16/09/2026

WEDNESDAY | SEPT 16, 2026

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Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

Malaysia Day: Marking milestones, framing futures

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has made significant strides over the past 63 years, with experts saying the country’s next phase of development should focus on ensuring its economic and infrastructure gains translate into a better, fairer and more secure quality of life for all Malaysians. As the public celebrate Malaysia Day today, academics and experts from various fields highlighted the progress made while identifying areas that need greater attention, including the economy, housing, governance, transport, the environment, healthcare, education, national identity and opportunities for youth. 0 ECONOMY Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) economist Prof Dr Nanthakumar Loganathan said Malaysia’s economy had remained relatively stable in recent years, with steady growth and a stronger ringgit compared with several other Asean currencies. However, he said global uncertainty continued to weigh on the economy, while the government’s large subsidy burden could create longer-term fiscal pressures. He added that the cost of living and poverty remained key issues Malaysia had yet to fully resolve, despite government efforts to address them. 0 HOUSING UTM property economics and finance associate professor Dr Muhammad Najib Razali said housing affordability remained a problem despite the expansion of housing supply and home ownership. He added that rising house prices, land and construction costs, financing constraints and a mismatch between housing locations and household needs continued to make suitable homes inaccessible to many Malaysians, particularly in urban areas. He also said the housing policy needed to be better integrated with transport, employment and land-use planning, with greater emphasis on effective implementation. 0 POLITICS Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) political analyst Assoc Prof Dr Novel Lyndon said Malaysia had matured in areas such as electoral competition and maintaining national unity, but its political institutions had not developed at the same pace. He cited political instability, party-hopping, corruption, weak institutional independence and the continued politicisation of race and religion as challenges. He also said concerns raised by Sabah and Sarawak reflected deeper questions over constitutional recognition, equitable development and meaningful participation in national decision-making. 0 TRANSPORT Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said Malaysia’s dependence on cars was rooted not only in transport policy but also in fragmented urban planning. He added that sprawling cities, poor connectivity between residential areas, workplaces and

public transport, and inadequate active mobility infrastructure had made private vehicles the default option for many Malaysians. 0 ENVIRONMENT National University of Singapore Southeast Asian Studies lecturer Dr Serina Rahman said Malaysia needed to rethink development that came at the expense of its natural environment. She said protecting remaining forests, karst landscapes, coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows should take priority. She also said a wellbeing-based approach could also better balance economic needs, poverty reduction and environmental protection. 0 HEALTH UKM public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said Malaysia was not preparing quickly enough for its ageing population. She added that with the country expected to become an aged nation by 2036, rising chronic diseases, frailty and dementia would place increasing pressure on healthcare systems and families. She said Malaysia needed stronger long-term care and a larger workforce, including geriatricians, rehabilitation specialists, community workers, counsellors and home-care providers. 0 IDENTITY UKM anthropology and sociology senior lecturer Dr Velan Kunjuraman said Malaysia needed to strengthen a shared national identity beyond race, religion and state affiliations. He added that identity was shaped from an early age through families and schools, while social media could amplify racial and religious divisions. He called for more meaningful interaction between communities and greater emphasis on equity and inclusion to build a stronger sense of common belonging. 0 CHILDREN Universiti Teknologi Mara Social and Policy Studies lecturer Prof Dr Yarina Ahmad said development must ultimately be measured by whether children were safe and able to grow in supportive environments. She highlighted persistent concerns over child poverty, school dropout, access to education and healthcare, abuse and weakening family structures. She called for stronger support for families and tougher enforcement against abuse and neglect to ensure children could grow in safe environments. 0 EDUCATION International Islamic University Malaysia associate professor and Centre for Teaching Thinking director Dr Suhailah Hussien said Malaysia had made significant progress in expanding access to education, but socioeconomic and geographical disparities remain.

o Experts weigh in on national progress and potential across key sectors

and responsibility to society.

She said future reforms must prioritise equity and inclusion, ensuring children with fewer advantages received the support they needed to succeed. She also said education should go beyond academic knowledge by helping young Malaysians understand their identity, purpose

She added that young Malaysians wanted to contribute to the country, but this must be matched by fair opportunities and the ability to live with dignity. She also emphasised the need for better governance and management of public resources to secure the country’s future.

0 YOUTH Muda

secretary-general Ainie Haziqah Shafii said Malaysia needed to address the rising cost of living and create better opportunities for youth to build stable and fulfilling lives.