PADAWAN – The Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) has formally been welcomed into the World Health Organization’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, strengthening its efforts to prepare the local community for the needs of an ageing population.
MPP hosted a delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) on 13 August, led by Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore.
The council became a member of the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (AFCC) in February 2026. The move forms part of broader efforts to prepare Sarawak for an ageing population by 2028.
During the visit, Dr Rabindra handed over the official letter confirming MPP’s membership in the global network to MPP Chairman Cr Tan Kai.
The membership places Padawan within an international network focused on helping communities create environments that are more supportive and inclusive for people as they age.
Tan said the age-friendly approach reflected the council’s wider vision of developing Padawan as a sustainable, inclusive and liveable community where residents of different age groups can participate and remain included.
“In Padawan, the age-friendly approach reflects MPP’s commitment to its vision of building ‘a sustainable, inclusive, and liveable Padawan’, where people of all ages are included and no one is left behind,” he said.
He added that the approach was aligned with the Sarawak Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, particularly its Social Inclusivity pillar.
The emphasis on age-friendly development represents another element of MPP’s work in shaping a community that takes into account the needs of different groups within the population.
As communities age, local authorities may need to consider how public spaces, services and community environments can remain accessible and supportive for older residents. The WHO’s age-friendly framework provides a platform for communities to address such considerations while promoting participation and inclusion.
For Padawan, the new membership adds an international dimension to initiatives already undertaken by the council. MPP has previously been involved in the Green City Action Plan as well as the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative.
The latest step therefore expands the council’s focus from environmental and child-focused initiatives to a broader approach that also considers the needs of older residents and the wider population.
The AFCC network is intended to support communities in sharing approaches and experiences related to ageing and community development. MPP’s participation provides a formal framework for the council to engage with that wider network while continuing its local planning efforts.
The visit by the WHO delegation also marked the formal presentation of MPP’s membership confirmation, highlighting the council’s participation in an international initiative centred on age-friendly community development.
With Sarawak preparing for demographic changes associated with an ageing population, the inclusion of local authorities such as MPP in the AFCC network provides another avenue for addressing social inclusion as part of long-term development planning.
MPP described the initiative as part of its continuing commitment to fostering a sustainable, inclusive and healthy community. Its membership in the WHO network now adds age-friendly development to a series of initiatives aimed at shaping Padawan into a community that accommodates residents across different stages of life.
