13/12/2025

SATURDAY | DEC 13, 2025

5

‘Dental health of Malaysian children under-prioritised’

Block on bid to cease gaming licence upheld

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal, by a 2-1 majority, has affirmed the ruling of the Alor Setar High Court in declaring the decision of the Kedah government to cease the issuance and renewal of business licences for gaming operators as unconstitutional and in violation of the Federal Constitution. The appeal, filed by the Kedah government and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, was dismissed as lacking merit by Federal Court Judge Datuk Dr Lim Hock Leng and Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Faizah Jamaludin. Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi delivered a dissenting opinion. In the majority judgment, Lim and Faizah held that the Kedah government’s directive was ultra vires and fundamentally inconsistent with the Constitution. Lim said the subject of pool betting and lotteries falls within the exclusive legislative competence of the federal government, administered by the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya. He said the Finance Ministry holds sole authority for the issuance and regulation of licences for operators and agents. Concurrently, Faizah found that the state’s refusal to renew premise licences constituted an unlawful encroachment upon federal powers, thereby undermining the statutory authority of the finance minister as established under the Pool Betting Act 1967. “This situation has created a real conflict over state and federal powers under the Ninth Schedule of the Federal Constitution. Thus, the High Court judge’s decision was not in error.” The sole dissenting judge, Azizah, held that the appeal ought to be allowed, concluding that the state’s decision constituted a legitimate exercise of public policy discretion. The litigation originated from a judicial review application filed on June 20, 2024. The Alor Setar High Court, presided by then Judge Mahazan Mat Taib, allowed the application brought by pool betting agents, companies and their principal officers against the state government’s directive. – Bernama Bangladeshi jailed KUALA LUMPUR: A Bangladeshi man was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by the High Court yesterday after he pleaded guilty to supporting the Daesh terrorist group through Facebook. Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid imposed the sentence on Mohammad Didarul Alam, 29, a restaurant worker, and ordered that the jail term take effect from the date of his arrest on July 21. “The accused is also ordered to be deported to his home country upon completing his prison sentence.” Mohammad Didarul was charged with providing support to the Daesh terrorist group by using a Facebook account under the name Al Mubin Islam. According to the facts of the case, police investigations discovered that the accused had used his Facebook account to promote the Daesh terrorist group by posting and sharing photos, videos and other related content. – Bernama for supporting terrorist group

o Tooth decay occurring very early among youngsters, with six out of 10

five-year-olds having cavities, says dentist

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia public health specialist Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh said overburdened public clinics and costly private services leave many at risk of severe tooth decay and related health complications. “The prevalence of dental decay is significantly higher among low-income populations, with studies showing that children from low-income households experience a higher rate of untreated cavities compared with their higher-income peers.” Sharifa said for families in rural or lower income areas, cost, distance and poor insurance coverage often make treatment difficult, pushing them to delay care until decay is serious. “In Malaysia, for families with small children, attending appointments, follow-ups and paying PETALING JAYA: The dental health of children in Malaysia remains severely under-prioritised despite growing awareness on oral hygiene, and continues to receive far less attention than other paediatric health issues. Dental officer Dr Mazwin Mazlan said the Health Ministry National Health and Morbidity Survey: Maternal and Child Health 2022 highlights that tooth decay is occurring very early among children in Malaysia, with six out of 10 five-year-olds having cavities. “Children’s oral health in Malaysia is often overlooked for several reasons. Many families do not practise consistent preventive care, and irregular brushing habits are common because parents may underestimate the importance of baby teeth. “Dental problems are often viewed as less urgent than other health issues, so they get less attention although poor oral health can lead to serious long-term effects.” She said the World Health Organisation 2019 Global Oral Health Status Report showed Malaysia had the third-lowest rate of untreated decay in permanent teeth among those aged five and above, at 22.8%, out of 194 countries. “We urge stronger parental education, better preventive care, earlier and routine screenings as well as systemic integration of oral health into early childhood care.” Mazwin said both lack of awareness and issues with access contribute to delayed dental screening for children, and the problem is more common than many parents realise. She said many parents were still unaware that a child’s first dental visit should take place by the age of one, leading them to assume that baby teeth are “temporary” and do not require early attention. “This misconception often results in dental problems being detected only when cavities are already advanced. “Access is also an issue. While government dental clinics offer free or low-cost care for children, long waits, distance to clinics, parents’ work schedules and limited child

Dental problems are often viewed as less urgent than other health issues, so they get less attention although poor oral health can lead to serious long-term effects. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

increases this risk.” Mazwin said untreated cavities could let bacteria reach the tooth pulp, causing abscesses that may spread to gums, jaw and even the bloodstream, leading to severe pain, tooth loss and serious health problems such as infections in the heart or brain. She highlighted a Malaysian study (2013– 2019) showing that 381 children aged two to six required treatment under general anaesthesia for severe tooth decay. “Early tooth decay in children can be hard to spot. Parents should look for white or brown spots, tiny pits, sensitivity to sweet, hot or cold foods, changes in chewing or slight gum redness and swelling. “Pain may not appear until the decay reaches the pulp or an abscess forms, so regular dental check-ups from age one are essential.” She also said dental caries (tooth decay) remains widespread in Malaysia, posing a major public health challenge across all ages. “The 2020 National Oral Health Survey found 85.1% of adults were affected. In 2015, 71.5% of five-year-olds had decay, highlighting high treatment needs, especially among children and the elderly. “No single policy can address these challenges. Instead, a coordinated web of existing and future policies is needed to improve overall oral health.” Sharifa said early prevention, awareness and access, particularly for low-income households, remain critical to reducing the prevalence of untreated cavities and the systemic health risks associated with dental decay. – By QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI

focused services discourage early visits. “These awareness and access barriers mean many children miss the critical window for early screening, prevention and treatment.” Mazwin said one of the biggest oral-hygiene mistakes Malaysian parents make is letting children go to bed without brushing after drinking milk, sweet drinks or formula beverages. She said exposing teeth to sugar promotes bacterial growth and could cause severe early childhood cavities. “In short, early prevention is crucial. Tooth decay and poor oral hygiene can allow bacteria such as Streptococcus mutans to enter the bloodstream, which may lead to heart infections in people with existing heart problems. “While routine brushing could also cause small amounts of bacteria to enter the blood, severe decay with exposed tooth pulp greatly “Public clinics, on the other hand, have a limited number of dentists and facilities, resulting in long waits and overloaded services.” She said the system faces gaps not just due to locality but also because Malaysia lacks adequate facilities and trained specialists. Sharifa said advanced fields such as orthodontics (teeth alignment), endodontics (root canal and pulp treatment), periodontics (gum and supporting tissue care), prosthodontics (crowns, dentures and implants), paediatric dentistry (children’s oral care), oral and maxillofacial surgery (jaw and facial procedures) and oral pathology (disease diagnosis) all require years of additional training. She added that the number of specialists in these areas, however, remains limited. “This strain is not the fault of clinics but the

Tooth problems more prevalent in low-income families PETALING JAYA: Access to dental services in Malaysia is far from easy for many low-income families and children. for treatment at private clinics can be financially draining. result of the small share of healthcare resources allocated to dental and oral health.”