DPM Announces Plans for ‘Age Friendly City’ Together with United Nations Development Programme

Speaking at the Malaysia Urban Forum 2019 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced planning for a new age-friendly city in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme.

Telling the assembled attendants that said city would be child, elderly, and disabled friendly, Dr Wan Azizah also noted that there were plans to consider a proposal to work with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to realise a child-friendly city. “This concept envisions a town or community where the voice, needs, interests and rights of a child will be of the utmost priority in developing policies and programmes at the local government level. Our cities have to be age-, child- and gender-friendly as we prepare ourselves for this change in social profile,” she said.

Noting that Malaysia is set to become an aging society with more than 15% of the population being 60 years old or above by 2030, Dr Wan Azizah said that liveability would be a major focus going forward, with basic facilities, infrastructure, good public transportation, safe neighbourhoods and a comfortable and clean environment all well within accessible distance of all citizens across the social strata.