Yoga celebration bridges cultural ties between Malaysia and India
06 Jul 2025 12:01pm
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Datuk Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, and Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, join participants at the 11th International Day of Yoga 2025 programme held in the vicinity of the Batu Caves Temple. - Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR - Yoga continues to serve as a powerful bridge for Malaysia-India cultural ties and youth engagement, as more than 1,200 participants joined the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) 2025 celebration at the iconic Batu Caves here recently.
Jointly organised by the High Commission of India here and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indian Cultural Centre (NSCBICC), in collaboration with several Malaysian partner organisations, the event was held under the global theme "Yoga for One Earth, One Health.' Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Datuk Dr Nagulendran Kangayatkarasu, listens to the speech by Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, during the 11th International Day of Yoga 2025 programme held in the vicinity of the Batu Caves Temple. - Bernama photo
Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy, said the message of unity and inner balance through yoga is increasingly resonating with Malaysians of all ages.
"There is growing popularity of yoga in Malaysia across the age groups and its wider integration into wellness, physical as well as mental health programmes,' he said in a statement issued by the Indian High Commission here.
The event was also attended by the Ministry of Youth and Sports secretary-general, Datuk Ts Dr K. Nagulendran, who joined as the chief guest.
A 40-minute yoga session, based on the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), was led by trained instructors, with the demonstration of yoga asanas (postures) being well received by the participants.
IDY is celebrated annually on June 21 following its declaration by the United Nations in 2014, recognising yoga's universal appeal and benefits for physical and mental well-being.
This year marks the 11th edition of the celebration, rooted in the ancient Indian practice that continues to gain worldwide popularity.
Meanwhile on a separate event, the Sakthi School of Yoga entered the Malaysia Book of Records after gathering 5,368 participants during its IDY event held at MAEPS, Serdang recently. - BERNAMA
More Like This
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Russian doctors to use AI in telemedicine from September 1
MOSCOW: New telemedicine regulations in Russia will permit doctors to use artificial intelligence (AI) during remote consultations starting September 1. The updated rules aim to improve healthcare accessibility while maintaining the necessity of in-person examinations before remote follow-ups. Badma Bashankayev, first deputy chairman of the Russian parliament's healthcare committee, confirmed the changes. 'The new telemedicine rules are an evolution of this field. The core principle remains: first, an in-person check-up, then remote support. Now, doctors have more tools, including AI, provided the system is officially approved,' he told RIA Novosti. The revised guidelines outline four telemedicine formats: consultations between doctors for emergency, urgent, and planned cases; remote diagnostic reporting; patient consultations; and remote health monitoring. Bashankayev emphasized that telemedicine prioritizes patient needs over technology. 'Telemedicine is about people—ensuring a provincial patient can consult a federal specialist quickly, or a district doctor gets expert advice for complex cases. It also helps chronic patients, especially post-surgery, avoid frequent hospital visits,' he explained. The lawmaker stressed the importance of implementing these changes effectively. 'We must connect hospitals, train doctors, and upgrade technical infrastructure. Parliamentary oversight will ensure these updates truly benefit patients—focusing on convenience, accessibility, and quality,' he added. - BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
Sinar Daily
4 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Lung cancer survival doubles with advances in modern therapies, says expert
KUALA LUMPUR - Lung cancer, long known as a 'silent killer' and consistently among the top three causes of cancer-related deaths in Malaysia, is now seeing a shift in outlook. Clinical Oncologist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), Dr David Lee Dai Wee said, thanks to advances in modern therapies, patient survival rates are doubling, offering new hope where it was once scarce. While tobacco smoking is responsible for around 80 per cent of lung cancer cases, exposure to secondhand smoke, hazardous substances such as asbestos and coal, as well as genetic predisposition, also contribute significantly to the disease's risk profile. - Bernama file photo for illustration purpose only He highlighted that nearly 60 per cent of lung cancer patients in Malaysia are only diagnosed at stage four, the most advanced stage, with a five-year survival rate of less than 15 per cent, according to the National Cancer Registry. "In the early stages, such as stage one or two, patients often experience no symptoms at all. As a result, lung cancer is frequently diagnosed at a later stage when symptoms begin to appear. These may include a persistent cough lasting two to three weeks or longer,' he told Bernama. Other symptoms may include coughing up blood (hemoptysis), chest pain during breathing, shortness of breath and unexplained weight loss, said Dr Lee, adding that the spread of cancer to other organs may also cause pain in different parts of the body. He noted that while tobacco smoking is responsible for around 80 per cent of lung cancer cases, exposure to secondhand smoke, hazardous substances such as asbestos and coal, as well as genetic predisposition, also contribute significantly to the disease's risk profile. Dr Lee also highlighted that 20 to 30 per cent of lung cancer patients in Asia are non-smokers, challenging the common misconception that only smokers are affected, a belief that may lead patients or primary care doctors to delay further testing to determine whether symptoms are related to lung cancer. "But now, due to advances, firstly in molecular pathology, we are able to run this test called Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), which allows us to read the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of the cancer cells and understand them better. "And this has significantly improved treatment for this type of cancer. So, for example, let's say in a hundred patients of lung cancer that I see, about 50 per cent have this genetic change called Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation,' he said. Dr Lee said that while conventional treatments often result in a life expectancy of less than a year, newer therapies, including more convenient options such as oral targeted tablets, can now extend survival to as long as three years. "Another example is the use of immunotherapy, which is administered through an intravenous drip. It works by revealing cancer cells that have become adept at 'hiding' from the immune system, helping the body to recognise and destroy these harmful cells,' he said. He explained that one of the advantages of modern therapies, such as immunotherapy, is their tolerability, with nearly 80 per cent of patients experiencing minimal side effects and avoiding issues like hair loss or vomiting. However, he pointed out that the biggest challenges to personalised cancer treatment in Malaysia remain limited access to advanced technologies and high costs, as many of these drugs are not listed in the national formulary and are not subsidised in public hospitals. "So imagine if a patient is living in the rural areas and they need this NGS test. They need their lung cancer tissue to be sent to a lab in Kuala Lumpur,' he said. These challenges often lead to delays in initiating treatment, a critical concern in lung cancer care, where early intervention significantly improves disease control and outcomes. As such, he emphasised the importance of shared decision-making between oncologists, patients and their families to tailor each treatment plan, with the goal of not only extending survival but also maintaining the patient's quality of life. "Because not every patient is the same, treatment decisions are largely based on the patient's age, fitness level, stage of the disease, and molecular (DNA) subtype. Through NGS (genetic) testing, we can be more precise in targeting the cancer cells, with safer treatment options,' he said. He emphasised that treatment decisions should go beyond simply extending life, as the ultimate goal is to help patients maintain a good quality of life, enabling them to return to work, spend time with loved ones and lead fulfilling lives. Dr Lee is the first Malaysian to receive the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Academy Award 2024, a milestone since the award's inception in 2017. He was also honoured with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) International Development and Education Award (IDEA) 2024 in Chicago, United States. - BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Jellyfish sting 30 children at Lumut swimming event
Between 30 and 40 swimmers were stung by jellyfish drifting on the tide. (Perak Civil Defence Force pic) IPOH : Some 30 children taking part in an open water swimming event in Lumut were stung by jellyfish early this morning. Most of them suffered minor injuries, while three were slightly more serious cases. The competition at Teluk Senangin beach was the inaugural open water event organised by the Perak swimming community, with about 225 taking part. Between 30 and 40 swimmers were stung by jellyfish drifting on the tide. A girl and a boy, Nor Damia Qalessya Rosli, 9, and Aqeel Zafran Norhalis Syafiq, 10, were sent to hospital with a possible allergic reaction to the jellyfish venom, according to the Manjung Civil Defence Force. 'The incident occurred after the organisers flagged off the swimmers at 8am today; at 8.15am all the participants had returned to shore in pain and headed to the medical base to receive treatment for jellyfish stings,' according to the defence force's statement. State executive councillor A Sivanesan said he was told that the majority of those who were stung were boys aged 11 to 15.
