Malaysia, Singapore to strengthen ties in govtech, housing and public sector reform
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar said these were the main areas of collaboration identified during his three-day official working visit to Singapore beginning Friday (July 18).
"We want to learn from Singapore. Firstly, in regard to govtech, as they have already implemented it, while we are in the process of launching our own.
"Secondly, their affordable housing through the Singapore Housing Board. And thirdly, we want to learn about reforms in the public service," he said.
He was speaking to reporters after launching the Sports Carnival of the Alumni Association of MRSM Malaysia here on Sunday (July 20).
Shamsul Azri said Singapore welcomed the cooperation and exchange of best practices between the two countries to improve the quality of public service.
"Singapore welcomed our proposals… we also had sessions with them to discuss strategic cooperation between the Malaysian government and the Singaporean government," he added.
Earlier, in his speech, he urged Malaysians to adopt a healthy lifestyle through sports and good nutrition.
Citing Singapore as an example, he said their average life expectancy is 84 years, compared to about 73 to 74 years in Malaysia.
"We must remember that prevention is better than cure. To care is better than to cure," he said. – Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BusinessToday
6 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Health Ministry To Classify Food Nutrition From Grade A to D
The classification of food nutrition or Nutri-Grade under the Health Ministry's (MOH) initiative will be implemented soon, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said. He added that Nutri-Grade will be used to categorise food products sold in supermarkets so that it is easily understood by consumers, and its implementation is aimed at increasing healthy nutrition literacy among Malaysians. 'When we introduce Nutri-Grade, we will find that the category of food begins from Grade A: the best, to Grade D: should not be advertised at all. 'We will categorise which are unhealthy, we box it up in Grade D, which has unhealthy (contents) so people know and avoid it if possible,' he said, Such an approach has to be implemented following National Health and Morbidity Study 2024 findings that show a lack of nutrition among Malaysians. 'The challenge still falls on us as health managers to ensure healthy nutritional practices continue to be implemented, including those related to malnutrition, especially among teenagers and children,' Dr Dzulkefly said, adding that his ministry was open to having engagement sessions with social media influencers to assist in realising the healthy dietary agenda in the country. The study that involved 5,400 households revealed that 78 per cent of teenagers and 74 per cent of adults lack sufficient vitamin A due to a lack of vegetable and fruit intake, and 98 per cent of teenagers and 96 per cent of adults are calcium-deficient due to a lack of intake of dairy products. Meanwhile, two out of three teenagers and one out of two adults' sugar intake exceeded 37.5g (7.5 teaspoons), a day, and three out of four adults consume an average of 7.3g (1.5 teaspoons) of salt a day, exceeding the World Health Organisation's recommended 5g (one teaspoon) daily intake.


New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Indonesia proposes to send nurses to Malaysia under strategic plan
JOHOR BARU: The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Johor Bahru has proposed a strategic collaboration with hospitals in Malaysia to enable nurses from Indonesia to work here, thus helping to overcome the issue of manpower shortage in the medical sector. Its Consul General, Sigit S. Widiyanto, said this would be a win-win situation since about 70 per cent of the international patients in Malaysia are from Indonesia. He is confident that this measure will be mutually beneficial because Malaysia is facing a manpower shortage in the health sector, including nurses, while Indonesia has an excess workforce in the field. "Perhaps, in Johor, Melaka, and then in Penang, Kuala Lumpur… almost 70 per cent of their patients are Indonesians. I was told that the situation is the same with several hospitals in Sabah. "As such, it will be a win-win situation if more of our nurses get to work here. Communication-wise, there will be no problem as we understand each other. Similarly, in terms of opportunities and culturally," he said in an interview with Bernama recently. Previously, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said major hospitals in Johor Bahru are currently facing a serious and critical shortage of healthcare manpower, with a nurse having to manage more than 10 to 14 patients per shift, compared to an ideal ratio of 1:6 or a maximum of 1:8 Sigit said the consulate has begun state-level collaboration with a hospital in Johor, including the process of nurse intake before presenting it to the authorities in Kuala Lumpur for approval. "This requires approval from the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Malaysian Nursing Board and other stakeholders. But, we are trying because this has never been done before," he said. He said the nurses from Indonesia are currently recognised in many countries, including Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UA), Japan, Australia and Germany - proving their capability to serve in Malaysia. "If Indonesian nurses can work in those countries, then they can surely work in Malaysia. Within ASEAN, member countries have already agreed that nursing is among the open professions that can move between countries. Of course, there needs to be skill adjustments and other requirements according to existing regulations, but that is not a big problem," he said. He said they also plan to focus on recruiting nurses from the Riau Islands and Riau as an initial effort to place health workers in Malaysian hospitals. This measure is taken due to geographical proximity and cultural similarities, in addition to many patients from this area seeking treatment in states like Johor and Melaka. "We do not need to go far, we can fulfil our own needs. If it can be implemented nationally, it would be better, but for now, we will focus on the Riau Islands first," he said. He said Tanjung Pinang in the Riau Islands has a health education institution, namely the School of Health Sciences and the Health Polytechnic owned by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, which can be a major source of prospective nurses. "We have discussed with the health school here to create a 'sandwich' programme, whereby the curriculum will be combined to allow graduates in Indonesia to continue their studies for six months in Malaysia before serving here," he said. Sigit is confident that this method can produce nurses who are not only professionally qualified but also able to adapt to the local language and culture. The Johor Bahru KJRI has recorded that about 130,210 Indonesian citizens reside in its work area covering Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. – BERNAMA


Focus Malaysia
9 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Vaping in military uniform: Lessons from across the Causeway
Letter to Editor THE Straits Times recently reported that a man in Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) uniform was caught allegedly vaping on a public bus, prompting investigations by both military and civilian authorities. This happened in Singapore, a country known for strict laws and firm enforcement. Yet even someone in uniform was willing to break the rules. If such defiance can happen in a tightly regulated environment like Singapore, what more in Malaysia, where enforcement is often inconsistent and black-market activity is already widespread? This should serve as a wake-up call: a blanket vape ban may backfire. I write this letter not as a scientist or policymaker, but as a concerned Malaysian who wants to see practical solutions that truly improve public health. Like many others, I've been following the recent news about a potential nationwide ban on vapes and e-cigarettes. While I understand the concerns, especially about youth vaping and illegal products, I believe a full ban is not the answer. In fact, it may make things worse. Let's be honest. Smoking remains one of the biggest health issues in Malaysia. Every year, thousands of Malaysians die from diseases caused by cigarettes. Many smokers want to quit, but find it incredibly difficult. That's where properly regulated vape products can help. They are not risk-free, but studies have shown they are significantly less harmful than cigarettes because they don't involve combustion or tobacco smoke. If the government bans these products completely, it doesn't mean people will stop using them. Instead, it will drive consumers to the black market. Unregulated sellers will continue to operate under the radar, offering low-quality or even drug-laced products with no oversight. Just look at the headlines: the real problem lies with illicit, unregulated products, not the legal, registered ones. If we're serious about protecting our children, then enforcement not prohibition should be the priority. Let's learn from Singapore's missteps. We should go after illegal retailers, strengthen age-verification laws, and ensure that products in the market meet strict safety standards. We already have the legal framework to do that through the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852). The question is: why aren't we enforcing it more effectively? A total ban would also send the wrong message to adult smokers. We would be telling them that all nicotine products are equally harmful, even though science clearly shows that's not true. By ignoring the difference between combustible cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives, we're missing a major opportunity to reduce the national burden of smoking-related diseases. Here's an analogy to consider: banning vapes because they can be abused is like banning knives because they can cause harm. Knives, when misused, are dangerous. But when used correctly, they are essential tools in every household and kitchen. The same applies to vapes. If regulated properly, they can be a powerful tool for better public health—helping smokers transition away from far more harmful cigarettes. The answer isn't to throw the knife away—it's to teach people how to use it safely and responsibly. We should also consider the people who will be directly affected by this ban. Thousands of small business owners, many of them Bumiputera and youth entrepreneurs, have invested in vape shops and legitimate distribution channels. They followed the rules and registered with the authorities. Now, their livelihoods are on the line. How is that fair? And let's not forget the economics. Banning legal vape products won't stop demand, but instead shift demand to the black market, where no taxes are paid and no safety standards are enforced. Malaysia already loses billions each year due to the illicit cigarette trade. Are we about to repeat that mistake with vapes? There is another way. Countries like the UK, Japan and New Zealand have taken a harm reduction approach. They still discourage youth use and regulate marketing strictly but they also recognise that giving adult smokers access to less harmful alternatives can lead to real public health gains. Malaysia can do the same. Let's focus on educating the public, enforcing existing laws, and ensuring products are safe and accessible only to adults. Let's treat the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. We all want a healthier Malaysia. But we must be realistic about what works and what doesn't. A blanket ban may sound decisive but in practice, it will only push the problem underground, punish responsible users and businesses, and deny smokers a better alternative. ‒ Aug 5, 2025 Hakim Idris Kuala Lumpur The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: South China Morning Post