BRIEFING ON ACTION PLAN "IPOH DOUGHNUT ECONOMICS: A CITY PORTRAIT IN ACTION 2025–2030" – DRIVER OF LOW CARBON, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE REGENERATIVE URBAN TRANSFORMATION

IPOH, 28 JULY 2025 – Ipoh City Council (MBI), in collaboration with the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, organised a briefing on the Action Plan "Ipoh Doughnut Economics: A City Portrait in Action 2025–2030" at the MBI Meeting Hall this morning.

This special briefing was targeted at MBI Councillors, Heads of Departments and Unit Heads, with the main aim of explaining comprehensively the implementation of urban economic initiatives based on the Doughnut Economics concept, which is a development framework that integrates social well-being and ecological boundaries for a sustainable future.

Chairing the session was Ipoh Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah, who expressed MBI’s full commitment to making Ipoh a low-carbon, inclusive and sustainable city by 2030.

The implementation briefing was delivered by the MBI Donut Economy City Secretariat Unit and the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University.

MBI Donut Economy City Secretariat Unit Head TPr. Dr. Zulqarnain Mohamad explained the strategic direction for implementing the action plan based on the Doughnut Economics framework. It provides added value and takes a holistic view of other MBI development plans, such as the Ipoh Local Plan, Smart Green City and MBI Strategic Plan.

Saidatul Maisarah Faiesall, Policy and Communications Lead Researcher at Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, shared findings and interdisciplinary methodologies in shaping the Ipoh city portrait from a social, ecological and economic perspective. She elaborated in detail on the connection between doughnut economy, the principles of SDGs, and Planetary Health. Planetary Health has a profound impact on both the physical and mental health of humans themselves, and it must be taken into account in ensuring the well-being of the population.

This action plan is among the pioneering initiatives in Malaysia that adapts the principles of Doughnut Economics locally, grounded in social justice, natural resource balance and efficient urban governance.

It was prepared through a series of workshops and focus group discussions between Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University as the knowledge partner, Institut Darul Ridzuan as the state-level think tank, and MBI as the main implementing agency at the local level. Several town hall sessions and discussions have also been held since the end of 2023, when a memorandum of understanding was signed between MBI, Sunway University and IDR.

The briefing also opened up space for discussions between MBI and academic experts to formulate a comprehensive, inclusive and data-based implementation strategy. It aligned with Ipoh's aspiration to become a sustainable city reference model in the Asian region.

With the implementation of this plan, Ipoh will enter a new phase of development, empowering the local economy, protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of life for city residents.