Malaysia is undergoing a rapid demographic transition. By 2030, one in six Malaysians will be aged 60 or above. Combined with rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) rates and widening social inequalities, the need for cities to foster healthier living environments has never been more urgent.
WHO organized the Mayors’ Meeting on Strengthening Healthy Settings under Age Friendly Cities & Communities along with the Penang Island City Council and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) on 25–26 November. The meeting witnessed participation from various city representatives of Malaysia (both AFCC Member cities and others), as well as representatives from the region.
/countries/malaysia/mayors--representatives-from-the-government--who-and-key-sectors-unite-to-strengthen-malaysia-s-healthy-set.jpg?sfvrsn=ed293458_3 "Mayors, representatives from the government, WHO and key sectors unite to strengthen Malaysia’s healthy set")
Mayors, representatives from the government, WHO and key sectors unite to strengthen Malaysia’s healthy settings agenda forward.
Credit : WHO Malaysia
In Malaysia, as in many countries, the cities are at the centre of rapid change as the country moves rapidly toward becoming an ageing nation. Nearly 80 per cent of Malaysians now live in urban areas. Urban challenges such as NCDs, air pollution, climate impacts, road traffic accidents, and widening inequalities remind us that health is shaped by the places where people live, work, study and age. This is why the role of mayors and city leaders is so critical. Cities are not only administrative units; they are living systems where policy decisions translate directly into healthier or unhealthier daily lives.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Deepa Gamage, Public Health Specialist-Disease Control shared “This Mayors’ Meeting brings together a truly unique group including, local government leaders, health officials, international partners and advocates who all share one mission, to strengthen healthy settings and make our cities that enable people to live well with good health, wellbeing, and resilience, at every stage of life.” She added, “The World Health Organization remains committed to supporting Malaysia and its cities through technical guidance, best practices and stronger collaboration across Western Pacific Region, partnerships with networks represented here today.”
Participants emphasized that creating healthy, age-friendly communities requires more than health services alone; it demands political commitment, cross-sector collaboration, and people-centred city planning.
/countries/malaysia/speakers-at-the-high-level-fire-side-chat-sharing-good-practices.jpg?sfvrsn=8a1d882_5 "Speakers at the high-level fire side chat sharing good practices")
Speakers at the high-level fire side chat sharing good practices, lessons learned and key considerations for strengthening healthy cities.
The meeting aimed to do exactly that. Leaders examined how Malaysia can accelerate a healthy life-course approach, which supports well-being from childhood to older age through Healthy Cities, Healthy Schools, Healthy Workplaces, Age-Friendly Environments, and other settings-based initiatives. It provided a platform for learning from practical experiences in Malaysia and other ASEAN countries, especially the innovative, people-centred solutions that make healthy living easier and more accessible for everyone.
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From group discussions to sharing solutions, the participants shared some success stories and new ideas through local experiences.
Penang, already recognized for its innovative approaches to age-friendly and inclusive urban development, provided a fitting backdrop. Its commitment to mobility, gender-responsive planning, community participation and digital inclusion showcased what is possible when cities put healthy living at the heart of governance. Against the backdrop of Penang’s leadership in healthy and age-friendly urban planning, the meeting brought together city mayors, national policymakers, healthy settings networks, civil society groups, academia and WHO experts from regional and country office to chart the next phase of Malaysia’s Healthy Settings movement.
We truly believe, the future strength of the cities depends on the health of our people. Our aim is for the older persons to live a productive and dignified life sustaining financial security, way beyond retirement. We are also ready to take on a broader role for supporting, guiding and coaching other Malaysian cities to be part of the Age Friendly Cities & Communities network,” said Dato’ Ir. Rajendran P. Anthony, Mayor, City Council of Penang Island.
/countries/malaysia/participants-engaged-in-group-discussions-and-presentations-during-the-working-session.jpg?sfvrsn=f18d891e_5 "Participants engaged in group discussions and presentations during the working session")
Participants engaged in group discussions and presentations during the working session.
The Mayors’ Meeting focused on strengthening political commitment with city and national leaders discussing the urgent need to reduce NCDs risk factors, tackle the social determinants of health and build environments that empower older adults to maintain independence and functional ability. While reinforcing the role of local governments as essential partners in national health goals. It also focused on sharing experiences and lessons from cities across Malaysia and selected ASEAN countries. With representatives showcasing practical solutions, from active mobility and age-friendly transport to community inclusion, housing design and preventive health programmes. Officials and experts also outlined strategies to expand, scale, sustain and measure initiatives in the country, ensuring long-term impact and accountability.
The meeting featured many high-level roundtable discussions, and fire-side chat sessions. In one of the key sessions,Good Practices, Lessons Learned, and Key Considerations for Ensuring Healthy Cities Moving Forward. Datuk Wee Hong Seng, Kuching South City Council Mayor shared “We are here not only to share what we have done for our cities, but also to learn a lot from other’s experiences.’ He added “I would like to see many other cities from Malaysia joining the WHO Age Friendly Cities & Communities Network as we need to form a larger collective and learn from the experiences, and it is worthy cause of investing our time and efforts.”
/countries/malaysia/the-meeting-brought-partners-from-across-the-region-together.jpg?sfvrsn=9e57a7f_3 "The meeting brought partners from across the region together")
The meeting brought partners from across the region together – Indonesia Forum of Healthy Cities; Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network; Alliance for Healthy Cities; Partnership for Prevention of NCDs (Bloomberg); Age-Friendly Cities and Communities network, along with experts from universities in Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and other countries from the region.
As the meeting concluded, participants expressed optimism, not only about improving health, but also about creating cities where every person, regardless of age or background can thrive.