemistry Department to determine their contents and assess the water quality. “Further investigations are ongoing. We urge residents to provide information to the authorities if they detect any suspicious activities in the affected river area.” – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Elderly Malaysians should not feel embarrassed about using walking sticks or other mobility aids as a preventive measure against falls, which remain a significant but often overlooked cause of injury, disability and death among senior citizens. With over 11% of the population now aged 60 and above, falls have emerged as a significant cause of death and disability in the country, Bernama reported. In a joint statement, consultant community paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar-Singh H.S.S. and Datin Dr Lim Swee Im said globally, the World Health Organisation and other medical organisations recognise that falls were an important cause of injury and death among adults aged above 60. The statement also said the “Statistics On Causes Of Death, Malaysia 2025” by the Statistics Department revealed that the top four causes of medically certified death in senior citizens were pneumonia, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and stroke. o Falls among main cause of injury and death among senior citizens, say experts information on Thursday, an enforcement and investigative team from the DOE Pasir Gudang branch was deployed to the location to conduct monitoring, an investigation and an initial assessment of the incident. DOE said patrols carried out around Jalan Keluli revealed that there was no longer any orange smoke being emitted from any premises in the area. “However, based on information obtained on-site, the emission is believed to have originated from an industrial premises in the Pasir Gudang Industrial Area. “The investigative team arrived at the identified premises at about 11:10am and found that the orange smoke emission had stopped. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable odour in the area of the premises while the inspection was being conducted.” Following the incident, DOE took several immediate actions, including conducting on-site monitoring and investigations in the area, as well as coordinating with the Fire and Rescue Department and the Pasir Gudang City Council for further action within their respective jurisdictions. DOE had requested a safety assessment from the city council before conducting a detailed inspection inside the premises, in addition to carrying out air quality monitoring in potentially affected sensitive areas. As a precautionary measure, DOE also conducted air quality monitoring at two identified sensitive locations, namely Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Pasir Putih and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Pasir Gudang 3. “Through the monitoring conducted, the air quality readings at both locations were at

once he reached 60 years of age, he started routinely using lightweight, height-adjustable hiking sticks, although he remained fit. “A simple walking stick makes us much more stable and steadier on our feet, less wobbling around. Navigating uneven surfaces, building steps and roads could be quite hazardous, not to mention potholes and unexpected gaps. “Having used them now for several years, I have come to enjoy the extra support that a walking stick gives. It is now second nature for me not to leave my home without a walking stick.” Lim expressed sadness that many senior persons, feeling embarrassed to use a walking stick for fear of looking “old”, instead resort to using inadequate umbrellas or holding onto relatives for support. She also called for greater attention to house safety and public infrastructure, adding that falls frequently occur in and around the house, and recommended practical modifications such as installing non-slip flooring, covering drains, lowering storage spaces and adding grab bars in bathrooms. She urged organisations and public facilities to reconsider the widespread use of polished marble flooring, which they described as a major slip hazard, particularly for the elderly, individuals with disabilities and children.

“But this does not paint the full picture. Our cause of death mechanism in Malaysia records the final cause of death and not the underlying causes of death. “For example, if an old person has a fall, with a significant injury or hip fracture, and is then bed-bound and develops pneumonia as a result of the immobility, the cause of death will be recorded as pneumonia, not the fall,” the statement said. They cited data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), which showed that one in seven Malaysians aged 60 and above experienced at least one fall within the previous 12 months in both the 2018 and 2025 surveys. The commentary highlighted several factors that increased fall risks among aged adults, including age-related muscle loss, cognitive impairments that severely affected balance, chronic illnesses and medication side effects. “NHMS 2025 data indicated that 45% of Malaysians aged 60 and above have sarcopenia, 10% have dementia, 39% have diabetes and 73% have hypertension.” The statement also pointed to declining physical capability among the elderly, saying 10% experienced limitations in daily living activities, 4% had vision impairments and 30% were physically inactive. Sharing his own experience, Amar said

Authorities probe orange smoke incident in Pasir Gudang KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Environment (DOE) acted swiftly to investigate a report on social media regarding the release of orange smoke, believed to have occurred in the Jalan Keluli area of Pasir Gudang in Johor. Immediately upon receiving the

A photograph taken by a local resident shows the orange smoke in the area. – PIC COURTESY OF KOMUNITI JOHOR FACEBOOK PAGE

offence had been committed under legal provisions, appropriate enforcement action would be taken against the responsible parties. DOE said it would continue to monitor the situation in the affected area and work closely with relevant agencies to ensure that public safety and environmental quality are preserved. – Bernama

normal levels and did not show any readings exceeding established limits. “DOE wishes to emphasise that further investigation is underway to identify the cause of the incident and to determine if there was any emission of pollutants that violates the provisions of the Environmental Quality Act 1974.” It added that if the investigation reveals an