Malaysia's Sultan Opens Silver Economy Forum on Aging Challenges
News related to:Global Coalition on Aging · 1 min read
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, November 11, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Malaysia's Deputy King and Sultan of Perak, His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah, opened the Silver Economy Forum 2026 (SEF26) on November 11, 2026, at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The forum, themed "Healthy Longevity for Economic Growth," is the first of its kind in Asia and is co-convened by the Global Coalition on Aging and the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society.
In his address, Sultan Nazrin highlighted the unprecedented challenge faced by ASEAN nations: growing old before they grow rich. He noted that almost eleven years after the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Ageing, the demographic future it envisioned is rapidly becoming the present. By 2020, one in nine people in Southeast Asia was aged 60 or above, and by mid-century, this figure is expected to rise to one in five.
The Sultan emphasized that this demographic shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. He challenged the common perception of an ageing population as a fiscal liability, arguing that the transition is a consequence of success.
Malaysia's National Health and Morbidity Survey 2025 revealed that only 14.7 percent of Malaysians aged 60 and above met the criteria for ageing well. He called for a re-alignment of the economy towards inclusivity, innovation, and social stability, rather than merely focusing on economic consumption.
The Sultan also addressed the need for inclusive access to healthy ageing.
In his address, Sultan Nazrin highlighted the interconnectedness of housing, healthcare, financial security, and technology. He called for health planning that shapes the homes and neighbourhoods people live in and financial systems that recognize the increasing length and flexibility of working lives.
The Sultan concluded by emphasizing the human aspect behind demographic charts and fiscal projections.
The forum, which runs from November 11 to 12, aims to explore strategies for healthy longevity and economic growth in the region.