17/09/2026

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THURSDAY | SEPT 17, 2026

Start building for an ageing population, developers told

Ű BY JOHN GILBERT

KUALA LUMPUR: With Malaysia projected to become an aged society by 2030, one of the biggest gaps in the country’s housing stock, from a property and community develop ment perspective, is its focus on the property itself rather than the township and community around it. MTT Group property and asset director Leonard Theng ( pic ) said that when building a township, developers and stakeholders must think about how people will actually live there as they age – whether they can easily access amenities, health care, wellness, nature and social activities, for example. “It’s about creating a living environment that supports ageing well, not just building a home that meets today’s needs,” said Theng, who also represents Eden at Botanica CT in Penang. “At Eden at Botanica CT, for example, we are looking at an integrated ecosystem where inde pendent living is complemented by care support within the wider Botanica CT township, including the care residence and the up-and coming Selgate Specialist Hospital Penang,” he told SunBiz . For the upcoming Budget 2027, Theng said the government should view ageing as a broader economic and quality-of-life opportunity, encompassing not just healthcare and welfare, but also urban planning, housing, employment and financial planning. “We can continue to develop the WHO Age-Friendly Cities and Com munities approach, which en courages cities to create environ ments that meet the needs of older people while remaining inclusive and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. “Penang already has positive initiatives such as the Penang Age

o As Malaysia heads towards aged society status by 2030, property sector must create ecosystem that supports senior living well: MTT Group property and asset director

team actively facilitates activities, services, care and community life. “Ultimately, the aspiration should be to choose senior living because it enhances the way you want to live – not simply because you need care,” he said. Looking ahead, Theng said Malaysia is arguably ahead of the senior-living curve today, but the demographics will catch up. “That is why we need to start building and planning now, rather than waiting for the demand to become obvious. “We also need to recognise that the seniors of the future will have very different expectations,” he added. Theng also noted that today’s market is largely focused on Baby Boomers in their 60s to 80s, but over the next five to ten years, Gen X – now in their 40s and 50s – will increasingly enter this stage of life, with different expectations around lifestyle, choice and experiences. “This is important because these generations have grown up with very different expectations around lifestyle, choice and experiences. Gen X in particular is more globally exposed and well-travelled, and is likely to ask not just, ‘Where will I live?’ but ‘How do I want to live?,’” he said. Theng said this will have a significant impact on what de velopers need to create – from the design of homes and amenities to the wider community, wellness, mo bility, social experiences and access to services. “If we want to meet that future demand, we need to be thinking and building ahead of it today,” he added.

“We have also tried to bring these elements together. For example, our Signature Retirement Experience with AIA Pension & Asset Management includes a RM25,000 contribution towards the purchaser’s PRS, linking financial preparedness with the broader retirement living experience,” he added. Theng noted that senior-living communities must avoid being perceived as last-resort institutional care facilities. “We need to educate the public and change the perception that senior living is somewhere you go only when you can no longer manage on your own. “That is a very reactive way of looking at ageing. Senior living should instead be a proactive lifestyle choice. “Because there is a difference between simply being alive and truly living your life – and senior living should be about enabling people to continue living life to the fullest as they age.” Theng said at Eden at Botanica CT, for example, the emphasis is not simply on providing a place to live, but on creating an environment that encourages residents to continue enjoying – and even improving – their lifestyle as they age. “The Fun Hub brings wellness, recreation and social activities into everyday living, while the wider community encourages interaction and connectedness. “It is also about the experience of living there. Rather than feeling like a healthcare institution or simply another condominium, senior living can adopt a more hospitality-led approach, where the management

other cities and countries. “It would also be nice to see more seniors being given the opportunity to remain part of the workforce, whether through senior-friendly hiring practices or more flexible employment options. This allows them to stay active, engaged and continue contributing their ex perience,” he said. There is an opportunity to develop more senior-centric communities that support not just care needs, but also the lifestyle, independence and social connections of older adults, he added. Asked about the govern ment, developers, healthcare providers and financial insti tutions sharing responsibility for building an ageing-ready ecosystem, Theng said no single stakeholder can address Malaysia’s ageing challenge. He said such initiatives require an integrated ecosystem, with government providing the right policies and standards, de velopers creating age-friendly communities, healthcare providers offering more accessible and proactive care, and financial institutions developing solutions that support retirement and future care needs.

Friendly City Pro ject, and we can continue building on these efforts while learning from

Gold seen within US$4,000-5,000 range over next one year or two BATU KAWAN: Gold prices are expected to remain range-bound between US$4,000 and US$5,000 RM16,327 and RM20,409) per troy ounce over the next one to two years, with the precious metal currently trading at around US$4,350 per troy ounce, said the Malaysia Gold Association. refinery centre. Ng, who is also Public Gold group founder and executive chairman, said the range is expected to provide strong support for gold prices, with movements in interest rates in the United States and Japan, among other factors, continuing to influence investment demand for gold. Public Gold exported about two tonnes of scrap gold to Hong Kong and Singapore for refining over the past two months. “With this refinery, which follows international standards, we can refine it here in Malaysia,” Ng said.

The project has created about 1,000 job opportunities directly, ranging from highly skilled technical and engineering positions to quality assurance, operations and corporate support functions. Public Gold was established in 2008. It serves more than 2.6 million customers across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei and recently the United Arab Emirates. It has an integrated ecosystem encompassing trading, manufacturing and refining. Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim officiated at the launch. – Bernama

Public Gold’s new refinery is located on 1.14 acres within the Batu Kawan Industrial Park with a built-up area of 43,472 square feet. It can refine up to 10 tonnes of precious metals annually, with the capacity to expand to between 20 and 50 tonnes per year. Construction started in 2024, and it is now operational. The facility, which involves an investment of RM30 million, can refine scrap gold locally instead of sending it to overseas facilities, which would help to reduce transportation, insurance and refining costs, Ng said.

Its president, Datuk Seri Louis Ng, said gold has remained a sought-after asset, although changes in major economies’ interest rate trajectories could dampen demand and influence the precious metal’s price direction. “Gold, I think, will be stable around the US$4,000 to US$5,000 per troy ounce range for the next one to two years until we see the direction of the interest rate,” he told reporters at the launch of precious metals trading company Public Gold’s refinery here on Tuesday. According to Public Gold, it is Malaysia’s first international-standard

Ng speaking at the launch of Public Gold’s international-standard refinery in Batu Kawan Industrial Park on Tuesday. – BERNAMAPIC