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King pilots speedboat to inspect waters around Mersing

M’sia-S’pore sign MoU to boost healthcare KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Singapore have signed an MoU to deepen cooperation in healthcare, focusing on non-communicable diseases (NCD), Nutri-Grade food labelling and medical tourism. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the agreement reflects strong trust and commitment between both nations. Key initiatives include aligning Nutri-Grade labelling to combat NCD and implementing the Medical Device Regulatory Reliance Programme to accelerate access to innovative medical technologies. Both countries are also exploring cross-border health tourism, with plans to facilitate patient referrals from Singapore to Johor’s private healthcare facilities and expand Medisave insurance coverage. In a post on his Facebook page, Dzulkefly said this would improve healthcare access while boosting economic spillovers in southern Malaysia. He added that Malaysia-Singapore cooperation is vital in building a sustainable, resilient and people centred regional health system. Separately, during a high-level discussion in Geneva, Dzulkefly highlighted the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. He said AI must be implemented safely, ethically and transparently to maintain public trust, with secure data management and interoperable digital health systems being critical. Malaysia has already deployed AI-powered lung screenings nationwide, with 9,174 patients screened. Of these, 26.9% showed abnormal chest X-rays, leading to the detection of 724 lung nodules, 73 high-risk cancer cases and several suspected tuberculosis cases. He said AI would never replace medical practitioners but only augment their expertise. – Bernama Call to end atrocities against Rohingya PETALING JAYA: The Myanmar Ethnic Rohingya Human Rights Organisation in Malaysia has issued an urgent appeal to Malaysian leaders, Asean governments and the United Nations (UN) to take coordinated action to end ongoing atrocities against Rohingya communities in Myanmar and address the continued detention of refugees trapped in stateless conditions. Its president Zafar Ahmad Abdul Ghani called on them to prioritise urgent humanitarian intervention. The organisation said thousands of Rohingya who fled violence remain detained or stranded due to statelessness, which prevents deportation but has led to indefinite confinement. It urged immediate legal and humanitarian action, including access to healthcare, counselling and psychosocial support. The organisation also called for the strengthening of Malaysia’s Refugee Registration Document (MRRD) initiative, saying it could improve refugee documentation, facilitate detainee release and expand access to essential services for survivors in Malaysia. It highlighted ongoing persecution in Myanmar, with repeated waves of violence in 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2024, adding that many Rohingya remain in internally displaced persons camps in Rakhine State, which it described as long-term confinement sites. It added that Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh and neighbouring countries continue to face overcrowded camps, limited basic needs and insecurity, forcing some into dangerous secondary migration routes. “The tragedy is ongoing. Many have died in conflict zones, refugee camps, at sea or at the hands of traffickers. Where else can they seek safety?” It urged Asean, the UN and Bangladesh to intensify efforts to dismantle trafficking syndicates and strengthen regional protection systems. Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail clarified that the MRRD programme does not grant permanent residency, with outcomes limited to repatriation, third-country resettlement or deportation. – BY KIRTINEE RAMESH

MERSING: His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim piloted a speedboat to inspect the waters around Mersing yesterday, reflecting his continued concern for marine preservation and environmental sustainability. According to a post on the Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Facebook page, His Majesty, who places strong emphasis on beach cleanliness and the preservation of marine ecosystems, also dived underwater during the visit to observe conditions beneath the surface. Earlier in the morning, Sultan Ibrahim stopped for breakfast at the Midway Rest and Recreation (R&R) area in Dusun Panti, Kota Tinggi, where the King enjoyed lontong . The King’s presence pleasantly surprised customers who were also having breakfast at the R&R stop, with many taking the opportunity to greet and take photographs with him. – Bernama

The King piloting the speedboat in Mersing yesterday. – PIC COURTESY OF SULTAN IBRAHIM SULTAN ISKANDAR FACEBOOK PAGE

Selangor DAP duo heed royal directive

Malaysia’s political landscape, Liu said he has consistently held the Constitution in the highest regard, describing it as one of the most critical pillars of national stability and social harmony. In a personal detail that underscored the depth of his stated conviction, Liu revealed that he had named his son Zun Xian – a Chinese name meaning “respect for the constitution”. The royal call to action followed a visit by Sultan Sharafuddin to Dataran Selangor in Shah Alam. The Selangor Royal Office confirmed that the Sultan had gone to view the Rukun Negara monument situated in front of the state flagpole on Tuesday. The Selangor Royal Office announced via a post on its Facebook page that the Sultan had called on all state elected representatives, singling out Wong and Liu in particular, to make it a practice to visit Dataran Selangor twice a month to read and reflect on the meaning of the principles inscribed on the monument. democratic and The ministry said various measures are being implemented, including enhanced surveillance at all international entry points, improved early case detection and greater readiness of healthcare facilities to isolate and manage suspected cases. It said personal protective equipment preparedness and training for healthcare workers are being kept at an optimal level while laboratory diagnostic capacity is being strengthened in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research and the National Public Health Laboratory. “Individuals who have travelled to affected countries are advised to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms within 21 days of returning.” – Bernama

o Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki and former state exco member Ronnie Liu issue declaration on high regard of Rukun Negara principles

Ű BY THESUN TEAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com

out her duties as a people’s representative. She said the principles serve as a guide, inspiration and foundation in fulfilling the public trust placed on her, adding that she prioritises the interests of the people of both Selangor and Malaysia in all her actions. Former Selangor state executive councillor Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew responded on Tuesday, saying that the five principles – Belief in God, Loyalty to King and Country, Supremacy of the Constitution, Rule of Law as well as Courtesy and Morality – must be embraced as a unified whole rather than applied selectively to suit political convenience. Drawing on his long involvement in

PETALING JAYA: Two Selangor DAP politicians have publicly acknowledged a royal directive from Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to deepen their appreciation of the Rukun Negara and to demonstrate greater respect for the royal institution. Seri Kembangan assemblyman Wong Siew Ki issued a statement about a day after the Sultan’s decree was made public. In a post on her Facebook page, Wong said she humbly upholds the royal directive, reaffirming that the Rukun Negara’s five principles remain central to how she carries

Ministry steps up Ebola monitoring measures PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has stepped up preparedness and monitoring measures following the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaration on Sunday of an Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. are being intensified to support public health risk assessments and enable early preventive measures.

Eight laboratory-confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases have been reported to WHO as of May 16, along with 80 suspected deaths in Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Uganda, two confirmed cases, including one death, were reported in Kampala, involving an individual with a travel history to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola is a serious infectious disease that can be fatal, and is spread through close contact with the blood or body fluids of infected people or animals, with common symptoms including fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea, and in some cases, bleeding.

It said in a statement yesterday that no Ebola cases have been reported in Malaysia since the WHO declaration. “The ministry is monitoring travellers entering Malaysia from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including those transiting through international hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Singapore. There are currently no direct flights from either country to Malaysia.” It said monitoring and screening efforts