Malaysia officially became an ageing society in 2020, with seniors making up over 7% of the population — a figure expected to hit 10% by 2030. With the government launching the 2026–2030 Senior Citizens Action Plan, what’s next for long-term care, support systems, and policy reform, especially with Budget 2026 on the horizon? We speak to Chai Sen Tyng from UPM's Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing.

Other stories we covered:

• Overdevelopment in Taman Desa: The Protect Taman Desa group is pushing back against two plots of land being rezoned for condominiums — one that used to be a playground, another reserved for a police station. We speak to volunteer Dishen Kumar about this.

• What educationists want in Budget 2026: Education has long received the biggest slice of Malaysia’s national budget — RM64.1 billion last year. But as Budget 2026 approaches, what do educators want to see prioritised? We hear from LeapEd’s Shahnaz al-Sadat and GERAK’s Sharifah Munirah Alatas for their perspectives on education and higher education.

• KL’s beloved indie bookstore closes down: After three years of championing local literature and zine culture, independent bookstore Tokosue is shutting its doors. Founder Suzana Ahmad, better known as Sue, says financial strain made the decision inevitable. We speak to her about the realities of running a small bookshop — and what she hopes Tokosue’s legacy will be.

• Should government events cater to all religious sensitivities?: A political party has called on the government to ban beef from being served at official events — citing respect for Hindu and Buddhist communities. The proposal comes amid backlash over Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing’s viral gala dinner photos. We look at what this says about religion, respect, and politics in public life.

Image Credit: Shutterstock