05/02/2026

THURSDAY | FEB 5, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

Govt to prioritise rare diseases in health agenda

Ministry pushing female labour participation BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is stepping up a range of initiatives to increase women’s participation in the national workforce, aimed at achieving a 60% target by 2033. Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying said the current national female labour force participation rate stands at 56.9%, stressing that sustained and strengthened efforts are needed to meet the target. She said key initiatives include skill enhancement and reskilling programmes, particularly to encourage homemakers to re-enter the job market. “Our target is 60%. Although the gap may appear small, it is not easy to achieve. We will continue to make every effort to meet this target by 2033.” Lim was speaking after officiating at the Penang-level International Women’s Day celebration here yesterday. Also present were Seberang Perai mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid and Women’s Development Department deputy director-general Dr Faridah Awang. She added that under the Women’s Development Plan, various initiatives have been planned and will be implemented nationwide through the respective states. Lim said the 56.9% figure reflects women registered in the formal sector, noting that many others are employed in the informal sector or are full-time homemakers and therefore not captured in the statistics. She said in this regard, the government is placing emphasis on developing the care economy and caregiving industry as potential sectors to generate more employment opportunities for women. She noted that Penang has recorded a significant increase in female labour force participation, rising to 57.6% in 2024 compared with 46.7% in 2022 and 47.3% in 2023. She said the increase is in line with Penang’s position as a hub for industry, technology, education and the creative economy, and underscores that the state’s progress cannot be achieved without the active participation of women. – Bernama National Union of the Teaching Profession, Malaysia Airlines Pilots Association, Malaysian Pharmacists Society, Institution of Engineers Malaysia, Malaysian Institution of Archiects and Data Science Association. The conference is part of MMA’s annual corporate social responsibility initiative focusing on education and youth development. Registration is free via the MMA website under the Career Guidance Conference page in the Events section. For more information, call 03-4041 1375 (ext 113 or 109) or email schomos@mma.org.my.

o No life too small to matter, rarity no longer reason to deny care: Minister

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Rare diseases will no longer be treated as a peripheral concern in Malaysia’s healthcare system, with the government moving to embed them firmly within the national health agenda, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad yesterday. Speaking at the National Rare Disease Day celebration at the Tunku Azizah Hospital, he said the rarity of a condition should never justify denying patients access to care. “Rare does not mean insignificant. No life is too small to matter and rarity is no longer a reason to deny healthcare,” he noted. Globally, nearly 8,000 rare diseases have been identified, yet only about 5% have specific treatments available. In Southeast Asia, about 40 million people are affected. In Malaysia, around 12,000 patients living with nearly 500 types of rare diseases are receiving treatment at hospitals nationwide. Dzulkefly acknowledged that past Health Ministry initiatives, such as trust funds and targeted programmes, have largely been ad hoc and insufficient to meet the complex, long-term needs of rare disease patients. He said this underscores the need for a more structured, coordinated and sustainable approach. As a result, Malaysia has introduced the National Rare Disease Policy, marking a major milestone in strengthening the country’s healthcare ecosystem. The policy provides a formal national framework to guide rare disease management and shifts care from conventional, piecemeal approaches towards a systematic model focused on clinical governance,

Dzulkefly (left) and Harikrishna participating in the handprint pledge initiative at the National Rare Disease Day celebration yesterday. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

“This platform allows families to learn together. By understanding academic requirements and workplace realities, parents could better support their children in making well-informed career decisions.” The conference will feature talks and interactive question-and-answer sessions with professionals, alongside participation from universities and colleges providing information on academic pathways. Participating organisations include the National Union of Journalists Malaysia, Malaysian Dental Association, Malaysian Institute of Accountants, represents a voice of support for patients and their families. It is a reminder that behind every rare diagnosis is an individual and a family in need of understanding, empathy and continuous support.” The event brought together patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, patient organisations, industry partners and the public, bridging gaps between lived experiences and available healthcare services through patient sharing sessions and the “Rare but Real” public awareness exhibition, involving 24 organisations. The handprint pledge initiative was carried out across eight hospitals nationwide, with a target of collecting at least 2,000 pledges as a symbol of national solidarity. The celebration culminated with Dzulkefly placing the final handprint during the Malaysia Book of Records ceremony, reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring no patient is left behind.

pathways,” he said. He added that early exposure to authentic career insights could help students avoid costly missteps later, describing career selection as a major life decision requiring accurate information and direct engagement with professionals. Organising chairman Dr Sivabala Selvaratnam said many students have limited exposure to career options beyond what they encounter online or through family and friends, stressing that parents remain key influencers in decision-making process. private sector, to ensure long-term sustainability of care. The National Rare Disease Day celebration, held in conjunction with the global observance of World Rare Disease Day each February, featured a national handprint pledge initiative aimed at rallying public solidarity for the rare disease community. The initiative was recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records for achieving the “Most Handprint Pledges Collected at a National Rare Disease Event”, symbolising the collective commitment of Malaysians to uphold the rights, dignity and wellbeing of individuals and families affected by rare diseases. Kuala Lumpur Hospital director Datuk Dr Harikrishna Ragavan Nair said the celebration was particularly meaningful for the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Tunku Azizah Hospital as key referral centres that work closely with rare disease patients and their families. “Each handprint collected

students and parents make more informed decisions about future career paths. The free programme is open to students aged between 15 and 19. MMA president Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo said one of the biggest gaps observed today is the disconnect between career expectations and professional realities. “This conference is designed to bridge that gap by allowing students and parents to hear directly from professionals about what these careers truly involve, the challenges, the responsibilities and the long-term early and accurate diagnosis, and expanded access to treatment, including orphan drugs and specialised nutrition. He added that addressing rare diseases requires a whole-of-nation approach, involving not only federal and state governments, but also other ministries, healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, industry players, civil society and philanthropic contributors. “Managing rare diseases goes beyond healthcare alone. It requires cross-ministerial collaboration in education, awareness, welfare, social protection as well as patient empowerment. This cannot be done by the Health Ministry alone.” On funding, Dzulkefly said an additional RM5 million has been allocated for rare disease initiatives, thanking state governments and the Finance Ministry for their support. He added that further funding would be sought, including philanthropic contributions from the

‘Growing mismatch between expectations and workplace realities’

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Many students are choosing careers based on perceptions rather than an understanding of real workplace realities, creating a growing mismatch between expectations and the demands of professional life, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said. It said the issue has prompted it to organise its third Career Guidance Conference on Saturday and Sunday at M World Hotel in Petaling Jaya, aimed at helping secondary school