16/05/2026

SATURDAY | MAY 16, 2026

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‘Acknowledge mental health as occupational safety issue’

response, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Malacca. “The crisis has not only affected the housing sector but also small traders. We have not set a fixed rate of reduction, instead leaving it to state authorities to decide on the appropriate cuts to help ease the burden on traders. “This is one of the ministry’s strategies to ease the burden of small traders, and we want other states to also join in efforts to help reduce the pressure from the crisis.” – Bernama Padi wastewater guidelines to be introduced PUTRAJAYA: Guidelines on the reuse of wastewater discharge from padi cultivation, and the setting of wastewater discharge standards for agricultural activities, will be introduced to enhance river pollution control in a more systematic and sustainable manner. The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry in a statement said the proposal was approved at the Special Committee to Address Deterioration of River Water Quality meeting. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister II and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof on Thursday. “The meeting also reviewed a proposal to incorporate requirements for a river sediment hydraulic study into the River Sand Mining Guidelines (Amendment 2020) to ensure that sand extraction activities do not affect river stability, increase the risk of bank erosion or impact river water quality.” The committee was also briefed on the Livestock Industry Pollution Index Management Guidelines developed by the Veterinary Services Department to strengthen monitoring and control of pollution from the industry. The ministry added that the findings of the Integrated River Basin Management study by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage were also presented to identify the main causes of declining river water quality in the country’s major river basins. Also emphasised in the meeting was the importance of more focused follow-up actions, stronger enforcement, close cooperation between the federal and state governments, and a comprehensive river basin management approach to ensure the sustainability of the nation’s water resources. The ministry said the meeting focused on efforts to strengthen river pollution control, water resource management, and the enhancement of technical guidelines and standards related to the protection of national water resources. “The government remains committed to strengthening resilience in facing global challenges, including the impact of the global supply crisis that exerts pressure on food, energy and water resource sectors, as well as the cost of living. “The meeting was held to enhance coordination of river water quality management and control measures in a more proactive manner.” – Bernama

o Psychosocial risks must receive equal attention as physical hazards, says activist

Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Mental health must be recognised as a core occupational safety and health (OSH) issue and no longer treated as a personal problem, said Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. He said workplaces cannot be considered safe if employees are struggling with burnout, workplace bullying, toxic work cultures or overwhelming workloads. “For too long, mental health in our workplaces has been a silent hazard but often, we say nothing. We look away and remain silent. That silence must end.” He emphasised that psychosocial risks should be treated with the same seriousness as physical workplace hazards such as faulty machinery, slippery floors or chemical exposure, as their effects could be equally damaging and sometimes even more devastating because they affect the mind. He cited the Employment Hero’s Wellness at Work Report, which found that burnout among Malaysian employees increased from 58% in 2022 to 67% in 2024. “These are not soft issues. Mental health challenges could impair concentration, reduce motivation, increase errors and ultimately lead to disengagement. “Poor mental health not only affects emotional wellbeing but could also contribute to physical illnesses, as chronic stress is linked to heart disease, hypertension, weakened immunity and sleep disorders.” He also highlighted the growing issue of “presenteeism”, in which employees are physically present at work but mentally absent due to stress, anxiety or depression. “They sit at their desks, but their

Lee urged employers to create safer psychosocial work environments by encouraging open conversations about mental health without fear of stigma or discrimination. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

bullying and harassment. “Workplaces that prioritise mental health see higher levels of employee engagement, stronger teamwork, better retention and improved overall performance.” He also called on the government to strengthen recognition of psychosocial risks within the national OSH framework. He added that Section 18B of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Osha) 1994 requires employers to conduct occupational safety and health risk assessments, including those related to psychosocial hazards. Lee said the Guidelines for Psychosocial Risk Assessment and Management at the Workplace 2024 could assist employers in identifying and managing such risks. Meanwhile, Section 16 of Osha 1994 requires employers to establish occupational safety and health policies that also address

minds are burdened. They cannot focus. They cannot perform and sometimes, they make critical mistakes.” Lee said presenteeism is not only a human issue but also an economic concern as it drains workplace productivity and affects national growth. “If we ignore mental health, we are not only failing our people, we are failing our economy.” He urged employers to create safer psychosocial work environments by encouraging open conversations about mental health without fear of stigma or discrimination. Among the measures proposed were providing access to counselling and employee assistance programmes, training managers to recognise early signs of mental distress, ensuring fair workloads and work-life balance, and establishing clear policies to address workplace

psychosocial the workplace, with offences carrying penalties of up to RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both. However, he emphasised that laws and policies would not be enough to create lasting change. “A true culture of care must start from the top. Managers must be trained not only to deliver results, but to understand individuals.” He also called for greater mental health literacy among youths, saying many young individuals are entering the workforce already experiencing burnout. “We must equip them with mental health literacy early in schools and universities so they are able to enter the professional world with resilience.” Lee said organisations should also prioritise employee wellbeing as part of their environmental, social and governance commitments. hazards in

Govt taking steps to address delayed housing projects KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry has taken immediate measures to prevent a rise in delayed and abandoned housing projects, following a 30% increase in construction costs due to the global supply chain crisis. our engagement sessions with stakeholders, we found that costs have risen by between 20% and 40%, with an average increase of about 30%,” he said on Thursday. able to put in mitigation measures. We are working to find solutions, including finding ‘white knights’ to take over and rescue the projects, and easing the process until the Certificate of Completion and Compliance is issued.” ensure that delays are caused by the current crisis, rather than poor management by developers.

On efforts to support small traders, he said the ministry has called on local authorities nationwide to lower rental rates for business premises under their management, following the ministry’s tabling of the proposal at the National Economic Action Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He added that several states have so far taken proactive steps in

He added that to address the issue, the ministry’s Task Force on Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects, established in 2023, is actively working on solutions, with 99 large scale abandoned housing projects recorded so far. “We have identified the sick and abandoned projects so that we are

Noor Azman said the ministry, through the Housing Department, is also reviewing applications from severely affected developers for extensions to project timelines, emphasising that applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis to

Its secretary-general Datuk Dr M. Noor Azman Taib said the unexpected crisis has affected the country’s housing industry, which involves more than 200 construction supply chains worth billions of ringgit. “In terms of cost increases, during