Alan Teh told FMT that there is no requirement in the building by-laws in the country to ensure all residential properties are made disabled-friendly, except when the building is being made especially for the elderly.
“Only if you are designing a specific home for the elderly, then you have to do that.
“This is in contrast to the public buildings where you have to provide disabled access and disabled toilets,” said Teh, of Atelier Alan Teh Architect.
He cited the example of Singapore, where HDB housing is built with a minimum floor width of one meter for the main door, and one of the toilets must be one meter clear at the door way.
“This is to facilitate the elderly and to provide wheelchair access,” Teh said.
He then urged developers to do the same since the demographics projected an increase in the country’s ageing population by 2040.
“Sustainable cities need proper planning that looks far beyond and should cater for the needs of everyone. If we are unable to develop a complete housing estate like that of Singapore and even Japan, perhaps we should look at allocating two per cent of every 100 units built.”
Data obtained from the statistics department’s Population Projection 2010-2040, reveal that the population for the age group 0-14 years is estimated to decline from 27.4% to 19.6% over the 30-year period.
However, the same data showed that the population size of those aged 15-64 years and 65 years and over is expected to increase by 1.4% and 6.4%, respectively.
The number of Malaysian citizens aged 65 years and older in 2040, is also expected to be three times what it was in 2010.
Teh said while catering for the growing ageing population, developers must also take into consideration the cost, so as to make homes affordable.