By Yashila Issabelle
IPOH, 25 October 2025 — The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Ipoh successfully anchored a significant community event yesterday with its Healthy Aging Day, attended by approximately 120 spirited seniors.
The event, held in conjunction with the International Day of Older Persons, brought together government, community, and industry partners to advocate for better senior care.
The day was officiated by the Guest of Honour, YB M. Kulasegaran, Deputy Minister of Law & Institutional Reforms, who was joined by YMCA Ipoh President Dato’ Daniel Tay Kwan Hui and Mrs. H.K. Chong, the esteemed Founder of Green Acres retirement village, during a media session and the day’s key ceremony.
To symbolize the community’s lasting commitment, the dignitaries planted a Dementia Tree at the entrance of the YMCA building to honour the Ipoh senior community.
In the opening address, YB M. Kulasegaran emphasized that a secure aging process requires both institutional reform and personal commitment to healthy living.
The Deputy Minister highlighted the urgent need for institutional reform, particularly by addressing the financial security of seniors.
He is urging the government to expedite the introduction of a law requiring adult children to provide financial support to their aging parents.
He stated that this law constitutes necessary institutional reform due to reports of neglect among elderly people across various races.
“It should not be the government’s sole responsibility to care for the elderly.
“It is also the children’s responsibility,” he asserted.
Secondly, YB Kulasegaran advocated for greater protection of seniors’ assets, pushing for the introduction of a Mental Capacity Act.
This law, which would be based on models used in the UK (implemented in 2005) and Singapore (implemented in 2008), is intended to help seniors manage their resources effectively and ensure their wealth is protected for their health needs.
YB Kulasegaran also shared his personal testimony, noting that adopting a healthy eating lifestyle has benefited his own health (at 68 years old), underlining the importance of personal control.
Complementing this focus on policy, Mrs. H.K. Chong stressed the importance of personal action.
“Healthy aging is very personal and you are in full control,” she reminded attendees.
The Healthy Aging Day focused on a holistic approach to dementia, empowering seniors with information on prevention and management.
The sessions covered strategies for what to do before, during, and after a diagnosis, ensuring all seniors are equipped with the knowledge to maintain their cognitive health through healthy eating, exercise, and mental stimulation.
Expert-led sessions were facilitated by representatives from, Vitality Health, Ms. Fatin Izzaty from UTAR, Dr. Ginsky from Angsana Health and The Sign Language Team from Canning Garden Baptist Church (CBGC).
The programme concluded with insights from Dr. Premala Subramanian, Consultant Geriatrician and Physician of Pantai Hospital Ipoh, who provided actionable advice to improve the quality of life and manage age-related health concerns.
The event, supported by GreenAcres, Angsana Health, Pantai Hospital, and ConnecticaZen, was successful in connecting generations of professionals with baby boomers to bring hope through shared testimonies of preventing and beating health issues.
For enquiries regarding the YMCA Ipoh, please contact: 05-254 0809.
