Latest news with #immunity
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
PM should face court, not hide behind immunity, says Hamzah
Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin (right) said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should face court proceedings without seeking immunity. PETALING JAYA : Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has criticised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for attempting to seek immunity in a civil suit brought against him by a former research assistant. Citing how Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution guarantees equality under the law, Hamzah said no one, not even the prime minister, is above the law. 'In this latest case, the prime minister must defend his dignity as an individual, and more importantly, the dignity of the office of the prime minister,' he said in a video posted on Facebook. Hamzah said preserving the dignity of the country is an obligation and that public figures, especially the prime minister, must lead by example. 'Justice must be given to all, regardless of rank. Those in power must never abuse the process of justice, as this will lead to the collapse of public trust in leadership and the judiciary,' he said, adding that public trust would crumble if justice was not applied equally. Hamzah also said failure to uphold fairness could scare off investors and tarnish Malaysia's global image. 'Foreign investors will see this country as being ruled by the law of the jungle. The long-term damage will be severe,' he added. On Tuesday, Anwar filed an application at the High Court to refer eight questions of law to the Federal Court, including whether he enjoys qualified immunity under Articles 39, 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution. The questions are linked to a civil suit filed by his former research assistant, Yusoff Rawther, over alleged incidents that took place before Anwar assumed office on Nov 24, 2022. Separately, the prime minister's senior political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Akin urged all quarters to leave it to the court to decide on Anwar's application. Shamsul warned the opposition against manipulating the legal case for their political narratives. 'Leave it to the court to evaluate (the application). This country has seen far too many episodes of legal manipulation for the sake of political interests,' he said in a statement.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
PN urges AG to intervene in Anwar's reference application
PN's Takiyuddin Hassan said the attorney-general has a duty to scrutinise the legality and constitutionality of the prime minister's application and provide formal advice on the matter accordingly. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional has urged the attorney-general to intervene in an application by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to refer eight questions of law to the Federal Court, including whether he has immunity from a civil suit scheduled for trial next month. Opposition chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan said the AG, as the government's legal adviser entrusted with upholding the Federal Constitution, must intervene in the matter. Takiyuddin, who is a lawyer, suggested that the AG join the proceedings as an intervenor or appear as amicus curiae (friend of the court). He said the AG has a duty to scrutinise the legality and constitutionality of the prime minister's application and provide formal advice on the matter accordingly. Takiyuddin also said the AG held the duty to prevent the establishment of a 'dangerous' judicial precedent that may undermine the principle of accountability for political leaders. ADVERTISEMENT VIDCRUNCH Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Quality Auto Back 360p 240p 144p Auto Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x / Skip Ads by Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, who appeared for former research assistant Yusoff Rawther, said yesterday that Justice Roz Mawar Rozain has fixed June 3 for parties to make oral submissions for the application. The judge must first determine whether the legal questions posed cross the threshold for them to be referred to the Federal Court. Anwar wants the apex court to rule whether Articles 39, 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution grant him qualified immunity from a suit filed by Yusoff four years ago. The other questions posed include the High Court's obligation to hold a 'threshold inquiry' to determine whether the suit constitutes an abuse of process or a threat to public interest, and if so, whether it must be stayed or dismissed 'to preserve constitutional governance'. The suit relates to events which allegedly took place before Anwar took office on Nov 24, 2022. Yusoff, a grandson of the late Penang consumer advocate SM Mohamed Idris, filed the suit against Anwar in 2021, claiming that he was assaulted at the PKR president's home in Segambut in October 2018. He is seeking general, special, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. Anwar has denied the claim and filed a countersuit.
ABC News
4 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Australian measles vaccine advice reviewed as research suggests earlier jabs
Some Australian babies could face an increased risk of measles infection because of current vaccination guidelines, according to new research which suggests babies as young as four months may need to be vaccinated. The research lands as Australia's official vaccine advisory body, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations (ATAGI), reviews existing measles vaccine recommendations. Every region of the world is experiencing a major escalation in measles infections, which has prompted ATAGI to launch the review of Australia's two-dose schedule. In Australia, a first dose is recommended at 12 months of age and a second at 18 months. An early, additional dose can be given at six months in specific situations, such as when a child is travelling to a country where measles is endemic. But new research suggests that might even be too late. Do you have a story to share? Email The Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) has called for authorities to urgently consider whether the first measles vaccine should be recommended at four months of age. Historically, children in their first year of life were thought to be protected from measles by maternal antibodies. These are transferred from mother to child through the placenta during pregnancy and provide temporary protection against the virus. But data has emerged showing these antibodies wane before children become eligible for vaccination, which creates a gap in immunity. MCRI researchers recently published a paper in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, which analysed data from more than 8,000 babies under nine months of age from over 30 low and middle-income countries including China, India, Turkey and South Africa. They found 81 per cent of babies had measles antibodies at birth, but 70 per cent had zero remaining antibodies by the time they were just four months old. Only about 18 per cent of the babies had antibodies at seven months. "In most countries, the number of children who have lost their immunity by three months is very substantial," said Professor Kim Mulholland, who specialises in paediatric immunology and was involved in the research. Previous research showed some babies in Belgium had an absence of measles antibodies as early as two months old, while antibody protection in Dutch babies lasted for about 3.3 to 5.3 months. A four-month dose is already recommended in New Zealand as a prevention tool during outbreaks. Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus and lower vaccination rates combined with increased global travel has led to a surge in cases globally. This year, 77 cases have been recorded in Australia so far, compared to the 57 recorded for the whole of 2024. This upward trend comes as vaccination rates among Australian children reach "critical levels" and, in some cases, have dropped below the threshold needed for herd immunity. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Aged Care said ATAGI was "closely monitoring" the situation and international evidence to inform any updates to vaccine recommendations. The ATAGI review would "ensure that timing and number of doses continues to provide the most effective protection for infants", they said. Professor Mulholland said Australia's immunisation coverage was still stronger than a lot of other countries and an earlier dose would be most critical in countries like Vietnam, where there were currently high infection numbers among young children. Infections are more deadly in children under the age of one and there is also the risk of a phenomenon called immune amnesia — where the immune system forgets how to fight infections it has acquired before. Immune amnesia is not a risk for people protected by the measles vaccine. Willingness to get an extra, earlier vaccine could be low among some groups given the rise of vaccine hesitancy, fuelled by fears about safety and efficacy. There are also some trade-offs to administering an earlier vaccine. Some reports suggest an early dose could be associated with a more rapid decline in antibody levels — so by the time a child is four or five years old they might have lower protection than if they waited longer to receive their first dose. "But measles in a child who has had a vaccine and then has declining antibodies is not as serious at that age, [however] they might circulate it and give it to younger infants who are higher risk," Professor Mulholland said. Archana Koirala, a paediatrician and infectious diseases specialist at the University of Sydney who was not involved in the research, agreed an earlier vaccine had a role to play during outbreaks. She said that was made more relevant due to young adults today having lower levels of antibodies than those in past decades. Research on blood donors published last year found older Australians had much higher levels of measles antibodies than younger adults, because they had grown up during a time when more measles was circulating. "Pregnant women [are now] starting with a low antibody titre [volume], thus less transfer to their infant resulting in faster decay of immunity in infants," Dr Koirala said. Dr Koirala said the arguments for a four-month vaccine had merit, but there were already a lot of kids not keeping up with the recommended vaccinations. "A lot of people aren't aware that if you're going anywhere overseas you should get your baby vaccinated [against measles] from six months," she said. Measles importation after international travel is the most common cause for infections in Australia. Professor Mulholland said Australia needed to make bigger efforts to improve immunisation globally, especially after the US withdrew funding of critical vaccine supply in developing nations. "Measles elimination is possible but it has to be global … Australia is not a country that's been particularly generous when it comes to foreign aid — it's probably time to change that position."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Why vitamin C DOESN'T cure colds - but here are two others that WILL boost your immunity
No doubt your mother used to tell you that vitamin C-packed orange juice would help ward off colds. You might pop probiotic-packed yoghurts into your shopping trolley to 'boost' your natural defences against illness. Or perhaps you've gone for a run to try to 'sweat out' a fever. There's so much of this kind of received wisdom about how to support our immune systems. But do any of these tactics actually work? I've been immersed in questions about immunity for 25 years. I have studied up close how certain immune cells latch on to cancers and then send toxic molecules to kill them, as well as watching others engulf dangerous bacteria to destroy them. I'm also regularly asked about the best way to improve our natural immunity. Even as an expert I admit it's highly confusing, and there's also a lot of hype around improving immunity. It's all become big business – one UK High Street chain has 276 products listed under 'immune support supplements' alone. Yet not a single one of these products is required to have scientific proof for their claims. And, most importantly, none of us is the same as the next person: the fact is, your immune system is probably the single most unique thing about you. It's not a simple part of our anatomy, it's a multi-layered, dynamic lattice of interlocking genes, proteins and cells. It means we all vary in how susceptible we are to illnesses – and in the symptoms we experience with infections. Which means what might work for one person might not work for another. But from what we do know, some simple truths emerge about how we can really help our natural immunity – and what are simply myths. VITAMIN C WON'T STOP YOU CATCHING A COLD Vitamin C is important to health. A strong antioxidant, neutralising potentially dangerous substances known as 'free radicals' in our body, it also helps us absorb iron, and is involved in things such as collagen production, essential for tissue healing and more. But there's no solid proof vitamin C can cure colds. For more than 60 years, this idea has had a stranglehold on our imaginations – which is largely down to Linus Pauling, a double Nobel Prize-winning scientist who was based in the US. He first championed this theory in the 1960s, after he and his wife took a megadose of vitamin C – some 3,000mg, though our current advised daily dose is just 40mg. They reported that it gave them extra energy and prevented further colds. Pauling then scoured scientific journals, cherry-picking results to fit his idea. In 1970, his best-selling book Vitamin C And The Common Cold was published, claiming everyone's health could be improved by higher levels of the vitamin. And a huge myth was born. However, a 2013 systematic review – which collects data from previous studies – concluded that, for the general population, vitamin C does not reduce the chance of catching a cold. Yet for unknown reasons, people taking regular vitamin C supplements did experience cold symptoms for slightly less time. To be precise, daily vitamin C reduced the duration of a cold by 8 per cent in adults and 14 per cent in children. In other words, for a cold lasting a few days, someone taking regular vitamin C supplements might feel better a few hours sooner. . . . BUT HERE ARE TWO VITAMINS THAT DO HELP Happily, there are two vitamins which can improve immune health: vitamins A and D. We generate vitamin D in our skin with exposure to sunshine, and some from eating foods such as eggs and oily fish. Once in the body, it's processed by immune cells. One of its roles is to dampen the activity of specific immune cells. This might sound like something you don't want to happen, but it's extremely important for an immune response to quieten down when a threat has been removed. If the immune system stayed in a heightened state after a threat was neutralised, there's more chance of collateral damage to the body, potentially increasing the risk of developing autoimmune diseases (such as type 1 diabetes). Low levels of vitamin D are also linked with an increased susceptibility to infections. In 2021, an analysis of 43 trials involving nearly 50,000 people found vitamin D supplements helped protect against respiratory infection – most likely relating to vitamin D being important in the body's response to germs, including the process by which immune cells destroy bacteria. It's probably sensible to take it in the wintertime, as per government advice. As for vitamin A – found in carrots, meat and eggs – it's vital for the development and functioning of many immune cells, and is crucial to our defences, playing a role in the body's production of mucus, which obviously helps us eject germs from our body in respiratory infections, for example in a runny nose. As it happens, most people get the vitamin A they need from their normal diet. TRUTH ABOUT KEFIR AND YOGHURT DRINKS I've been asked many times to promote everything from health stores to a dating agency (as my first book included a section on whether the immune system affects who we find attractive – the jury's still out). Most recently, I was asked to consider promoting yoghurts containing live bacteria. I've never said yes to any such offers because I've spent nearly three decades studying immunology and still don't know the half of its complexities, so it seems unlikely I could ever get behind a simple advertising slogan. Still simple slogans are rife – and probiotic yoghurts or kefir commonly feature scientific-sounding phrases such as 'supports immunity', 'protects against colds' and so on. One reason for this being they contain 'good bacteria' that are apparently beneficial for our gut health. But do probiotic yoghurts really turbocharge immunity? There are two ways live bacteria in probiotics could feasibly support immune health: by acting directly on our immune system, or by affecting the gut microbiome, the community of microbes in the gut that play a role in immunity. There are signs both can happen. In a 2012 study published in the journal Gut, when volunteers were fed a particular strain of bacteria called Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (a billion of them once per day for eight weeks), it increased levels of 'Tregs' in their blood. Tregs are regulatory T cells: immune cells that specialise in turning off other immune cells. They ensure an immune response doesn't happen against something which doesn't warrant it or that an ongoing immune reaction doesn't run out of control. In other words, they help keep our immune system balanced. It's also clear that ingesting bacteria affects the gut microbiome. In one study, probiotic yoghurt consumed by patients who had inflammatory bowel disease changed the make-up of their microbiome. In another study, the negative effect of antibiotics on the diversity of a person's gut microbiome could be avoided if they took probiotics at the same time. However, it's notable that your environment – where you live – may be more important than your diet in terms of gut health. Interestingly, when a hospital in Calgary, Canada, used a probiotic for infants, bacteria from it were often detected in the faeces of nearby babies who had not yet been given it themselves. In other words, cross-contamination can happen in a shared environment. Indeed, some people living in the same place share features of their microbiome. BEING OVERWEIGHT AND THE RISK OF INFECTION Carrying a few extra pounds can affect the immune system because fat cells do much more than just store fat. Perhaps surprisingly, there is a vast array of immune cells that live within body fat. If we have an excess of fat, the immune cells residing within it can become more active. These immune cells can then trigger unwanted inflammation, which in turn increases our risk of disease such as cardiovascular problems or rheumatoid arthritis. As well as this, fat cells produce various molecules, including those called cytokines, which also trigger a background inflammation in the body, which in turn reduces your immunity's sensitivity to a real threat such as an actual viral infection. To make matters worse, people living with obesity produce other kinds of cytokines in an attempt to counteract this unwanted background inflammation caused by excess fat, by dialling down the immune system. Yet the very presence of these other cytokines then works against us if an immune response is needed to fight an actual infection. However, being underweight can be just as perilous for our immune systems for a very simple reason: not getting enough food makes us deficient in all sorts of important nutrients, such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, cholesterol and fatty acids. HOW FASTING CAN IMPACT IMMUNE CELLS Restricting food entirely for a period to lose weight is hugely popular – but can impact your immune cells. During a period of fasting, we know the human body limits its energy use, which has knock-on consequences for immune health. Indeed, fasting for just one day reduces the numbers of a type of immune cell called a monocyte in the blood. Experiments on mice show these cells moving into bone marrow, where they effectively hibernate to conserve energy. Eating again sees these immune cells immediately mobilise back into the blood. We don't yet know what effect this has on immune health or the symptoms of immune-related diseases, but it's clear the immune system is very much affected by fasting. ALWAYS AIM TO GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP Sleep affects the symptoms of illnesses, and most often this comes down to fluctuating levels of hormones or cytokines. This may explain why problems from asthma, for example, are more common at night, and deaths due to asthma are more likely around 4am. Indeed, unwanted immune responses tend generally to worsen at night, at least in part because cortisol – the stress hormone – is kept low while we sleep, which means immune responses are not suppressed by it. This is important for rheumatoid arthritis, where the immune system attacks the tissue lining of joints, causing unwanted inflammation and pain. Again, because cortisol is kept low, inflammation can build up while we sleep, leading to stiff joints in the morning. There's a paradox here, though. If sleep makes symptoms from unwanted immune responses worse, having less sleep should help. But it doesn't. Disrupted sleep is especially problematic and can lead to worse symptoms from autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. AVOID HEAVY EXERCISE WHEN YOU'RE FEELING UNWELL The evidence that hitting the gym helps the immune system is strong, including a year-long study of almost 19,000 people living in Denmark, which established that any level of physical activity correlated with a person being less likely to need antibiotics. And a UK study of nearly 100,000 people correlated exercise with halving the risk of dying from an infection over a nine-year period. Crucially, however, there is a flip side: stress hormones such as cortisol can be produced during exercise, which tend to dampen immune responses. Immune cells also need lots of energy to secrete toxins to attack diseased cells, and multiply in number by dividing. During exercise, energy is used for muscle activity, which limits that available to immune cells. Most doctors, then, advise not to exercise heavily during a bout of flu or in the grip of fever. Adapted from Self Defence by Daniel M. Davis (Bodley Head, £22), published on June 5. © Daniel M Davis 2025. To order a copy for £19.80 (offer valid to 10/06/25; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to or call 020 3176 2937.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar seeks ruling on whether he has immunity from civil suits as PM
Yusoff Rawther filed a suit against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in 2021. KUALA LUMPUR : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is asking the High Court here to refer eight questions of law to the Federal Court for determination, including whether he has immunity from a civil suit brought against him by a former research assistant. Anwar said he wants the apex court to rule whether Articles 39, 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution grant him qualified immunity from a suit filed by Yusoff Rawther four years ago. The suit relates to events which allegedly took place prior to Anwar taking office on Nov 24, 2022. In the application filed by his newly appointed solicitors, Messrs Zain Megat & Murad, last week, Anwar asked the court to decide whether the suit would impair the effective discharge of his executive duties and undermine the constitutional separation of powers. He also wants the apex court to rule whether the continued progress of the suit will offend his right to equal treatment under the law, as prescribed in Article 8(1) of the constitution, particularly as he claims that the suit is an abuse of process. Anwar says the suit is premised on a 'manufactured claim' and that he is the victim of 'politically motivated reputational sabotage'. He also wants the Federal Court to rule that the High Court is obliged to hold a 'threshold inquiry' to determine whether the suit constitutes an abuse of process or a threat to public interest, and if so, whether it must be stayed or dismissed 'to preserve constitutional governance'. The application also seeks a determination as to whether Anwar, as the sitting prime minister, is entitled under Article 5(1) of the constitution 'to protection from a vexatious litigant' bringing a suit that is 'strategically timed or politically weaponised to undermine his ability to govern'. Anwar is seeking the reference under Article 128(2) of the constitution. He says the trial of the suit before Justice Roz Mawar Rozain must be stayed pending the outcome of proceedings in the apex court. Lawyer Megat Abdul Munir Megat Abdullah Rafaie, who affirmed the supporting affidavit, said the application was made not to delay the trial but to ensure that any adjudication is conducted fairly and in accordance with the law. The lawyer said the questions posed met the reference requirements set out in Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964. Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali, representing Yusoff, said he had been served with the cause papers by Anwar's solicitors. 'An online case management has been fixed before Roz Mawar at 1pm tomorrow,' he told FMT. The application will be heard by Roz Mawar who must determine whether the matter has crossed the required threshold for reference to the Federal Court. Yusoff, a grandson of the late Penang consumer advocate SM Mohamed Idris, filed the suit against Anwar in 2021, claiming that he was assaulted at the PKR president's home in Segambut in October 2018. He is seeking general, special, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court. Anwar has denied the claim and filed a countersuit. The High Court last year fixed the trial to be heard from June 16 to 19 and June 23 to 25.
