18/08/2025

MONDAY | AUG 18, 2025

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Felcra profit hits RM178 million

10,800 Malaysians still waiting for organ transplants

PASIR SALAK: Felcra Bhd has recorded a profit of RM178 million from January until April, marking an increase compared with the same period last year. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said RM101 million of the total would be distributed in stages to 74,300 participants nationwide (starting yesterday). “I congratulate Felcra Bhd for successfully maintaining a strong performance, with an increase of nearly RM2 million compared to the same period last year. I will be monitoring the profit distribution to all participants across the country,” he said at the 2025 First Interim Distributable Profit Declaration ceremony for Felcra Bhd participant projects. Also present were Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang and Felcra Bhd CEO Datuk Idris Lasim. Ahmad Zahid added that Felcra Bhd continued to make history in strengthening national food security through the commercialisation of its MRQ 107 padi , a local fragrant rice variety positioned as a high-quality alternative to imported rice. He said the Seberang Perak area, covering more than 3,400ha and cultivated using modern methods by Felcra, had shown encouraging results with an average yield of eight metric tonnes per hectare annually. “We expect production to exceed 27,000 metric tonnes of padi , equivalent to over 16,000 metric tonnes of rice per year, which can meet the needs of thousands of families. Hopefully, this becomes an example for other padi farmers,” he said. Meanwhile, Idris said the performance of the first interim distribution for 2025 was driven by several key factors, including efficient estate management and cost-saving measures. – Bernama PM sends condolences to royal family KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed his condolences to the Kedah royal family over the passing of the elder sister of Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah. “Condolences to His Royal Highness Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah, Sultan of Kedah Darul Aman, and the entire royal family on the passing of Yang Teramat Mulia Datuk Seri Tunku Sakinah Almarhum Sultan Badlishah. “May Allah SWT bestow His mercy, grant forgiveness and place her among the righteous. Al-Fatihah ,” he said in a Facebook post. On Saturday, Comptroller of the Kedah Royal Household Datuk Seri Bakar Din said in a statement that Tunku Sakinah passed away at the age of 95 at Villa Seri Tunku in Kedah at 6.35am. – Bernama

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Only 46 donations recorded in 2024 as family consent remains biggest barrier

and nurses. On Aug 10, the ministry announced that 4,352 candidates for Grade UD10 medical officer positions would receive offer letters for permanent appointments by today. Those who accept will begin reporting for duty in phases from Oct 2 at ministry facilities nationwide. “Permanent appointments must be implemented in stages as they involve officers from various contract cohorts and take into account their seniority and welfare,” the ministry said in a statement. – by Harith Kamal organ failure. “In 2023 alone, about 53,000 Malaysians were living with end stage kidney failure. Dialysis is not a cure, it is only a treatment. Three times a week, three hours per session. We must move beyond dialysis and focus on curative therapy such as organ transplants,” he said. Since the country’s first transplant in 1975, Malaysia has successfully performed 3,359 procedures – 2,238 from living donors and 1,121 from deceased donors. Tissue donations, including corneas, heart valves, bones and skin grafts, are also on the rise, with about 200 recorded in 2024. A milestone was reached last year when 74% of cornea transplants at the Sungai Buloh Hospital used locally donated tissue, reducing reliance on foreign sources. Looking ahead, Dzulkefly said the Health Ministry plans to transform the National Transplant Resource Centre into the National Transplant Centre to strengthen governance, expand capacity and accelerate innovation in transplantation. “It can no longer just be talk, workshops or blueprints. We must leave footprints and real outcomes. Strong governance, proper coordination across centres and strategic planning are key,” he said. He added that Malaysia would also push the organ donation agenda onto the regional stage, championing it as a collective priority during the Asean Health Ministers’ Meeting in 2026. “Organ donation is not merely a medical issue, but one of compassion and sacrifice. Let us together make it a legacy of humanity, passed from one generation to the next,” he said. Acknowledging challenges such as workforce shortage, the contract doctor system and limited resources, Dzulkefly nevertheless stressed that organ donation would remain a key priority for the ministry.

KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 10,800 Malaysians are waiting for organ transplants, yet only a fraction of the more than 400,000 registered pledges since 1997 have resulted in actual donations, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He added that kidneys were the most urgently needed, followed by liver, heart and lung transplants, but donations often failed to proceed without family consent. Launching the National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week 2025 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa yesterday, Dzulkefly urged Malaysians to respect the wishes of loved ones who had registered as donors.

“Too often, organ donations cannot proceed because families withhold consent. This year’s theme, Derma Organ: Warisku, Hormati Ikrarku (Organ Donation: My Heirs, Respect My Pledge), is about ensuring that donors’ wishes are respected. “If families honour these pledges, many more lives could be saved,” he said. As of July, 404,975 Malaysians had registered as donors, including 16,635 new pledges through the MySejahtera app. Despite this, donation rates remain insufficient. In 2024, only 46 posthumous

donations recorded, equivalent to 1.33 donors per million population (PMP). By comparison, Turkiye recorded 7.5 PMP, the US 34.14 PMP and Spain 52.56 PMP. “These figures show we are still far behind. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Iran – all Muslim-majority nations – have made organ donation a national priority. We must strengthen awareness across all races, cultures and religions in Malaysia,” Dzulkefly said. He added that demand for transplants continues to rise alongside cases of end-stage were

Dzulkefly (centre) taking part in an aerobics session during the launch yesterday. – BERNAMAPIC

Govt moves to resolve long-standing contract doctor issue KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has begun reviewing the long standing contract system for oversupply of doctors. Instead, we lack both doctors and adequate medical facilities.

“After nine years, until 2025 and 2026, many doctors are still stuck in this system. This should not be happening,” he said. He stressed that action must be taken to ensure fair career progression and stability for the current generation of doctors. “We do not want a repetition of what happened before. God willing, I am confident this issue will be resolved, at least in part. We must settle it properly,” he said. In July, Dzulkefly had also provided an assurance that efforts were

underway to expedite the absorption of contract doctors into permanent positions, reaffirming the government’s commitment to address the matter. His latest remarks come after Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin L.W. Yii urged the Health Ministry to abolish the contract system altogether, calling it outdated and counterproductive. Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 12, Yii said the policy had “outlived its purpose”. “We are no longer facing an

government doctors, with Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad saying the government aims to resolve the issue promptly. Speaking after launching the National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week 2025 at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa yesterday, Dzulkefly said the contract scheme – introduced in 2016 to manage an oversupply of medical graduates – could no longer be allowed to drag on.

“For those who have served more than three years, especially in rural or remote areas, priority should be given for immediate, permanent placement,” he said. Medical groups and young doctors have long criticised the contract system for creating job insecurity and stifling career advancement, even as the public healthcare sector continues to struggle with shortages of doctors