17/06/2025

TUESDAY | JUNE 17, 2025

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Covid-19 vaccinations readily available nationwide

AGC files appeal against Yusoff Rawther acquittal KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has filed a notice of appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to acquit and discharge Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, a former research assistant to a politician, of charges of trafficking cannabis and possessing two imitation firearms. In a statement yesterday, the AGC said the appeal challenges the High Court’s June 12 ruling which acquitted the accused without calling for his defence at the close of the prosecution’s case, under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (Act 234) and Section 36(1) of the Arms Act 1960 (Act 206). “Upon careful consideration of the learned High Court judge’s decision, we have filed a notice of appeal against the acquittal and discharge,” the statement read. “Section 39B(2) of Act 234 provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if the death penalty is not imposed, the sentence shall include not less than 12 strokes of the cane. “Section 36(1) of Act 206 carries a maximum sentence of one year’s imprisonment, a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both,” it added. On June 12, Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin acquitted Muhammed Yusoff, 32, after ruling that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him at the end of its case. The judge said the prosecution had failed to prove that he had custody, control or possession of the two imitation firearms and the drugs in question, based on the testimony of prosecution witnesses. – Bernama The therapy, previously known as VIS513, targets all four dengue virus serotypes and has shown promising results in early trials. As part of the agreement, the next phase of clinical development will include multinational Phase III trials in dengue-endemic countries, including Malaysia. DNDi dengue global programme head Dr André Siqueira said the treatment could be a game-changer. “We urgently need a therapeutic option for dengue that is effective, scalable and affordable. ”This collaboration is a critical step toward that goal,” he said. investigational

“The Health Ministry continues to enhance Covid-19 surveillance to ensure early detection and rapid response to any increase in cases,” he stated in a post on X. In a follow-up update on June 4, Dzulkefly revealed that the JN.1 subvariant is currently the most prevalent strain in Malaysia, accounting for 17% of detected cases. Other notable variants include XEC (7.9%), KP.3 (5.2%), and both KP.3.1.1 and LB.1 at 3.2% each. While the World Health Organisation has assessed the global risk from JN.1 as low, Dzulkefly cautioned that its high transmissibility could still lead to a rise in cases, particularly during colder seasons or in populations with low immunity.

spoke Medical Association president Datuk Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira, who expressed concern over a shortage of healthcare personnel, warning that it could affect the quality and timeliness of patient care. “Covid-19 still poses a serious risk, especially among the vulnerable. We must stay vigilant,” he said. “We are confident that the Health Ministry and its agencies are taking appropriate steps to respond swiftly if cases rise again.” On May 29, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reported a 72% surge in Covid-19 cases during Epidemiological Week 21 (May 18– 24), with 1,971 infections recorded – up from 1,145 the previous week. to Malaysian

o While no mass programme planned, efforts still ongoing to protect vulnerable groups from severe infections: Ministry

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, requiring all public and private healthcare providers to report cases through the eNotification system. These reports are tracked in real time to enable swift intervention, it added. The Health Ministry also said the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre monitors media and public reports of potential outbreaks and verifies them before including them in official data. “Risk communication campaigns via MySejahtera and social media platforms are ongoing, aimed at countering misinformation and keeping the public informed about new developments,“ it added. Neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore have recently seen a spike in Covid-19 cases, driven by the emergence of more infectious subvariants linked to the Omicron strain. Between May 25 and 30, Thailand reported 65,880 new infections and three fatalities. In Singapore, estimated cases rose to 14,200 between April 27 and May 3, up from 11,100 the previous week, with 133 individuals requiring hospitalisation. In Malaysia, Malacca saw a notable rise in infections, with a 20% increase in cases during Epidemiological Week 23 (June 1–7), recording 93 new infections. Amid these rising cases, theSun to accelerate the development of a monoclonal antibody therapy for dengue. “The treatment aims to be effective across all four dengue virus serotypes and accessible to low and middle-income countries,“ DNDi said in a statement. Malaysia has expressed strong support for the initiative, which aims to make effective treatment accessible to low and middle-income countries hardest hit by the disease. Health Ministry Deputy Director General (research and technical assistance) Datuk Dr Nor Fariza Ngah said the partnership between DNDi and the Serum Institute of India is

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has welcomed a new international partnership to develop the world’s first specific treatment for dengue, marking World Dengue Day with a reaffirmed commitment to addressing one of the country’s most persistent and deadly public health threats. The initiative follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the not-for-profit medical research organisation Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), formalising their commitment Ű BY HASHINI KAVISHTRI KANNAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com PETALING JAYA: The Covid-19 vaccinations remain readily available across Malaysia, with 202 active vaccination centres nationwide and a remaining stockpile of 183,784 doses, according to the Health Ministry. Between Feb 17 and May 18 this year, a total of 8,246 individuals were vaccinated, including 1,711 with comorbidities or weakened immune systems and 125 healthcare workers. In a written response to theSun , the ministry said while Malaysia is no longer pushing mass vaccinations, efforts are still being directed toward protecting vulnerable groups from severe Covid-19 infections. “Efforts remain active, as shown by recent weekly data where over 8,000 individuals, including many from high-risk categories, received vaccinations,” the ministry stated. “This ensures ongoing safeguarding of those most susceptible in the community.” It also clarified that there are no plans to roll out a new booster dose but stressed that Covid-19 vaccines are still available and recommended for high-risk individuals. “The Health Ministry consistently advises high-risk groups to stay updated with their vaccinations to reduce the risk of severe illness.” It said Covid-19 continues to be classified as a notifiable disease under

The Health Ministry consistently advises high-risk groups to stay updated with their vaccinations to reduce the risk of severe illness. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

‘Timely’ alliance to develop effective dengue treatment

both timely and strategic. She said Malaysia supports the collaboration as a means to accelerate the development and access to dengue treatment, especially for countries like Malaysia where the disease remains endemic. “The signing of the MoU marks a pivotal step forward in the global fight against dengue. The development of a monoclonal antibody treatment represents a promising new frontier in dengue care, with the potential to save lives and reduce the burden of severe disease, especially in a country like Malaysia, where we average over 90,000 cases a year,“ she added. Dengue remains one of Malaysia’s

most pressing public health threats, with more than 120,000 cases and 117 deaths reported in 2024 alone. Recurring outbreaks put a significant strain on healthcare infrastructure, particularly in densely populated urban centres. Currently, there is no approved antiviral treatment for dengue. Management of the disease is limited to supportive care and severe cases often require hospitalisation. The proposed monoclonal antibody therapy is designed to be administered early in the infection to prevent the disease from progressing to severe dengue, which can be life-threatening.

NGO leaders nabbed in RM26m embezzlement case KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested five individuals suspected of embezzling RM26 million in public donations from an NGO. Sources said the five suspects include the NGO’s chairman, secretary, treasurer and financial officer. They were detained in Ops Serantau, an operation conducted by the Selangor MACC across several locations in Selangor, Malacca and Penang from last Thursday. The suspects have been remanded for seven days – four until tomorrow and the fifth until Thursday. “The money was transferred to their personal accounts and used to purchase jewellery, cars, land, houses and even cryptocurrency. “They are also believed to have diverted organisational funds into personal accounts to provide loans to staff and siphoned surplus funds from a humanitarian well-building project in Syria for personal use,“ a source

“Among the seized items are jewellery valued at about RM100,000, over RM1 million in cash, cryptocurrency accounts worth around RM650,000 and four houses estimated at more than RM1.4 million. “MACC has also frozen 14 bank accounts totalling nearly RM5 million,“ he said.

told Bernama. The source added that the misappropriation of public donations is believed to have been ongoing since 2015. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the arrests and disclosed that assets worth over RM8 million had been seized or frozen.