16 February 2026 (Monday), George Town, Penang
Tan Zhai Yun, The Edge Malaysia
Nestled in a corner on the ground floor of PPR Beringin, a low-cost flat in Kuala Lumpur, is a “cooling centre” fitted with a water dispenser and a mist fan. The area is shaded, and visitors must take off their shoes to enter the space, which is maintained by local residents and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Nearby the cooling room are new sun sails that provide shade, next to a playground and a new gazebo, where residents can lounge to enjoy the breeze. There is a football court that lies exposed to the glaring sun — but surrounding it are young trees, newly planted and ready to cover the area with their canopy.
This is an initiative by C40 Cities, an organisation that works with cities around the world to mitigate climate change and increase resilience, with Zurich Malaysia, Z Zurich Foundation and DBKL under the Urban Climate Resilience Programme.
