06/02/2025

THURSDAY | FEB 6, 2025

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Breast cancer screening rate remains critically low

Holistic framework needed for

gold industry management KUALA LUMPUR:

Malaysia must strengthen and optimise its gold resource management by establishing a holistic and comprehensive National Gold Industry Management Framework. Highlighting data from the World Bureau of Metal Statistics – London Stock Exchange Group, Paya Besar MP Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah said Malaysia currently accounts for just 0.06% of the 3,000-tonne global gold production, with annual output ranging between 1.8 and 4.6 metric tonnes. However, Mohd Shahar said gold resource management remains fragmented as it falls under state jurisdiction through their respective state mineral enactments. “Does the coordination mechanism between the federal government, state governments and concession companies ensure that royalties, which are typically 5 to 10%, and tax revenues reflect the true value of exported gold? “The 2019 National Audit Report highlighted inconsistencies in royalty rates across states, potentially leading to revenue leakage. Does the government plan to standardise mining contracts at the national level?” he asked while debating the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. Highlighting a 2021 study by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience, Mohd Shahar said the country’s metallic minerals, including gold, are estimated to be worth RM1.03 trillion. “High-value minerals are concentrated in four main gold belts: the Central Belt (Pahang and Terengganu), the Eastern Belt (Kelantan), the Borneo Belt (Sabah and Sarawak) and the Bentong-Raub Belt,” he said. He added that adopting modern mining technologies such as bio-leaching and satellite surveying could enhance gold production potential. – Bernama ‘170km of drainage needs maintenance‘ KOTA KINABALU: Regular maintenance of drainage systems covering a total of 170.5km is essential to mitigate flooding in the Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Putatan districts. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said conducting maintenance only three times a year, with an allocation of RM40 million, remains insufficient to ensure the drainage system functions effectively, especially as rapid development and climate change contribute to flash floods. “Furthermore, the flood mitigation projects currently being implemented cannot completely resolve flooding, particularly in the Penampang and Putatan districts,” he said in a statement. Jeffrey said the Sungai Moyog Integrated River Basin Development Project, covering Donggongon and Putatan towns, is being implemented at a cost of RM297.96 million to address flooding. However, he noted that proposed projects for the central part of Sungai Moyog in Penampang and Sungai Petagas in Putatan have yet to be approved. “If we want to increase the frequency of drainage cleaning, we would need additional funding,” he said, adding that community cooperation is also essential to prevent littering. – Bernama

o Misinformation, accessibility issues and cultural barriers hinder early detection: Experts

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Breast cancer screening rates in Malaysia remain critically low, not due to a decline in case but because women have been avoiding them, said Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) public relations and partnerships manager Sumitra Selvaraj. She said a recent Hologic Global Women’s Health Index report, a multiyear global survey of women’s health, revealed a worrying decline in cancer testing worldwide. “For the first time since 2020, when the index began, only 10% of women surveyed worldwide reported being tested for any type of cancer in the past year, marking a two percentage-point decrease from the previous two years. A woman who has never examined her breasts from the age of 20 or undergone an annual clinical breast examination is not going to be the easiest person to convince to have a mammogram once she turns 40. This is the truth,” she said. Despite these challenges, BCWA’s outreach efforts are yielding results. In 2024, the organisation conducted 7,652 free clinical breast examinations, detecting 338 abnormal findings. “Our focus is on early detection. Screening numbers will only rise when early detection is normalised as self-care.” She said BCWA actively takes mobile clinics to underserved areas and collaborates with local leaders to address cultural sensitivities. Another major hurdle is misinformation, with many women believing they are not at risk if they do not have a family history of breast cancer, but Sumitra debunked this. “A staggering majority of breast cancer cases occur sporadically, with only 10% to 20% linked to family history.” National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) assistant director (medical) Dr Ruthresh Rao Subramanyam said other cancer screenings among women face similar challenges. “The NCSM is working with the Health Ministry to develop a national database to

Sumitra said a staggering majority of breast cancer cases occur sporadically, with only 10% to 20% linked to family history. – PIC COURTESY OF BCWA

In October 2024, the Pink Etiqa campaign provided free mammograms to over 6,000 women through mobile clinics nationwide. In 2023, NCSM conducted over 120,000 screenings and reached more than a million people with awareness campaigns. “We have also partnered with Gene Solutions for multi-cancer early detection tests and worked with AstraZeneca on post pandemic awareness campaigns. Government-backed mobile clinics help bring screenings to rural communities,” he said. Ruthresh emphasised the importance of early detection and shared a story of a woman from rural Pahang who was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer during a community screening. With immediate treatment, she has remained cancer-free for five years. “This is why screenings matter. When detected early, cancer is treatable,” he said. He urged women to prioritise regular screenings as an essential part of self-care from the age of 20 and undergo an annual clinical breast examination. Those interested can reach out for support and guidance. theSun reached out to the Health Ministry several times between Jan 30 and yesterday for the latest statistics on cancer cases among women, but has yet to receive a response as of press time.

track screenings across NGO, private hospitals and public healthcare facilities. “In rural areas where healthcare facilities and trained personnel are scarce, accessibility remains a major barrier. Long waiting times and travel costs further discourage women from getting tested,” he said, adding that many are unaware of free or subsidised screenings, leading to missed opportunities for early detection. Ruthresh also highlighted misconceptions and stigma around reproductive health that prevent many women from seeking screenings. “In some households, patriarchal norms place men as the decision-makers regarding healthcare. There have been cases where women do not seek screenings because of their husband’s disapproval.” He said NCSM’s national screening efforts indicate that participation is lowest in the east coast states and Sabah and Sarawak. To address this, several initiatives have been launched to improve accessibility and awareness. The “Leaving No One Behind” campaign, supported by corporate sponsors, offers free human papillomavirus vaccines to help eliminate cervical cancer. It has benefited about 300,000 Malaysians.

ECRL progress surpasses 78%, on track for 2027 launch KUANTAN: The overall progress of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project, spanning four states – Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu and Selangor – has reached 78.5% as of last month, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He noted that this promising progress aligns with the scheduled completion of the first phase of the ECRL, running from Kota Bharu, Kelantan, to the Gombak Integrated Terminal, Selangor, by December 2026, with operations expected to begin in January 2027. “ Alhamdulillah , this is no small project – it is a major endeavour involving many stakeholders working together. I congratulate MRL (Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd) and (China Communications Construction-ECRL) for their collaboration in achieving the current progress. “This project will boost the economy of the east coast, acting as a catalyst to attract more investments to the region while creating numerous job opportunities in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang,” he said. Abdul Razak. Darwis said the ECRL project is on track for completion as scheduled, with construction progressing smoothly across 361 active work sites involving over 18,000 personnel along the ECRL route. “With this highly encouraging construction momentum, MRL is optimistic about commencing ECRL operations in two years, aligning with the aspirations of the public and the business community in providing seamless transport for passengers and cargo.

He was speaking at a press conference after launching the SDG Sukuk Impact Reporting for the ECRL project at the Section 10 ECRL project site on Tuesday. Also present was MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis

Amir Hamzah added that the second phase, connecting Gombak to Port Klang, is set to be completed by December 2027 and fully operational by January 2028, based on the project’s current developments.

“As such, east coast residents living in the Klang Valley will only need to wait for two more Syawals before they can take the ECRL home to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri in 2027.” – Bernama