Melaka Leverages Heat Reflective Paint to Address High Temperature in Public Housing Flats

Residents, partners and local authorities come together to support climate resilience in Melaka

Melaka, 18 April 2026 — More than 2,000 residents of Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit are set to benefit from a climate resilience initiative led by Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB), the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich Malaysia and Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities). As part of the Resilience for Communities (R4C) programme under the Urban Climate Resilience Programme (UCRP), the collaboration brings together research, community participation and practical solutions to help address rising indoor heat, while improving the liveability and wellbeing of the local community.

Researchers from Nanyang Technological University’s Asian School of the Environment installed indoor heat monitors throughout the housing complex and in selected homes to better understand the effects of extreme heat on the community. Their research found that indoor temperatures at Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit can remain stubbornly high — as warm as 29˚C even at night, when outdoor air is already cooler.

This build-up of heat poses a genuine health concern, particularly for older persons and young children who are more vulnerable to prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures. To help address this, Dulux heat-reflective paint is being used with support from AkzoNobel Malaysia as a practical intervention to improve indoor comfort.

The initiative also includes a series of new murals, co-created with community members and painted using the same heat-reflective paint. Today, Zurich Malaysia volunteers joined residents to bring these murals to life, turning a practical climate resilience measure into a shared expression of community spirit and pride.

Building on these efforts, the latest programme held on 18 April 2026 titled “Program Dari Komuniti Untuk Komuniti: Komuniti Cakna Pantai Peringgit Sejahtera” further strengthened community participation and awareness on heat resilience, health and neighbourhood wellbeing. The programme provided a platform for residents, local agencies, community leaders and strategic partners to come together in fostering a safer, healthier and more resilient living environment through a community-driven approach.

Datuk Kalsom binti Noordin, Melaka State Executive Council for Women, Family and Community Development, said, “We are grateful to all the partners involved in supporting the residents of Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit. This is what happens when families, businesses and government come together in the spirit of community to protect older adults and children and make a better life for all.”

Datuk TPr. Hj. Murad bin Hj. Husin, Director of Melaka Housing Board, said, “We fully support this initiative to enhance living conditions in our housing schemes. The application of heat-reflective painting demonstrates a practical and impactful solution, and we are committed to continuing, refining, and replicating this approach across all Melaka Housing Board schemes. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background or economic status, deserves to be protected and to live in safe, cool, and comfortable homes.”

Teresa Wong, Chief Risk Officer (General Segment) and Head of Sustainability Risk, Zurich Malaysia, said, “Based on the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026, extreme weather is now firmly among the top global risks in both the short and long. Through the UCRP-R4C, we are working closely with local partners and communities to turn awareness into practical action. In Pantai Peringgit, this means supporting solutions that not only respond to climate risks, but also reflect the needs, priorities and strengths of the community itself. We are proud to see these efforts come to life through initiatives that help create safer, healthier and more resilient neighbourhoods.”

Katrin Bruebach, Global Director of Programs and Delivery, Resilient Cities Network, said, “This is what happens when a community takes their future into their own hands and when partners show up to support them. This is not just about a coat of paint. It is about a community that knows the risk posed by urban heat, is testing solutions, and is building the knowledge and spaces it needs to adapt.”

Craig Tham, Commercial Head of AkzoNobel Malaysia, said, “By working together, we can effectively tackle the very real challenge of urban heat. It’s about demonstrating the power of paint and the positive impact that can result from making homes more comfortable.”

Today’s event also included workshops for residents of Rumah Pangsa Pantai Peringgit and Rumah Awam Pantai Peringgit on flood preparedness and financial literacy. Together with other community initiatives addressing extreme heat and flood risks, the programme aimed to deepen its impact by helping communities across Melaka become more prepared, healthier and better connected.

For more information on UCRP-R4C funded by Z Zurich Foundation, supported by Zurich Malaysia and the efforts in building climate-resilient communities, please visit www.zurich.com.my/about-zurich/corporate-responsibility/urban-climate-resilience-program.