24/03/2025

MONDAY | MAR 24, 2025

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Combined efforts needed to tackle tuberculosis

Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: To achieve meaningful progress in eradicating tuberculosis (TB), experts stress that Malaysia must dismantle the stigma surrounding the disease. Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM respiratory medicine specialist Dr Nik Nuratiqah Nik Abeed underscored the importance of creating a supportive culture that encourages treatment without fear or judgment. “We need to foster a culture where seeking treatment is encouraged, not feared. Breaking down misinformation and ensuring access to care will be key to eliminating TB by 2035.” She highlighted Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to address drug-resistant TB, including enhanced molecular testing, access to second-line TB drugs and standardised systems to monitor treatment adherence. “Uninterrupted access to effective medication is essential. Strict adherence to treatment is also crucial in preventing drug resistance. Without it, drug-resistant strains could spread and become even harder to manage.” Dr Nik Nuratiqah said while government initiatives are vital, public participation in TB control is also important. “Anyone experiencing persistent coughs, night sweats or unexplained weight loss should seek medical help immediately.” Her views were echoed by UKM Faculty of Medicine Respiratory Unit physician Assoc Prof Dr Andrea Ban Yu-Lin, who warned of the severe consequences of untreated TB. “It can result in severe lung damage and even death, ” she said, adding that early diagnosis is important to curb it from spreading. However, she said the disease often thrives in conditions that

o ‘Respiratory hygiene, proper ventilation, community screening programmes critical to curb spread of TB’

Symptoms of Tuberculosis (TB)

Difficulty Breathing

Coughing Up Blood

Fever

hinder detection and treatment, particularly among marginalised communities with limited healthcare access. She also said preventive measures such as respiratory hygiene, proper ventilation and community-based screening programmes are critical in curbing transmission. Another UKM respiratory physician, Assoc Prof Dr Ng Boon Hau outlined the diagnostic tools available in Malaysia, including sputum smear microscopy, nucleic acid amplification tests like GeneXpert MTB/RIF and mycobacterial culture tests . For latent TB, he said screening methods include the tuberculin skin test ( Mantoux test) and interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs). “Treatment for active TB requires a strict six-month antibiotic regimen,” Dr Ng explained. He warned that failing to complete the full course increases the risk of relapse and the emergence of multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), which is far more challenging to treat. He also said Malaysia’s ambition to eliminate TB by 2035 has faced significant setbacks, particularly due to the lingering impacts of the

Persistent Cough (More than 3 weeks)

Unexplained Weight Loss

Night Sweats

Reduced Appetite

Fatigue

Experts advised anyone with persistent cough to seek medical help, as untreated TB can result in severe lung damage and even death. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN and healthcare disruptions led to fewer screenings and delayed diagnoses. “Resources were diverted to managing Covid-19, and as a result, TB detection took a backseat. We are now seeing the consequences.” Beyond pandemic-related challenges, Dr Ng and Dr Nik Nuratiqah expressed concerns about the stigma surrounding TB, warning that social stigma deters patients Covid-19 pandemic . He said lockdowns

from seeking timely treatment. “Misinformation, fear of isolation, and difficulty accessing healthcare further complicate efforts to control the disease. Addressing these barriers requires stronger policies, improved diagnostics and widespread public awareness campaigns,” said Dr Ng. According to Health Ministry figures, Malaysia recorded 26,183 TB cases last year, which was a slight increase from the 26,149 cases in 2023. Experts said while infections among Malaysians declined marginally, from 22,132 cases in 2023 to 21,959 last year, the country continues to face challenges in

combating this airborne disease. Caused by the mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria , TB primarily affects the lungs but can also target other organs. It spreads through microscopic droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks, making transmission prevalent in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. As the world commemorates World TB Day today, experts are optimistic that combined efforts from healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public can help turn the tide against one of the oldest infectious diseases known to mankind.

Federal Court to hear AGC leave application KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Court is scheduled to hear the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) application for leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s ruling on the existence of an additional document in the case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today. additional document. The 71-year-old is seeking a mandamus order compelling the respondents to confirm and disclose the existence of the alleged additional document dated Jan 29, 2024. He named the Home Minister,

Senior police officers transferred KUALA LUMPUR: The police has announced the transfer of 39 senior officers, effective last Friday. In a statement, police secretary Datuk Kamaruzaman Abdullah announced that Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob has been appointed as the Pahang deputy police chief, Bernama reported. He said Azry Akmar was replaced by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (Investigation/Legal) Datuk Mohamed Usuf Jan Mohamad. “Bukit Aman Special Branch E9 principal assistant director Datuk Aida Abdul Hamid has been appointed as the principal assistant director for Bukit Aman Special Branch E6, while Bukit Aman Special Branch E3 principal assistant director Datuk Mohd Hairuddin Che Hamid has been appointed as the principal assistant director for Special Branch E7 at Bukit Aman.” Kamaruzaman also said Bukit Aman Special Branch E6 principal assistant director DCP Azhar Sepawi has been appointed as Bukit Aman Special Branch E3 principal assistant director. Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department principal assistant director (Prosecution/Legal) Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah has been appointed as Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (Investigation/Legal), with an acting rank of (DCP). Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (D14) principal assistant director of Organised Crime Investigation, SAC Abdul Latiff Mehat has been appointed as Johor deputy police chief with the acting rank of DCP.

Singh dismissed Najib’s application for leave to initiate a judicial review, ruling that the four affidavits submitted in support of his claim, which included statements by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Umno vice president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, were hearsay and inadmissible as evidence in court. Najib has been serving his sentence at Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. The High Court initially sentenced him to 12 years in prison and fined him RM210 million, a decision which was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court. However, his petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022, resulted in the Pardons Board halving his prison sentence to six years and reducing his fine to RM50 million. – Bernama pistol, during the robbery. “Initial investigations revealed that the thief stole seven trays of jewellery from the display case before fleeing the scene in a car that was waiting outside the mall. The stolen jewellery is estimated to be worth around RM2 million.” He added that anyone with information regarding the case to contact investigating officer ASP Farokh Faisal Ahmad at 017-776 2991. – Bernama

Commissioner-General of Prisons, Attorney General, Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Director-General of the Legal Affairs Division in the Prime Minister’s Department and the Malaysian government as respondents. The former Pekan MP also sought an order that, should the additional document be proven to exist, all respondents or any one of them should enforce it immediately and transfer him from Kajang Prison to his residence in Kuala Lumpur to serve the remainder of his sentence. On July 3 last year, Justice Datuk Amarjeet Following the arrest, police recovered several pieces of jewellery that had been stolen by the suspect. Hussein Omar said at 4.56pm on Saturday, the PJ police control centre had received a tip off from a member of the public on the armed robbery in progress at the jewellery shop inside a shopping mall in Kota Damansara. “The suspect, believed to be a local male, was armed with a firearm, suspected to be a

Based on a check of the court system, the application, filed via a notice of appeal on Feb 4, is scheduled for hearing at 9am in Federal Court 1. On Jan 6, in a 2-1 majority decision, the Court of Appeal remitted the case on Najib’s claim of the existence of an additional document purportedly allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest, to the High Court to be heard on its merits. This decision overturned the High Court’s earlier ruling, which had dismissed his application for leave to commence a judicial review regarding the alleged

Armed robbery suspect caught SHAH ALAM: Police have arrested a local man suspected of being involved in an armed robbery at a gold shop inside a shopping mall in Kota Damansara on Saturday.

Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said officers from the Selangor contingent police and the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters apprehended the suspect at the Bukit Beruntung area in Hulu Selangor at 10.15pm.