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As Malaysia’s population ages, conversations about healthy ageing often centre on physical health, chronic illnesses and cognitive decline. Yet an equally important aspect of growing older is often overlooked: mental wellbeing. Beyond living longer, healthy ageing is also about maintaining meaningful relationships, a sense of purpose and emotional wellbeing.

World Mental Health Day, observed annually on 10 October, serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to people with lived experiences of mental health conditions. This year’s theme, “Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change”, highlights the need for more inclusive and responsive support systems, particularly for older adults whose emotional needs may go unrecognised.

By 2026, Malaysians aged 60 and above are expected to account for approximately 12.3% of the population. As the country moves towards an ageing society, supporting mental wellbeing must become as important as addressing physical and cognitive health.

Healthy ageing is more than physical and cognitive health

Discussions about healthy ageing often focus on physical health, chronic diseases, mobility and cognitive decline. While these are important, mental wellbeing should not be treated as secondary.

Ageing can bring significant life changes. Retirement may mean losing a familiar routine or professional identity. Children may leave home, family relationships may change, and some may experience the loss of a spouse, close friends or their independence.

These transitions can affect emotional wellbeing, confidence, identity and a person’s sense of purpose. While common, they should not simply be accepted as something older individuals have to navigate alone.

Not everything is “part of getting old”

Emotional and behavioural changes are sometimes dismissed as a natural part of growing older. Sadness, withdrawal, loss of interest, changes in sleep or appetite, and even forgetfulness may be attributed to age, allowing signs of emotional distress to go unnoticed.

Growing older does not automatically mean becoming depressed, withdrawn or emotionally distressed. Depression and anxiety are mental health conditions that require attention and appropriate support.

Malaysian research has also documented depression, anxiety and stress among older adults, with some mental health concerns remaining undetected. Changes in an older person’s behaviour and emotions should therefore be recognised rather than immediately attributed to age.

Loneliness is not the same as living alone

An older person may live independently while maintaining meaningful relationships, while someone surrounded by family may still feel isolated. Loneliness is shaped by the quality of social connections rather than simply the number of people around us.

A Malaysian study involving 2,188 older adults found that stronger social networks were associated with greater psychological flourishing and, in some groups, lower loneliness.  This reinforces the importance of meaningful connection as we age.

Ageing also means dealing with loss

Bereavement can mean more than losing someone we love. For an older adult, it may also mean losing part of their identity. Changes in long-held roles as a spouse, parent or caregiver, as well as reduced independence, can affect a person’s sense of purpose.

While sadness is a natural response to loss, older adults need opportunities to express their emotions and share their experiences. Families and communities should recognise these emotional needs rather than expecting them to move on or dismissing their sadness as part of ageing.

What can we do as a society?

Psychological wellbeing must be part of how society supports healthy ageing. Creating opportunities for older adults to remain active, connected and purposeful can help, and this does not always require complex programmes.

Small-group outings, community activities, dancing, singing and creative activities can encourage participation and social interaction. Beyond keeping older adults occupied, these experiences offer opportunities for self-expression, sharing memories, cognitive stimulation and meaningful connections.

Research into creative and social activities also points to the value of experiences that support cognitive and emotional health. Rather than focusing solely on what people may lose as they age, we should also consider what helps them remain resilient, engaged and connected.

We need to listen to older adults

This year’s theme reminds us of the importance of listening to lived experiences. For older adults, this means understanding their needs, what matters to them and what gives their lives meaning.

Rather than making decisions for them, families, communities and healthcare professionals should involve older adults in decisions that affect their lives. Supporting mental health requires a holistic approach that considers physical and cognitive health alongside emotions, relationships and living environments.

Healthy ageing is not simply about adding more years to life. It is also about ensuring those years are lived with connection, dignity, meaning and purpose. If it takes a whole village to raise a child, it takes a whole village to help a person age healthily, meaningfully and with dignity.

About the Expert:

When haze returns, public attention naturally turns to the Air Pollutant Index (API). We monitor whether readings are moderate, unhealthy or hazardous and use them to decide when outdoor activities should be reduced or schools may need to close.

These readings are essential, but children may respond differently depending on their age, health, physical activity and environment.

Protecting them therefore requires more than watching the numbers. Families and schools must also recognise individual vulnerabilities, respond to early symptoms and prepare before conditions become severe.

Haze can disrupt health and learning

Haze may cause coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue and breathing difficulties. Even relatively mild symptoms can affect a student’s concentration, classroom participation and attendance.

Children are particularly vulnerable because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. They also inhale more air relative to their body weight, with physical exertion further increasing their exposure to PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the lungs.

Those with asthma, allergies, eczema, chronic respiratory disease or heart conditions face greater risks and may experience worsening symptoms even when their peers appear unaffected.

The effects are not only physical. Missing sports and social activities, spending prolonged periods indoors and worrying about worsening symptoms may also affect children’s emotional wellbeing.

Haze preparedness must therefore protect their learning and daily routines, not only prevent medical emergencies.

Preparedness should reflect individual needs

Parents should monitor readings through the official Malaysian Air Pollutant Index Management System portal and reduce non-essential outdoor activities when air quality becomes unhealthy or continues to worsen. Children should never be encouraged to “push through” coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or breathing difficulties to complete an outdoor activity.

API readings should be considered alongside a child’s health and symptoms. Children with asthma or other chronic conditions may need to reduce exposure earlier and should follow advice from their healthcare provider.

At home, windows and doors should be kept closed where appropriate. Air purifiers fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters may help improve indoor air quality. Families should also avoid smoking, burning incense and other activities that generate fine particles indoors.

When children need to go outdoors, a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask may offer better protection from fine particles than cloth or surgical masks. The mask should fit securely around the face to provide effective protection.

Schools play a vital role

Schools are encouraged to have clear haze-response plans covering API monitoring, timely communication with families and adjustments to activities, in line with Malaysia’s National Haze Action Plan.

Physical education, sports, field trips and outdoor assemblies should be moved indoors or postponed when necessary. Schools should also identify students with chronic health conditions and ensure they can access prescribed medication and appropriate support.

Maintaining cleaner indoor environments is equally important. Classrooms should minimise the entry of polluted outdoor air by using suitable filtration where available. Academic accommodations or home-based learning may be considered when symptoms affect attendance or prolonged haze disrupts normal school operations.

Recognising when medical help is needed

Medical advice should be sought if symptoms persist, worsen or interfere with normal activities. Children with asthma, chronic lung disease, heart conditions or significant allergies require particularly close monitoring.

Urgent medical attention is needed for severe breathing difficulty, significant chest pain, marked wheezing, bluish discolouration around the lips, fingernails or face, unusual drowsiness, confusion or rapidly worsening symptoms.

Preparedness cannot be an afterthought once a child begins struggling to breathe. By acting early and responding to individual needs, families, schools and healthcare providers can reduce the effects of haze on children’s health, learning and wellbeing.

About the Expert: Dr Sapna Shridhar Patil

It’s said that the grass is always greener on the other side. However, when we are thousands of miles away from home, with none of the familiar smells or sounds around us, our Malaysian identity somehow becomes louder.

“We are more Malaysian than Malaysians,” said a fellow Malaysian – a Sabahan whom I met at the MetroSarong event in Marseille.The description seems apt for those of us in France who gathered in different parts of the country during the recent Malaysia Day celebrations to celebrate our shared national identity in a happily ‘sarong’ way. 

With just some 3,000 of us here for work, study, family or other reasons – crossing paths in this country 1.7 times bigger than Malaysia can somehow feel like winning a small lottery.

Unlike Malaysia, where the South China Sea divides Peninsular Malaysia in the west, from Sarawak and Sabah in the east (with remote areas further isolated by rainforests), it is possible to travel within metropolitan France by land.

So that’s exactly what many of us did – travel hours across regions, some wearing sarongs on the train or metro, just to show or say “je t’aime” (I love you) to our homeland.

For this story, I talked to the presidents and organisers of three Malaysian associations across France – in Paris, Lyon and Marseille – asking how they celebrated Malaysia Day 2026, what makes us Malaysian, and finally, the last ‘real’ question.

Malaysia Parade in Central France @ Lyon

The Malaysia Day celebration in Lyon was definitely an exciting one, full of fun twists. As I was writing this, the group was deciding who was going to wear the ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang’ costume. 

The Malaysia Day celebration was held in conjunction with the Fêtes des Bannières du Monde (World Banners and Flags Festival), an annual event organised by the City of Lyon in France, where Malaysian delegates joined some 30 other countries to showcase our culture in a grand flag-flying parade, exhibition booth, and of course, our favourite Malaysian food.

I first met President of the Malaysians Association in Lyon (MALYON) Jeyanthy Ganapathy during a Hari Raya gathering in Lyon, while I was doing a summer French course in France’s gastronomic city.

Fondly referred to as “Mama Jeya” by fellow Malaysians here, she has been organising Malaysia meet-ups even before the association was officially formed, and has helmed the association for eight consecutive years.

The group, with many newcomers as well as doctors, cancer researchers and students from Malaysia, also joined Fêtes Consulaires 2026 (Consular Festivals), with a potluck menu featuring everything Malaysian.

“Yes, we are very ‘Malaysian’ abroad. We are waiting for it – the events and gatherings – to be with Malaysians.”  After more than a decade in France, the moment she spots something Malaysian on social media, she still can’t help but check it out.

The one tradition that she most wanted to keep alive while living in France: to ‘berkampung’ or practise the kampung spirit of togetherness.

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MetroSarong in the South of France @ Marseille

Anne Ravera is the engineer and founder of the Malaysian association in the south of France – Malaysians in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (MyPACA) – which was set up in 2025. 

Having lived in France for 13 years and celebrated numerous Hari Merdeka celebrations, this year was her second Hari Malaysia celebration in France and the first one she organised herself.


She connected with the Malaysian community living in the south of France, including some 20 Malaysia engineering students studying in Aix-en-Provence (another city one hour from Marseille), for a #MetroSarong event in France’s second largest city.

I joined them for lunch at the Parc du 26e Centenaire in Marseille, after they took the metro wearing their best sarongs and happily explained to French passers-by about our country.

“I like the lifestyle here (in France), but I am still Malaysian inside. And it’s important to show my kids who we are. They may be half Malaysians living in France but this will always be who we are; we are Malaysians,” Anne told me.

The Malaysian tradition that she most wanted to keep alive in France: Hari Raya and Kaamatan celebrations!

While savouring what I could only describe as some of the best Malaysian food – spicy sambal goreng pedal ayam, ayam masak kurma and kek batik – prepared by Anne and the students, one of them shared with me some of the difficulties of studying in France. For someone who had placed second in his university or engineering school, one of his biggest challenges turned out to be the language barrier.

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Grand Malaysian Day Celebration in the north of France @ Paris

The Malaysia Day celebration 2026 was a special one for Sorensau Lau, president of the Malaysian Association of France (MAF) in Paris. Having spent three Malaysia Days in France, with this year being her first wearing the hat as MAF president – she and fellow MAF members were invited to join the official celebration hosted by the Malaysian Embassy in France.

A group of MAF members, dressed in traditional Malaysian attire, joined the official celebration on 18 September alongside officials from Malaysia. They are also planning a MetroSarong event – wearing sarongs on the metro – at the end of the month.

“When I’m with fellow Malaysians, singing ‘Negaraku’, it makes me feel proud to be a Malaysian.”

We knew each other as fellow Kuchingites living in France through the ‘Malaysian in France” Facebook group. But it was only years later that we met in person, in Kuching, during our trip home.

Growing up in the same Cat City – a city of more than 600,000 people today – Kuching can sometimes feel remarkably small as we discovered that we not only had many things in common but even common friends. In contrast, the geography here in France might make it hard for fellow Sarawakians to cross paths with each other… but that shared sense of identity is never far away.

The one thing from home she wants most to keep while living in France? Speaking Malay!

Singing Negaraku in Paris

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For Malaysian Ambassador to France, Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, Malaysia Day is more than a celebration – it is also about maintaining a sense of connection among Malaysians living abroad.

“I want to make sure that all Malaysians living in France remember a place called home, our beautiful, great homeland – Malaysia,” said Eldeen Husaini.

The official Malaysia Day celebration in Paris this year was a grand one, with Malaysian artists performing dances and songs alongside a textile showcase for hundreds of guests.

Like the presidents of the Malaysian associations I spoke to, Eldeen Husaini observed that Malaysians are often more patriotic when they are outside Malaysia. We become closer when we are far from our country.

As he told me about the numerous events he has hosted – including cosy monthly “Teh Tarik” gatherings with fellow Malaysians, free of formality – he seemed genuinely touched that something as simple as speaking BM or savouring nasi lemak could mean so much to those far from home.

All Malaysians are welcome to join events held by the Malaysian Embassy, “because we are family,” he said.

I’ve made plans to join him for a marathon in Paris next year, carrying the Malaysian flag.

The very Malaysian tradition he’d most like to keep alive in France: kunjung-mengunjung – the custom of visiting one another’s homes during festive seasons.

How old is Malaysia?

My last question was a simple one: how old is Malaysia?

Eldeen Husaini was quick to respond, launching into the history of Merdeka and Malaysia Day – a story he’s clearly told many times to his non-Malaysian counterparts. While Merdeka marks the Federation of Malaya’s independence, Malaysia Day marks the formation of the country as we know it today.

Some of my interviewees needed a moment to count, but none forgot the year: 1963, when Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah (then North Borneo), and Singapore (which left in 1965) came together to form Malaysia.

So, what makes you Malaysian? Joining #MetroSarong, or any Malaysia Day celebration around the world?

It’s probably not the maths of counting how old we are, but the shared identity we carry wherever we go. We are not just Chinese, Indian, Malay, Kadazan, Sarawakian, or Sabahan – we are all Bangsa Malaysia.

Happy Malaysia Day!

Each year, as haze settles across parts of Malaysia, daily routines begin to shift. Outdoor activities are postponed, masks become essential, and air quality readings are closely monitored. Yet amid these precautions, one important question is often overlooked: how safe is the air inside our homes?

While staying indoors can help reduce exposure to haze, it does not necessarily keep polluted air out entirely. Fine particles can still make their way into homes through gaps, ventilation, and everyday movement, making indoor air quality another important consideration during periods of poor air quality.

As part of its efforts to raise awareness around indoor air quality during haze season, Nippon Paint Malaysia engaged Dr Parveen to provide a medical perspective on the potential health impact of haze and practical steps Malaysians can take to reduce their exposure at home as part of their focus on healthier indoor environments.

“Many people assume they are safe once indoors, but haze particles can still infiltrate the home and linger, especially in spaces with poor ventilation,” says Dr Parveen Kaur, General Practitioner, Klinik Bangsar South. “Prolonged exposure, even at lower levels, can aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis, and may trigger symptoms in otherwise healthy individuals.”

This concern becomes more pronounced during prolonged haze periods, when homes are kept closed for extended hours. While shutting windows and doors helps reduce the entry of polluted air, it can also trap indoor pollutants, ranging from fine particulate matter to chemicals released by furniture, fabrics, and building materials. In other words, protection during haze season is not only about keeping pollution out, but also about managing what stays inside the home.

Who Should Be Most Careful?

While haze can affect everyone, certain groups may be more vulnerable to its health effects. Children, older adults and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis are among those who may require greater care during periods of poor air quality.

Families should also pay attention to signs that haze may be affecting their health. According to the Ministry of Health Malaysia, continued exposure to haze may cause symptoms including coughing and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, with those experiencing such symptoms advised to seek medical attention.

How Pollutants Enter the Home

Part of the challenge lies in how easily haze pollutants can enter and accumulate within indoor environments. Fine particles, particularly PM2.5, are small enough to pass through gaps around windows and doors, ventilation systems, and even be carried indoors on clothing and footwear. Once inside, these particles do not simply disappear; they settle on surfaces and can be reintroduced into the air through everyday movement.

As a result, maintaining indoor air quality during haze season requires a more holistic approach. While measures such as keeping windows closed during peak pollution periods and cleaning surfaces regularly remain important, they may not be sufficient on their own, especially when homes are sealed for long durations. For homeowners, protection during haze season should not stop at masks and closed windows; it should also include thoughtful choices about the indoor environment itself.

Simple Steps to Protect Indoor Air During Haze

Increasingly, attention is turning to the role that the built environment itself plays in shaping indoor air quality. Materials used within the home, from furnishings to wall finishes, can influence how pollutants behave indoors.

At the same time, consistent everyday habits can significantly reduce exposure. Dr Parveen recommend these practical precautions for homeowners:

• Monitor air quality regularly: Check the Air Pollutant Index (API) regularly and limit outdoor activities when levels are high
• Keep windows closed during peak haze periods: Helps to limit polluted air from entering the home
• Clean surfaces regularly: Dust and wipe surfaces to remove particles that settle indoors
• Ventilate when outdoor air improves: Allow fresh air circulation when haze levels decrease
• Reduce indoor pollutants: Avoid smoking or burning materials indoors that may worsen air quality

These small but deliberate actions reflect a broader shift in how Malaysians are beginning to think about their living spaces. Where home improvement was once driven largely by aesthetics, there is now a growing emphasis on functionality, protection, and long-term wellbeing. The home is no longer seen purely as a place of comfort, but as an environment that plays an active role in supporting health.

“During haze season, reducing total exposure is key,” says Dr Parveen. “That means creating an indoor environment where your lungs can recover from what you’re exposed to outside. Your home should function as a place of protection, not just shelter.”

This growing awareness has also led homeowners to pay closer attention to the materials used within their homes, particularly during haze season, when families spend extended periods indoors. Maintaining a healthy indoor environment becomes even more critical as windows remain closed and air circulation is limited.

Indoor air quality is influenced by more than just outside pollution. Everyday household items — especially new or lower-quality furniture, furnishings, and household products — can also emit formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that build up indoors over time. As these sources collectively contribute to indoor VOC levels, homeowners are increasingly paying closer attention to the materials they choose for the spaces their families use every day, including paint.

“Paint becomes more than just a decorative choice,” said Mr Tay Sze Tuck, the General Manager of Nippon Paint Malaysia. “At Nippon Paint, innovation is at the core of how we respond to evolving homeowner needs, especially when it comes to indoor air quality. With the launch of our Spot-Less Plus series, we introduced solutions designed not just for aesthetics, but for healthier living environments. The Spot-Less Plus Matt and Sheen range features our AirGuard Technology, which helps absorb and neutralise indoor formaldehyde and other VOCs over time, making it particularly relevant during haze periods, when homes are kept sealed, and indoor air quality becomes an even greater concern.”

As haze season continues to shape how Malaysians think about health at home, creating a safer indoor environment is becoming more important than ever. For more information on Nippon Paint’s VirusGuard and Spot-Less Plus series, visit Nippon Paint Malaysia: https://www.nipponpaint.com.my/

PETALING JAYA: As artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies create new opportunities, ensuring women have equal access to digital skills and leadership pathways will be critical to Malaysia’s future competitiveness. To further conversations in this area, the Women Leadership Foundation (WLF) and CelcomDigi Berhad (CelcomDigi) co-hosted Future-Ready Women: Leading Malaysia Through Transformation in conjunction with National Women’s Day 2026. 

The strategic dialogue brought together representatives from government, industry and the corporate sector to discuss support necessary for growth in a changing economic landscape. The collaboration leverages WLF’s experience in developing women leaders and CelcomDigi’s expertise in technology and talent development, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can help create more inclusive pathways for women to excel.

In her keynote address, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri highlighted the role of policy in creating a supportive environment for women to thrive. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Malaysia’s female labour force participation rate reached 56.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025, reflecting continued growth in women’s economic participation.

“We must therefore ensure that women can participate in the digital economy with confidence. This means providing opportunities to learn at different stages of life and recognising that not everyone begins from the same starting point. It also means connecting training to meaningful pathways into employment, entrepreneurship and career progression.”

During the event, guests visited the CelcomDigi AI Experience Centre (AiX), gaining first-hand exposure to how AI and 5G are shaping the future of work. Other highlights included a Power Session by Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, former Chief Justice of Malaysia and the country’s first female Chief Justice, who shared great insights from her leadership journey, while reflecting on leading and driving change at the highest levels of national institutions.

The event also featured a panel that discussed lessons for navigating technological disruption, digital transformation, AI acceleration and evolving workforce expectations. The members also explored topics related to mindsets needed for the future and how women can build them effectively. 

This year’s programme also coincided with WLF’s anniversary, marking five years of sustained work to advance women into leadership and decision-making roles across Malaysia and the region. 

Emylia Anwar, Chief Executive Officer of the Women Leadership Foundation said, “For us at WLF, being future-ready is not simply about understanding new technologies. It is about preparing women to make decisions, lead organisations, shape policy and create opportunities in a world that is changing at extraordinary speed. Our partnership with CelcomDigi creates a powerful bridge between leadership development and technology, bringing these conversations into the same room and, importantly, turning them into connections and opportunities.”

CelcomDigi, a leading telco-tech in Malaysia has long championed diversity and creating opportunities for women to grow in leadership positions, particularly in technology related areas. Women currently make up 49% of the company’s approximately 2,850 strong workforce, with women accounting for 42% of leadership roles overall and 15% of leadership across Technology and Innovation functions. 

Albern Murty, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Technology may be transforming how we work, but people remain the driving force behind progress. As AI and digitalisation reshape industries, it is important that women are equipped with the skills and support needed to succeed. Through our partnership with WLF, we are bringing together complementary strengths to help cultivate a stronger pipeline of talent and contribute to a more inclusive and competitive Malaysia.”

KUALA LUMPUR: IKEA Malaysia announced the appointment of Takeshi Murai as country retail director, effective 1 September 2026. He succeeds Malcolm Pruys, who has led the Malaysia business since September 2022.

Murai takes on the role at an important time for IKEA Malaysia. Following its 30th anniversary this year, the home furnishing retailer is entering its next phase of growth, with a continued focus on affordability, stronger omnichannel experiences and bringing IKEA closer to more people.

One of Murai’s first major milestones will be the opening of IKEA Kuching in December 2026, IKEA Malaysia’s first store in East Malaysia and its first small-format store.

With nearly two decades of IKEA experience across Asia and Europe, Murai brings extensive retail leadership and a strong understanding of how different markets and customers live. He joined IKEA in 2008 in Osaka, Japan, before progressing through retail and market leadership roles in Japan, Sweden and Finland.

His IKEA journey later brought him to Malaysia as Store Manager of IKEA Batu Kawan in 2024, where he was responsible for the store’s overall retail operations and customer experience. He later took on responsibility for the IKEA Klang Valley stores, giving him first-hand experience of Malaysian customers, co-workers and the changing realities of life at home.

“Malaysia is a diverse and dynamic market, where the way people live, shop and experience home continues to evolve,” said Takeshi Murai, country retail director of IKEA Malaysia.

“As I take on this role, I want to stay curious and open to understanding how people really live at home. This will remain fundamental to keeping IKEA relevant to the needs of Malaysians, while we look for more ways to make our products and experiences seamlessly affordable and accessible across our stores and digital channels.”

“Opening IKEA Kuching later this year is an important part of that journey. For the first time, we will bring the physical IKEA store experience to East Malaysia, closer to customers who have known and shopped with us for years. I am excited about what lies ahead and the opportunity to continue growing IKEA Malaysia together with our co-workers, customers and communities.”

Growing closer to how Malaysians live

As IKEA Malaysia moves into its next chapter, the business will continue to be guided by its vision to create a better everyday life for the many people.

Affordability will remain at the heart of this, guided by the idea that Staying at Home Is Affordable. At IKEA, affordability is about more than the price tag. It is about helping people make more of the homes they already have, with well-designed and functional solutions that make space work harder, everyday routines easier, and leave more room for rest, comfort and connection.

This approach is supported by Democratic Design, which brings together form, function, quality, sustainability and low price, alongside IKEA understanding of Life at Home. Together, these help IKEA respond to changing household needs, multifunctional spaces and evolving shopping behaviours, while making the IKEA experience easier to access across stores and digital channels.

Building on a strong foundation

Murai succeeds Malcolm Pruys, who became Country Retail Director of IKEA Malaysia in September 2022.

Under his leadership, IKEA Malaysia sharpened its focus on affordability and accessibility, lowering prices on more than 2,000 essential and best-selling articles while strengthening its omnichannel business across stores, e-commerce, collection points and delivery, including expanded access in East Malaysia.

Pruys also oversaw important milestones for IKEA Food in Malaysia. All IKEA Restaurants, Cafés and Bistros nationwide achieved JAKIM halal certification, formally recognising IKEA Malaysia’s long-standing halal practices, while the IKEA curry puff entered the Malaysia Book of Records after 8.6 million were sold in a year.

Pruys also led IKEA Malaysia as it celebrated 30 years in the country in 2026, marking three decades of growth alongside Malaysian homes and communities.

“It has been a privilege to lead IKEA Malaysia and to work alongside so many passionate co-workers over the past four years,” said Malcolm Pruys.

“What I am most proud of is how we have continued to stay close to the realities of everyday life in Malaysia and keep evolving with the needs of our customers. None of what we have achieved would have been possible without the commitment of our co-workers and the trust of the many people who continue to welcome IKEA into their homes.”

“As IKEA Malaysia moves into its next chapter, I believe the business is in a strong position to keep growing in ways that are relevant, accessible and meaningful. Takeshi knows IKEA, he knows Malaysia, and most importantly, he understands that everything we do starts with the many people and how they live at home. I am very pleased to hand over the leadership to him and confident he will continue building on the foundation we have created together.”

For Murai, the appointment marks the next step in an IKEA career spanning nearly two decades and multiple markets, as he now leads IKEA Malaysia into its next phase of growth 

• Field surveys may not provide reliable enough population data to set sustainable commercial harvest quotas for reticulated pythons.
• Researchers carried out 527 nocturnal surveys over five years, covering 2,427km along the Kinabatangan River.
• Low detection and recapture rates made it difficult to estimate python abundance, survival and reproduction using traditional population models.
• Researchers recommend monitoring long-term trends in commercially harvested pythons as a more reliable way of assessing whether trade is sustainable.

KINABATANGAN: Traditional mathematical population modelling is incapable of determining sustainable commercial harvesting levels for reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), according to findings recently published in Scientific Reports.

Reticulated pythons have been commercially harvested in Malaysia and Indonesia for more than a century, with hundreds of thousands taken from the wild each year for domestic and international trade in meat, skins and body parts used for medicines.

Determining whether this level of harvesting is sustainable, however, has been the subject of debate. Studies of harvested pythons have used factors such as body size, sex, maturity and body condition to assess the sustainability of the trade, while field-based population estimates have also been proposed as a basis for determining sustainable harvest levels.

The comprehensive five-year study – the most intensive field research ever conducted on free-ranging reticulated pythons – concludes that the extreme camouflage, low detectability and cryptic nature of tropical reptiles render field-based Population Viability Analysis (PVA) functionally impossible.

Instead, researchers assert that international regulatory bodies and conservation policymakers, including CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), must pivot toward monitoring data collected directly from commercial processing facilities to ensure long-term trade sustainability.

The study focused on wild python populations across eastern Sabah’s Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary (LKWS) and nearby oil palm agricultural landscapes, uncovering critical insights into python detectability, behaviour and population dynamics.

Researchers chose an area where the python population is not subject to commercial harvesting and should therefore theoretically be at its natural carrying capacity. The riverside habitat could also be surveyed by boat, providing conditions where the snakes were expected to be more numerous and easier to detect than across much of their range.

Conducted from April 2016 through March 2021, researchers completed 527 nocturnal riverbank boat surveys, covering a total distance of 2,427 kilometres along a 64-kilometre stretch of the Kinabatangan River.

The main finding of the study was that pythons proved remarkably elusive.

The overall mean detection probability was just 20.5%, with individuals remaining undetected 25% of the time even in habitats where their presence was definitely confirmed.

Over the study period, researchers recorded 159 total python encounters – 83 through standardised surveys and 76 opportunistic sightings.

However, only 25 unique individuals were recaptured across 40 events. This low recapture rate proved insufficient for traditional open-population mathematical modelling, such as Jolly-Seber models, to accurately estimate total abundance, survival or reproduction rates.

The findings highlight the challenges researchers face when monitoring cryptic apex reptiles in tropical riverine ecosystems.

“Even under ideal ecological conditions and with massive, sustained field effort, gathering empirical abundance and mortality data for ambush-predatory tropical snakes is functionally impossible. Expecting field surveys to establish harvest quotas is a flawed strategy,” said Dr Benoit Goossens, Director of Danau Girang Field Centre and one of the researchers for the study.

“With this study now complete, we know where best to expand precious resources for the monitoring and management of species like reticulated pythons,” said Dr Daniel Natusch, Chair of the IUCN SSC Snake Specialist Group and co-author of the study.

“Our findings directly challenge policies that demand field-based population estimates before permitting commercial trade. We emphasise that international policy decisions – such as CITES regulations or trade quotas – should not rely on unfeasible field population models,” added Natusch.

“Instead, we advocate for tracking long-term trends from specimens harvested by commercial processing facilities in active trade regions. Monitoring consistency in parameters such as body size distributions, body condition, and sex ratios over time serves as a far more reliable, realistic, and responsive benchmark for determining whether trade levels are sustainable,” concluded Goossens.

KUCHING: IKEA Malaysia announced that IKEA Kuching will open in December 2026, marking the next chapter of IKEA in East Malaysia and bringing the IKEA store experience closer to the many people in Sarawak.

IKEA Kuching will be IKEA Malaysia’s first small-format store and its first store in East Malaysia. The new store builds on IKEA existing presence in the region through e-commerce and fulfillment, giving customers the opportunity to experience IKEA home furnishing inspiration, products and expertise physically and closer to home.

“We have heard from our customers in Sarawak, and we are excited that IKEA Kuching will soon be ready to welcome them,” said Malcolm Pruys, Country Retail Director, IKEA Malaysia. “Our ambition has always been to create a better everyday life for the many people. IKEA Kuching brings us another step closer to doing that by making the IKEA experience more accessible and relevant to how people here live at home.”

A different IKEA store format, with the same IKEA experience

Unlike the four larger IKEA stores currently operating in Malaysia, IKEA Kuching introduces a small-format store, designed to bring the IKEA experience together in a more compact and convenient setting.

Customers will be able to explore inspiring room settings, home furnishing solutions and selected products to take home on the day, with access to a wider range of IKEA products available to purchase.

The format is designed to make it easy for customers to move between inspiration and solutions, whether they are looking for a small everyday improvement, planning a room or furnishing an entire home.

Inspired by life at home in Sarawak

Ahead of the opening, IKEA spent time learning how people in Kuching live at home, including visits to local households to better understand their everyday needs, challenges and aspirations.

The findings showed that homes in Kuching are strongly shaped by family, togetherness and hospitality. Living and dining spaces often support multiple activities, from everyday family time to welcoming extended family and friends, while organisation and storage remain common challenges across both landed and high-rise homes.

“People in Kuching already know IKEA, but we want them to walk into IKEA Kuching and also recognise something of their own life at home,” Pruys added. “Whether it is making room for family to gather, finding a better way to organise the things we live with every day, or making one space work harder, we want to offer solutions that feel useful, achievable and relevant.”

Making IKEA more accessible

The opening of IKEA Kuching is part of IKEA Malaysia’s continued commitment to making well-designed and functional home furnishing accessible to more people.

As IKEA Kuching gets ready to welcome customers, IKEA Malaysia will also begin engaging with the local community to build its team of co-workers in Kuching. The focus will be on creating opportunities for local talent to grow with IKEA and be part of bringing the IKEA experience to life in Sarawak. 

IKEA Kuching is expected to open to the public in December 2026. Look forward to learning more details on the store, opening date and what customers can look forward to in the months ahead.

KOTA KINABALU: Designed for anyone looking to get more out of AI, the Lenovo Yoga AI Now Workshop this Saturday (15 August) will introduce participants to the intelligent features available on Lenovo Yoga devices and how they can be used to simplify work, boost creativity and enhance daily productivity.

Held as part of Lenovo Day, the workshop will take place from 3pm to 3.30pm at the Lenovo Reseller Store, Kompleks Karamunsing.

The Kota Kinabalu session follows an earlier workshop held at Vivacity Megamall in Kuching on 8 August, as Lenovo brings its Yoga AI Now programme to East Malaysia.

The workshop will give participants a closer look at how AI features on Lenovo Yoga devices can be used beyond simple prompts. Throughout the session, participants will explore features such as Lenovo AI Now, Copilot+ and FlickLift, and learn how they can be used to organize information, generate ideas, draft content, edit images, translate documents and complete everyday tasks more efficiently without relying heavily on the cloud.

By the end of the workshop, participants will walk away with practical tips they can easily apply to their own work and daily routines. Interested participants can register here. Each workshop is limited to 10 participants, with welcome gifts and refreshments provided.

After the workshop, participants can get creative by trying out the all-new Lenovo Yoga devices and designing their own artwork using Lenovo FlickLift and Copilot+ features. Those who share their artwork on social media by tagging @LenovoMY, #LenovoMY and #MadeWithLenovoYoga will receive a RM10 ZUS Coffee e-voucher.

Lenovo Tech Fest also coming to Kota Kinabalu

The workshop coincides with the Kota Kinabalu leg of the Lenovo Tech Fest Back-to-School 2.0 campaign, taking place from 14 to 16 August at TopMacro, Kompleks Karamunsing.

The campaign previously made a stop at Vivacity Megamall in Kuching from 7 to 9 August.

Running nationwide until 30 September, the campaign offers selected purchases of Lenovo IdeaPad, Yoga and Legion devices with complimentary Microsoft Office Home & Student, Lenovo E310 Earbuds and WL310 Mouse, as well as one-year Accidental Damage Protection.

Customers purchasing selected Lenovo Yoga models at participating stores and authorised resellers can also receive Lenovo Open-Ear Clip-on Earbuds X50 and a Lenovo 16-inch Laptop Topload Bag T210.

In-store purchases made during the campaign period will also come with a customised blind box gift, while stocks last.

The Lenovo Yoga AI Now Workshop in Kota Kinabalu will be held on 15 August from 3pm to 3.30pm at the Lenovo Reseller Store, Kompleks Karamunsing. Registration is available through Lenovo Malaysia’s event registration page.

Terms and conditions apply. Promotional items are available while stocks last.