Latest news with #Assoc
The Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
13MP marks historic pivot towards ageing nation
PETALING JAYA: The 13th Malaysia Plan is a watershed moment in the nation's response to an ageing population, laying the groundwork for sweeping reforms in long-term care, retirement and social protection systems. The plan reflects an urgent recalibration of policy direction as the country braces to become an aged nation by 2043, according to Universiti Putra Malaysia's Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing. Its director Assoc Prof Dr Rahimah Ibrahim described the 13MP as a 'major step forward' in preparing for the demographic shift. 'The plan is significant in terms of the government's commitment to long-term care (LTC) and social protection reforms in preparation for aged nation status. No change happens overnight, but these are bold steps in the right direction.' For the first time, a national development plan has explicitly prioritised long-term care as a strategic policy issue. 'Under the plan, a dedicated entity will be established to coordinate a comprehensive care ecosystem that includes eldercare, childcare, disability care and faith-based residential institutions.' Rahimah said Malaysia's long-term care sector is still in its infancy and is in urgent need of regulation, sustainable funding and professionalised staffing. 'It is an emerging industry that needs structure. Right now we lack standardisation, adequate manpower and regulatory oversight.' She stressed that long-term care should not be conflated with clinical healthcare. While hospitals and clinics focus on medical treatment, LTC encompasses personal, social and functional support to help individuals maintain dignity and independence in their daily lives. Rahimah also welcomed the inclusion of the National Ageing Blueprint 2025–2045, calling it a 'critical strategic document' that must be finalised, presented and made publicly accessible to guide implementation efforts. On the proposed review of the mandatory retirement age, she voiced support but urged a phased and pragmatic rollout. 'The government should start with expanding re-employment schemes, while gradually phasing in any extension of the retirement age across both public and private sectors. While the retirement age was raised to 60 in 2012, labour force participation among those aged 55–59 did not increase significantly. However, it did reverse the downward trend, which is encouraging.' She also commended the plan's emphasis on older adults' economic participation, particularly through flexible work arrangements and lifelong learning initiatives via Technical and Vocational Education and Training. However, Rahimah acknowledged that enticing younger Malaysians into the aged care sector remains a challenge. 'Will youths be drawn to the care industry? Maybe yes – if there are clear wages, defined career pathways and if they find satisfaction in the work. Like the childcare industry before it, aged care can evolve into a respected profession.' At present, she said Malaysia's aged care landscape remains largely informal and under-regulated. 'Anyone can become an aged care worker. But without proper registration or certification, the workers are easily replaced. The sector also suffers from high turnover and chronic manpower shortages.' Rahimah also expressed support for the proposed hybrid Employees Provident Fund payout model – combining lump sum withdrawals with monthly disbursements – as a step towards a stronger social safety net. While underlying inequalities in the pension system persist, she said the new model was 'a bold step' towards enhancing income security for the ageing population. 'There's a lot to unpack in the 13MP. But what's clear is that the government is no longer treating ageing merely as a demographic trend – it's being seen as a transformative opportunity. We urge all stakeholders to view the shift as a challenge to reimagine Malaysia as a more inclusive, caring and sustainable society for all ages.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Target of 1m affordable homes viable: Experts
PETALING JAYA: The government pledge to construct one million affordable homes under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) is realistic but will require consistent momentum and tighter coordination, say experts. UTM real estate economy expert Dr Muhammad Najib Razali said current data supports the target viability because about 180,000 units have been completed this year, with an additional 235,000 under construction, bringing the total to approximately 415,000 homes. 'If this rate of development can be accelerated, the one million target is well within reach.' However, he said a unified coordinating agency is urgently needed to avoid overlapping responsibilities among stakeholders and ensure streamlined implementation. He recommended scaling up the use of technologies such as the Industrialised Building System and Building Information Modelling to reduce costs and accelerate delivery timelines. 'Inclusive financing mechanisms, such as expanding the Rent-to-Own scheme and Credit Guarantee Housing Scheme, must also support B40 and M40 buyers.' He added that under the 12th Malaysia Plan, about 57.8% of the 500,000 unit target was achieved by March 2024, with progress surging this year. He said achieving the 13MP goal requires building 585,000 units over the next decade, about 58,500 annually. He also said past schemes such as PR1MA, while aimed at lower income groups, were undermined by speculation and unsustainable financing. 'Some buyers resold their units immediately after the moratorium, undermining the purpose of affordable housing. Others depleted their EPF savings to qualify for loans, putting their financial security at risk.' He said the government must improve long term ownership monitoring, balance supply with real local demand and enforce clearer boundaries to prevent speculation. 'Between 2020 and 2025, units priced under RM300,000 made up over 55% of total housing transactions, yet only 23% of unsold units were in this price range. 'This reflects strong demand and affirms the importance of aligning supply with real affordability.' Housing community expert Assoc Prof Dr Noorsidi Aizuddin Mat Noor said the one million target is possible, but warned that poor delivery models could undermine the effort. He said many past initiatives were built in so-called 'strategic' locations without considering whether residents could actually live and work there. 'Too often, feasibility studies are based on outdated or inaccurate data. We need to assess real readiness, such as whether jobs, schools and clinics are nearby, not just label a site as 'promising''. Noorsidi said speculation remains a threat, and called for a transparent, tech-driven one-stop system for housing allocation and monitoring of resales. 'If people don't feel these homes are meant for them, we're not building communities. We're building shells.' UiTM Shah Alam Built Environment expert Assoc Prof Dr Rohayu Abdul Majid said public-private partnerships and tech like 3D printing could speed up delivery, but only if homes are built where they are needed. 'Affordable housing must go beyond visibility, it must be habitable, accessible and sustainable for long term use.' She stressed the need for micro-level demand mapping and stronger federal-state-private sector collaboration to prevent mismatches between supply and demand. 'Rising land and material costs remain a challenge, but fast approvals, tax breaks and digital tools could help, if homes are to stay truly affordable for B40 and M40 buyers.'
The Sun
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Green and blue economy initiatives key pillars of 13th Malaysia Plan
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) has cast the green and blue economy as key pillars for driving high-value, sustainable growth by 2030, with initiatives ranging from carbon trading and hydrogen hubs to rare earth elements (REE) and maritime industries. While some economists view these plans as a timely move to position Malaysia as an early mover in emerging markets, others caution that such initiatives are already largely market-driven and that deeper structural reforms will ultimately determine the country's economic trajectory. Universiti Putra Malaysia Associate Professor Dr Ida Yasin believes the green economy holds the greatest transformative potential for Malaysia. 'If Malaysia goes into carbon credit and carbon trading, we are not the first, but among the few in the market,' she said. 'We should take advantage of this early mover position, which could bring good returns to the country.' She highlighted initiatives in hydrogen energy, solar-hydro hybrids and REE development as opportunities for Malaysia to create new value chains and strengthen its competitive position in the region. 'Green economy initiatives involve carbon trading, hydrogen hubs, solar, rare earth elements. These are new and we can leverage on them,' she said, adding that a balance must be struck between environmental risks and economic returns, particularly in REE mining. Ida noted that Malaysia already has a solid base in maritime activities, ranking just behind Singapore in Asean for port and shipping capacity. 'We are leveraging what we already have. In terms of shipping and ports, we are among the best in the region after Singapore. The next step is to create more value, such as ship maintenance and related maritime services,' she said. She also welcomed the government's stated intent to involve small and medium enterprises (SMEs) more actively in these sectors. 'In the past, big projects were dominated by large corporations or GLCs. The Prime Minister mentioned giving SMEs opportunities. With proper training and retraining, they can adapt and benefit from new industries,' she added. Assoc Prof Dr Pek Chuen Kee, who specialises in green economics, said the 13MP's focus on high-growth high-value green sectors such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and green manufacturing could create new economic opportunities and reduce carbon emissions. He also highlighted blue carbon projects, protecting mangroves and seagrass beds to capture carbon, as an area where Malaysia could lead regionally in nature-based climate solutions. 'Blue carbon ecosystems play a vital role in carbon capture, enhancing biodiversity and creating opportunities for carbon credit markets,' he said. 'This positions Malaysia as a leader in sustainable innovation while supporting global climate goals.' However, Pek warned that environmental safeguards must keep pace with ambitious plans. 'Activities like rare earth mining pose significant threats to biodiversity and water systems. Without robust safeguards and long-term monitoring, these initiatives could undermine Malaysia's sustainability goals,' he said. He also called for stronger investment in talent development, saying Malaysia lacks skilled professionals in emerging green fields. 'Integrating sustainability into higher education and building pathways for lifelong learning will be essential to ensure the workforce is ready for future green industries,' he said. In contrast, Williams Business Consultancy Sdn Bhd founder and director Professor Geoffrey Williams argued that technology and green growth are already unfolding organically and do not require heavy government intervention. 'These are market-driven and government interference is unnecessary,' he said. 'The most important features (of the 13MP) are the social and structural elements. The extension of the minimum wage will help raise incomes and the review of the retirement age will spur discussion and reform of pensions.' Williams said structural reforms, including improving wages, addressing the pension crisis, creating jobs to tackle underemployment, and expanding healthcare access, are critical to ensuring sustainable growth. 'There is some healthcare expenditure and some policy to address out-of-pocket expenses. This is a good focus of policy and one I had recommended,' he added. The 13MP charts Malaysia's economic path from 2026 to 2030, aiming for high-income status through adoption of artificial intelligence, high-growth high-value industries and sustainable growth. The plan outlines RM611 billion in total investments, combining government funding, government-linked company contributions and public-private partnerships. The success of green and blue economy initiatives hinges on early mover advantages, as noted by Ida and Pek and structural reforms in wages, pensions, healthcare and SME participation, as stressed by Williams.
The Advertiser
25-07-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
New device to help treat serious birth risk for women
Women who experience postpartum haemorrhages could soon have access to more treatment options as a new device is added to Australia's therapeutic goods register. Between five and 15 per cent of women who give birth can experience a postpartum haemorrhage. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency which can lead to maternal death or morbidity. A haemorrhage is defined as a blood loss post-birth of 500 millilitres or more while a severe haemorrhage occurs when a litre or more is lost. The impacts on mothers of this complication can be physical and psychological, including extreme fatigue from blood loss, delayed milk production and trauma from the experience. But despite increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhages, many women are unaware of the risk. Care providers need to delicately balance factual information without frightening mums-to-be, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist obstetrician Stefan Kane said. "Women are having babies at an older age and more are being induced, two things which can increase risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage," he told AAP. "Information is power and being aware of the chance of having a birth injury or haemorrhage is really important." Maternity care providers should also explain what will happen in the event of a haemorrhage, including the possibility of surgery, Associate Professor Kane said. Extensive blood loss after birth is most commonly caused by the uterus being too relaxed and not contracting down, which can be treated by medicine. In cases where the medicine did not work, Assoc Prof Kane said it was important for care teams to have other options as the condition is potentially life-threatening. The JADA system has recently been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is a medical device that applies a low-level vacuum to the uterus and induces muscle contraction to control and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The device has been used overseas for a number of years and would be a helpful addition to Australian hospitals, Assoc Prof Kane said. "The first step is having it available on the register and now we can start studying it further and see the role it could play in our approach to preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage," he said. Women who experience postpartum haemorrhages could soon have access to more treatment options as a new device is added to Australia's therapeutic goods register. Between five and 15 per cent of women who give birth can experience a postpartum haemorrhage. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency which can lead to maternal death or morbidity. A haemorrhage is defined as a blood loss post-birth of 500 millilitres or more while a severe haemorrhage occurs when a litre or more is lost. The impacts on mothers of this complication can be physical and psychological, including extreme fatigue from blood loss, delayed milk production and trauma from the experience. But despite increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhages, many women are unaware of the risk. Care providers need to delicately balance factual information without frightening mums-to-be, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist obstetrician Stefan Kane said. "Women are having babies at an older age and more are being induced, two things which can increase risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage," he told AAP. "Information is power and being aware of the chance of having a birth injury or haemorrhage is really important." Maternity care providers should also explain what will happen in the event of a haemorrhage, including the possibility of surgery, Associate Professor Kane said. Extensive blood loss after birth is most commonly caused by the uterus being too relaxed and not contracting down, which can be treated by medicine. In cases where the medicine did not work, Assoc Prof Kane said it was important for care teams to have other options as the condition is potentially life-threatening. The JADA system has recently been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is a medical device that applies a low-level vacuum to the uterus and induces muscle contraction to control and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The device has been used overseas for a number of years and would be a helpful addition to Australian hospitals, Assoc Prof Kane said. "The first step is having it available on the register and now we can start studying it further and see the role it could play in our approach to preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage," he said. Women who experience postpartum haemorrhages could soon have access to more treatment options as a new device is added to Australia's therapeutic goods register. Between five and 15 per cent of women who give birth can experience a postpartum haemorrhage. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency which can lead to maternal death or morbidity. A haemorrhage is defined as a blood loss post-birth of 500 millilitres or more while a severe haemorrhage occurs when a litre or more is lost. The impacts on mothers of this complication can be physical and psychological, including extreme fatigue from blood loss, delayed milk production and trauma from the experience. But despite increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhages, many women are unaware of the risk. Care providers need to delicately balance factual information without frightening mums-to-be, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist obstetrician Stefan Kane said. "Women are having babies at an older age and more are being induced, two things which can increase risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage," he told AAP. "Information is power and being aware of the chance of having a birth injury or haemorrhage is really important." Maternity care providers should also explain what will happen in the event of a haemorrhage, including the possibility of surgery, Associate Professor Kane said. Extensive blood loss after birth is most commonly caused by the uterus being too relaxed and not contracting down, which can be treated by medicine. In cases where the medicine did not work, Assoc Prof Kane said it was important for care teams to have other options as the condition is potentially life-threatening. The JADA system has recently been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is a medical device that applies a low-level vacuum to the uterus and induces muscle contraction to control and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The device has been used overseas for a number of years and would be a helpful addition to Australian hospitals, Assoc Prof Kane said. "The first step is having it available on the register and now we can start studying it further and see the role it could play in our approach to preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage," he said. Women who experience postpartum haemorrhages could soon have access to more treatment options as a new device is added to Australia's therapeutic goods register. Between five and 15 per cent of women who give birth can experience a postpartum haemorrhage. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency which can lead to maternal death or morbidity. A haemorrhage is defined as a blood loss post-birth of 500 millilitres or more while a severe haemorrhage occurs when a litre or more is lost. The impacts on mothers of this complication can be physical and psychological, including extreme fatigue from blood loss, delayed milk production and trauma from the experience. But despite increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhages, many women are unaware of the risk. Care providers need to delicately balance factual information without frightening mums-to-be, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist obstetrician Stefan Kane said. "Women are having babies at an older age and more are being induced, two things which can increase risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage," he told AAP. "Information is power and being aware of the chance of having a birth injury or haemorrhage is really important." Maternity care providers should also explain what will happen in the event of a haemorrhage, including the possibility of surgery, Associate Professor Kane said. Extensive blood loss after birth is most commonly caused by the uterus being too relaxed and not contracting down, which can be treated by medicine. In cases where the medicine did not work, Assoc Prof Kane said it was important for care teams to have other options as the condition is potentially life-threatening. The JADA system has recently been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is a medical device that applies a low-level vacuum to the uterus and induces muscle contraction to control and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The device has been used overseas for a number of years and would be a helpful addition to Australian hospitals, Assoc Prof Kane said. "The first step is having it available on the register and now we can start studying it further and see the role it could play in our approach to preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage," he said.
Perth Now
24-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
New device to help treat serious birth risk for women
Women who experience postpartum haemorrhages could soon have access to more treatment options as a new device is added to Australia's therapeutic goods register. Between five and 15 per cent of women who give birth can experience a postpartum haemorrhage. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening obstetric emergency which can lead to maternal death or morbidity. A haemorrhage is defined as a blood loss post-birth of 500 millilitres or more while a severe haemorrhage occurs when a litre or more is lost. The impacts on mothers of this complication can be physical and psychological, including extreme fatigue from blood loss, delayed milk production and trauma from the experience. But despite increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhages, many women are unaware of the risk. Care providers need to delicately balance factual information without frightening mums-to-be, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist obstetrician Stefan Kane said. "Women are having babies at an older age and more are being induced, two things which can increase risk factors for postpartum haemorrhage," he told AAP. "Information is power and being aware of the chance of having a birth injury or haemorrhage is really important." Maternity care providers should also explain what will happen in the event of a haemorrhage, including the possibility of surgery, Associate Professor Kane said. Extensive blood loss after birth is most commonly caused by the uterus being too relaxed and not contracting down, which can be treated by medicine. In cases where the medicine did not work, Assoc Prof Kane said it was important for care teams to have other options as the condition is potentially life-threatening. The JADA system has recently been added to the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. It is a medical device that applies a low-level vacuum to the uterus and induces muscle contraction to control and treat postpartum haemorrhage. The device has been used overseas for a number of years and would be a helpful addition to Australian hospitals, Assoc Prof Kane said. "The first step is having it available on the register and now we can start studying it further and see the role it could play in our approach to preventing and treating postpartum haemorrhage," he said.
