MOH reaffirms strict enforcement on smoking products to safeguard public health
The Health Ministry today reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring strict enforcement and control of the contents and emissions of all types of smoking products to safeguard public health and safety.
In a statement today, the ministry clarified that the importation, manufacturing and distribution of e-cigarette liquids in the local market are strictly regulated under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
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The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Ethical reporting in suicide cases
Useful handbook: Fahmi (third from left) holding a copy of the Suicide Content Guidelines at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. With him are (from left) MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zulkarnain Mohd Yasin, Mediha, Rafiq, Dr Ismuni and Wong. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star Mainstream and social media urged to observe the dos and don'ts PETALING JAYA: Ethical content reporting on suicide cases should be a collective effort by media organisations, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He said that with the launching of the Suicide Content Guidelines, he was hopeful that they could be implemented and practised by all parties. 'For us to make a structural change, especially in the culture of reporting, the entire organisation needs to understand the importance of respecting the principles that have been established in these guidelines,' he told reporters after launching the document at Menara Star here yesterday. Following the launch, he called for the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), which had spearheaded the drafting of the guidelines, to engage with as many media organisations as possible to ensure the essence of the document could be adopted. The guidelines, he said, are not only applicable to mainstream media but also social media platforms. 'We cannot have these social media platforms washing their hands of content that could create online harm, particularly related to suicide,' he said. Fahmi said he had requested the Content Forum to ensure the participation of social media platforms in its initiatives. He pointed out that only TikTok is a member of CMCF, urging other social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X to follow suit. 'TikTok took an early step even before we introduced the social media licensing regime and I wholeheartedly applaud its approach to voluntarily be a member of CMCF,' he said. CMCF chief executive officer Mediha Mahmood said the drafting of the guidelines was inspired by the Health Ministry's very own version. She noted that the ministry's guidelines were released in 2011. But with various changes since then, she said there was a need to have an updated version of the guidelines. She explained that many things had changed since 2011. 'Even the media landscape has changed, so we decided that we needed to have an updated version. 'We worked together with the Health Ministry and other stakeholders to have guidelines that's not just for media reporting but also for every form of content sharing,' she said. Mediha said the guidelines were also meant for content creators, social media influencers and filmmakers. The establishment of the Malaysian Media Council would further complement the implementation of the guidelines, she said. The council will comprise members who are knowledgeable on content-related matters. 'We can have these guidelines as a standard for all media organisations and if they have improvements that they think we should make to these guidelines, we can update it at any time,' she added. CMCF chairman Rafiq Rizal said the guidelines aim to create a framework that protects the vulnerable, empowers the informed and supports a healthier and more compassionate national discourse. 'In an era when headlines compete for attention and social media posts go viral in seconds, it is essential that our content practices are guided by intention and empathy,' he said. For instance, Rafiq said discussion on suicide matters should be done with care and intention. Among the objectives of the guidelines include preventing imitative suicides, promoting help-seeking behaviour, enhancing public awareness and education, as well as supporting media professionals and social media users. Also present at the launch were Star Media Group chairman Tan Sri Wong Foon Meng, Star Media Group group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt and Health Ministry deputy director-general (public health) Dr Ismuni Bohari.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Surge in Covid-19 cases recorded
Virus making a comeback in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong and US PETALING JAYA: As society becomes more relaxed about the perceived threat of Covid-19, the coronavirus has started to resurge in many countries, leading to an increase in reported cases. Between May 25 and 30, Thailand reported 65,880 new Covid-19 cases with three fatalities. Indonesia's Health Ministry issued a public health advisory following a resurgence of cases in several Asian countries. It urged citizens to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures. Both Hong Kong and the United States have reported an uptick in Covid-19 cases linked to the NB.1.8.1 variant. Singapore reported over 14,000 cases between Apr 27 and May 3. In Malaysia, the Health Ministry said an average of 600 cases were reported each week between Apr 14 and May 10. Malaysia reported over 11,000 cases between Jan 1 and May 10. These are the last available numbers released by the ministry. Prof Dr Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's professor of Public Health Medicine, said people have become lax as Covid-19 is no longer seen as a major threat now. People should be aware of the mutation of the virus and the new variants that would appear, she added. 'The most recent designated variant under monitoring (VUM) is NB.1.8.1, and it is considered highly transmissible but does not indicate higher virulence, or risk of hospitalisation or deaths. It has been stated that the current vaccine's coverage also covers the current strain and those at high risk such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and those with high comorbidity need to be vigilant,' she added. She said high-risk groups should wear a mask when they are outdoors or if they develop symptoms. Those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) should not miss their medication schedule. 'If you have Covid-19-like symptoms, it could also be adenovirus (usually mild), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and/or influenza,' she said. This can be determined by testing for Covid-19, or by visiting your healthcare provider for treatment and admission if necessary. 'The symptoms may mimic each other, or you can catch two diseases at the same time which is rare, but can occur,' she added. She said this new variant seems to cause symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, headache and gastrointestinal distress. 'Besides antigen testing, you may need to get a chest X-ray and blood test for confirmation to rule out pneumonia. Covid generally presents as non threatening symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and no need to follow up with MySejahtera app (like before),' she said. Former Health Ministry official and public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the rise in cases could be due to decreasing immunity either from natural infection or immunisation and people no longer observing precautionary measures like before. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on May 28 that since February, global SARS-CoV-2 activity has been on the rise, with the test positivity rate reaching 11% - levels that have not been observed since July 2024. 'This rise is primarily observed in countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions. Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a VUM, is increasing, reaching 10.7% of global sequences reported as of mid-May.' Recent increases in SARS-CoV-2 activity are broadly consistent with levels observed during the same period last year. However, there still lacks a clear seasonality in SARS-CoV-2 circulation, and surveillance is limited, it said. WHO also advised all member states to continue monitoring and applying a risk-based and integrated approach to managing Covid-19.
Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Singapore MOH: No, Covid-19 isn't a bacterium — and no, we're not jailing the unvaccinated
SINGAPORE, June 3 — Singapore's Health Ministry (MOH) has urged the public not to spread unsubstantiated information that may cause public alarm, following the circulation of misinformation on alleged Covid-19 autopsy findings and new vaccination laws on social media platforms. MOH advised the public to refer to its official website at for accurate and up-to-date information. The ministry noted that a message which originally circulated in 2021 has resurfaced. The message falsely claims that Singapore is the first country in the world to perform an autopsy on a Covid-19 body, and that it found Covid-19 does not exist as a virus but as a bacterium. 'This is false. As clarified by the Ministry then, Singapore has not performed such an autopsy, and it is also not true that Covid-19 is caused by a bacterium,' MOH said in a statement on Tuesday. Meanwhile, MOH also denied social media posts alleging that Singapore has enacted laws mandating vaccination and jailing unvaccinated individuals following Bill Gates' recent visit to the country. 'This is false. Singapore has not passed any laws on vaccinations after Mr Gates' recent visit to Singapore,' the ministry stated. — Bernama
