The care economy goes beyond welfare and charity and is a revenue-generating sector cutting across employment, investments, and sustainable economic growth.

The statement was made by Selangor EXCO member YB Anfaal Saari at a networking hi-tea recently as she announced the upcoming Selangor International Care Expo (SICE) 2026 that will be held this October.

The care economy refers to both paid and unpaid care work and this includes childcare, elderly care, and care for the disabled. It has been thrusted into the spotlight in the past few years and has been recognised as a backbone to a flourishing Malaysian society.

The concept of care economy has been embedded in Selangor’s policy and branded as Selangor Care Economy as the state brainstorms ways to create more jobs, support families, and make itself more inclusive and productive.

It comes at a time of rising living costs, an increase in the ageing population, and the growing demand for childcare and elder care as more women enter the workforce, leaving a care gap.

90% of caregivers in Malaysia are female, and the policy aims to appreciate, value and pay for their carework and give it the recognition it deserves. This is inline with Malaysia’s race towards achieving the 7 Sustainable Goals (SGDs), which includes achieving gender parity.

Meanwhile, 15.3 per cent of the Malaysian population is predicted to be 60 years old and above by 2030, and the Selangor Care Economy aims to confront this challenge.

Rather than working as a charity, Selangor is streamlining its care policy through an integrated system of services, subsidies, training, and regulation.

This includes better regulated childcare centres, incentives for care providers, expansion of elderly care services which includes nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home-based elder care.

It also acknowledges disability care (OKU support) in the form of strengthening support systems for carers, providing skills training and improving disability-friendly infrastructure.

The Selangor International Care Expo (SICE) 2026

The Selangor International Care Expo (SICE) 2026, rebranded from the previous Selangor International Care Summit (SICS), will be held on 15 to 17 October at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).

The exhibition will showcase business matching sessions, investment, and international collaborations on childcare systems, elderly care services, disability support services, caregiver workforce development and assistive technology and health innovation, among others.

Find out more here.

A three-judge panel comprising Justices Datuk Rhodzariah Bujang, Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh and Datuk Azmi Ariffin dismissed the group’s application after ruling that they failed to meet the threshold requirement under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

Justice Rhodzariah ordered the applicants to pay RM25,000 in costs each to the government and RM15,000 to the UM registrar.

On Oct 27, 2021, the UM staff as well as several teachers from different government schools filed their judicial review application against six respondents, namely the education minister, education director-general, Public Service Department (PSD) director-general, the health minister, health director-general and Malaysian government.

They sought to quash the circular issued by the Public Service director-general on Oct 18, 2021, which made Covid-19 vaccination compulsory for all public service employees and extended the mandate to cover staff of statutory bodies and local authorities.

The group was initially granted leave by the High Court in May 2022 to commence a judicial review challenging the circular.

However, on Dec 14, 2023, after hearing the merits of the case, the High Court dismissed the application, ruling that the compulsory vaccination directive was lawful, reasonable and rational.

Their appeal was later dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Jan 7 this year. Subsequently, the UM staff proceeded to file an application for leave to appeal the decision to the Federal Court, while the teachers did not pursue the matter further.

During the proceedings, the applicants’ lawyer, Adrian Yeow Way Thiam, urged the court to grant leave for five questions of law to be determined by the Federal Court.

However, senior federal counsel Liew Horng Bin argued that the proposed questions had no direct bearing on the main remedies sought by the applicants in their judicial review.

Furthermore, lawyer Raja Eileen Soraya Raja Aman, representing the UM registrar, contended that the proposed questions were not novel and did not raise any new points of law.

Schomos, which operates under the Malaysian Medical Association, said a survey of 100 affected specialists found that at least 23 wanted to quit, with 51 undecided on whether to continue in the public healthcare system, and only 26 indicating they would reapply next year.

It said the survey was conducted informally among doctors affected by the health ministry’s decision to reject their applications for the advanced specialist training programme, also known as the sub-specialist programme, for 2026/2027.

“As long as the health ministry does not issue complete official data, this is the only picture available,” the doctors’ body said in a Facebook post.

Schomos said most of the affected doctors were specialists who obtained their qualifications through the master’s pathway, which classifies them as being on paid study leave throughout their training.

It claimed that 98% of the 307 successful applicants came from the parallel pathway programme, despite both pathways requiring trainees to perform the same clinical duties in hospitals during their training.

When contacted by FMT, a Schomos spokesman said the health ministry and the Public Services Department (JPA) had rejected the applications on grounds that the doctors were considered to have been on study leave.

This means the doctors did not have the three consecutive years of annual performance evaluation required for admission into the advanced training programme.

“Although they were on study leave, they were performing all the duties of a doctor in the wards. They also carried out on-call duties, among others. So whose fault is it that they were not evaluated?” the spokesman said.

“No one stayed home throughout the programme to study. You need the clinical experience. This is a technical snag that the JPA and ministry must rectify.”

The spokesman said that the rejections could deal a significant blow to the public healthcare system, noting that the affected doctors had an average age of 38 and had collectively contributed almost 1,100 years of specialist service.

“To make matters worse, about 23% were from Sabah and Sarawak, where the specialist shortage was very critical.

“Not only will the waiting period in hospitals increase, but surgeries too will have to be postponed if these specialists quit, ” he said.

Source: FMT

The disease broadly falls into two categories: acute and chronic. Acute forms develop quickly and require prompt diagnosis and treatment, while chronic types progress more slowly and may sometimes be monitored before treatment begins.

Regardless of type, early detection plays a crucial role in improving outcomes. But it can be hard to detect.

Unlike many other cancers, leukaemia does not form a visible lump or tumour. There is also no routine population screening programme. Diagnosis often depends on recognising early symptoms and confirming them through a simple blood test.

The challenge is that many early warning signs can be subtle and easily mistaken for common illnesses or everyday fatigue. People may dismiss symptoms or rely on home remedies, delaying medical evaluation.

Recognising early symptoms can make a significant difference. Some common warning signs include:

• persistent fatigue or weakness;
• recurrent or prolonged fever;
• frequent infections;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• unexplained weight loss;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• bone or joint pain;
• pale skin.

In some cases, leukaemia may not cause obvious symptoms in its early stages. However, a simple full blood count test can often provide early clues and prompt further investigation.

Treatment has come a long way

A common misconception is that all blood cancers are fatal. In reality, treatment outcomes have improved significantly in recent years; in fact, certain types of leukaemia – particularly some subtypes and childhood cases – are now considered potentially curable.

Advances in diagnostics have also improved doctors’ ability to identify and classify blood cancers more accurately. Modern testing methods include flow cytometry, genetic analysis, and molecular testing, which help doctors tailor treatment to individual patients.

Treatment options have expanded as well. Many patients now benefit from targeted therapies, improved supportive care, and infection prevention measures.

In addition, stem-cell transplantation programmes have become more advanced, while emerging treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy are beginning to offer new hope for selected patients.

Awareness can save lives

Raising public awareness is key to improving early detection. Global initiatives such as blood cancer awareness month every September play a part.

In Malaysia, public healthcare facilities such as klinik kesihatan and government hospitals regularly conduct sessions to help communities identify warning signs and seek timely care.

NGOs and private-sector groups also play an important role. Organisations such as the National Cancer Society Malaysia and Majlis Kanser Nasional (Makna) organise outreach programmes, social media campaigns, and free or subsidised health screenings.

As leukaemia continues to affect Malaysians of all ages, staying alert to early symptoms can make a lifesaving difference. Parents, teachers, employers and community leaders all have a role to play in encouraging timely medical check-ups and not dismissing symptoms as minor or harmless.

Source: FMT

He said the programme would be fully funded by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and MOH, meaning patients would no longer have to pay for medicine deliveries.

“The service will be managed and borne entirely by MCMC and KKM, so patients will no longer need to pay.

“We will discuss and align several matters to make the delivery process easier,” he said.

According to Fahmi, the initiative will be funded using Federal Government allocations, with the annual cost estimated at RM5.69mil.

He said the government hopes to begin implementing the arrangement as early as July in every state.

“If possible, we want to start as soon as possible.

“By July, we hope to begin in every state so that the cost does not have to be borne by any party, especially the patients.

“It will be fully covered by the government,” he said.

Fahmi said the programme serves patients from various disease categories and household income groups, adding that eligibility is determined entirely by MOH.

“We are not involved in selecting the patients. That is completely under MOH.

“However, since the service is provided through Pos Malaysia, which is a licensee under MCMC, we will manage the programme,” he said.

He said this in his speech at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MOH and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for the Persada initiative.

Also present was Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Fahmi said he was informed that around 80,000 patients use the service each month.

He said the programme would be fully funded by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and MOH, meaning patients would no longer have to pay for medicine deliveries.

“The service will be managed and borne entirely by MCMC and KKM, so patients will no longer need to pay.

“We will discuss and align several matters to make the delivery process easier,” he said.

According to Fahmi, the initiative will be funded using Federal Government allocations, with the annual cost estimated at RM5.69mil.

He said the government hopes to begin implementing the arrangement as early as July in every state.

“If possible, we want to start as soon as possible.

“By July, we hope to begin in every state so that the cost does not have to be borne by any party, especially the patients.

“It will be fully covered by the government,” he said.

Fahmi said the programme serves patients from various disease categories and household income groups, adding that eligibility is determined entirely by MOH.

“We are not involved in selecting the patients. That is completely under MOH.

“However, since the service is provided through Pos Malaysia, which is a licensee under MCMC, we will manage the programme,” he said.

Source: The Star

“The first time was in 2014, just one day before Hari Raya,” she recalled. “I had been having a fever for a few days, but I thought it was nothing serious.”

When her condition worsened, she was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with dengue. At that time, she was in Penang with her husband’s family and far from her elderly mother, who was in Terengganu.

Related: Dengue cases rise 20.7% nationwide, says Dzulkefly

Meanwhile, unknown to her, her mother had also been running a fever for several days, but had not sought treatment.

“She was actually preparing to come and visit me,” Pn Syelina said. “But before she could, she collapsed in the bathroom. There was so much blood.”

Her mother was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with dengue haemorrhagic fever, a severe and potentially fatal form of the disease.

“I was in hospital, and she was in ICU, in another state,” she said. “I couldn’t go to her. That was the hardest part.”

That year, Hari Raya was not a celebration, but a fight for survival, and instead of coming together, dengue stole one of their most precious family moments, replacing joy with fear and separation.

“I had my Raya in the hospital bed. My mother had hers in ICU,” she said. “We weren’t celebrating together, we were just holding on and praying that both of us would make it to see each other again.”

Doctors warned that her mother’s condition was critical.

“She was unconscious, losing a lot of blood and needed transfusions,” she said. “It was terrifying.”

Pn Syelina was discharged after 10 days, earlier than planned, so she could travel immediately to Terengganu to be by her mother’s side. After three weeks in hospital, including time in ICU, her mother eventually recovered.

More than a decade later, in 2025, dengue struck again.

This time, Pn Syelina fell ill first, followed shortly by her eight-year-old daughter.

“At first, it was just a fever.” she said. “But by the fourth day, my daughter became very weak. Her platelet count kept dropping.”

Her condition deteriorated rapidly, developing severe dengue with plasma leakage. As her daughter’s platelet count plunged to single digits, she faced a high risk of bleeding and was admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for close monitoring.

“At that moment, fear completely took over,” she said. “All I could think about was what happened to my mother 11 years ago. I kept imagining history repeating itself… and if I’m about to go through that all over again, but this time, with my daughter.”

Even as Pn Syelina battled dengue herself, she made the difficult decision to be discharged early so she could be admitted to the same hospital as her daughter.

“I didn’t want her to go through it alone,” she said.

As mother and daughter remained in hospital, the burden of everything at home fell solely on her husband, who had to shoulder it all on his own.

“He had to manage everything – his job at the bank, my events business, our staff, and our son at home,” she said. “At the same time, he was worried about both of us in hospital. It was a lot for one person, and he struggled to keep things going.”

Beyond the medical crisis, it was the disruption to everyday family life that weighed most heavily, with loved ones separated, routines broken, and one person left carrying the full responsibility of care and keeping the household running.

“We missed home the most,” she said. “What we longed for wasn’t just recovery, but to feel safe together again as a family…back in our own space, living our normal life.”

Today, even after recovery, the impact remains.

“Whenever I see mosquitoes now, I feel anxious,” she admitted. “Even my family is more careful. We avoid going out during rainy days because we are afraid.”

Having experienced dengue twice, her perspective has changed completely.

“The second time was worse. Even after I was discharged, the exhaustion lingered and I still felt very tired for weeks,” she said. “Now the fear continues to stay with me. I’m worried – what if it happens again?”

A disease still underestimated

According to Dr Anis Siham binti Zainal Abidin, Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Intensive Care specialist, dengue continues to be dangerously underestimated, largely because it often begins like a common viral fever.

“The reality is that dengue can turn severe very quickly, and there is no specific cure,” she explained. “Within 24 hours, a patient can deteriorate and be fighting for their life.”

Warning signs such as persistent high fever (39 – 40°C), abdominal pain, fatigue and vomiting should never be ignored, she stressed.

Severe dengue typically develops after the fever subsides, and can lead to life-threatening complications including plasma leakage, bleeding and organ failure.

“When blood vessels leak, fluid can accumulate in the lungs and abdomen, making breathing difficult. At the same time, platelet levels drop, increasing the risk of bleeding. This combination can quickly lead to organ dysfunction,” she said.

For Pn Syelina’s case, Dr Anis added, highlights a critical reality: dengue does not discriminate.

“It affects all age groups, from young children to the elderly, and infection can happen more than once because there are four different strains of the virus,” she said. “In fact, second infections of a different strain can carry a higher risk of severe dengue.”

Prevention Is key to protection

With no cure for dengue, prevention remains the most effective defence. Dr Anis urges Malaysians to adopt a proactive approach:

• Eliminate breeding grounds: Even small amounts of stagnant water in containers, drains or household items can become mosquito breeding sites.

• Protect against bites: Use repellents, wear protective clothing and install screens or mosquito nets.

• Seek early medical care: Dengue can now be detected as early as the first day of symptoms – early diagnosis can save lives.

• Speak to your doctor about dengue vaccination.

“At the end of the day, we need to shift our mindset,” said Dr Anis. “Too often, people think ‘it won’t happen to me’, until it does, and precious family moments are suddenly taken away when it’s already too late.”

For families like Pn Syelina’s, the lesson is painfully clear – surviving dengue is only part of the story, living with the fear of it coming back is another.

“When dengue happens, it’s already too late to wish you had done more,” she said. “No one should have to lose precious moments together like Raya to understand how serious it is, because by then, it’s already too late to protect the moments that matter most.”

Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the situation in Sabah was more concerning, with the state recording a sharp 50.4% increase to 2,866 cases, compared with 1,905 cases during the same period last year.

Dzulkefly said several districts in Sabah had been identified as the main contributors to the state’s caseload, namely Kota Kinabalu, Kota Marudu, Tawau, Sandakan, Penampang and Putatan.

“We know that this surge falls within the expected cyclical trend of infections that occurs every four to five years, but we must remain vigilant in dealing with the situation,” he said.

Earlier, he officiated the national-level Asean Dengue Day, World Malaria Day, and a mega gotong-royong held in conjunction with the 2026 National Healthy Malaysia Agenda roadshow at the Manggatal Community Hall here.

Dzulkefly said that apart from the cyclical trend, the health ministry had identified a shift in the circulating dengue virus sub-variants, with the DEN-3 sub-variant now becoming dominant, as a contributing factor to the rise in cases.

To address the challenge, the ministry had introduced a new strategic approach based on behavioural insights through the dengue-free community (KomBeD) programme.

“We are introducing several new initiatives, drawing on behavioural economics and human behaviour, including how people can be influenced or nudged towards positive change.

“The nudging strategy is aimed at encouraging behavioural change. People may be aware of what needs to be done, but that alone does not necessarily lead to action. Awareness and literacy are not enough. We need to create conditions that enable people to change, with support from both the federal and state governments,” he said.

He said KomBeD focuses on three key strategies: environmental interventions, community empowerment and a whole-of-society approach, including the strengthening of entomological surveillance.

Source: FMT

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the standards are currently under development, following continuous discussions to establish clear benchmarks for quality care services, including expectations for providers within the care sector.

“We are developing standards of care. This is still in the discussion stage and is expected to be launched in October.

“I am pleased to have heard the views of the industry players involved, including the challenges faced and the suggestions for improvement put forward,” she said after delivering her keynote address at the ABAC Malaysia Care Economy Roundtable 2026 here today.

She also noted that ongoing discussions continue to generate new ideas, reflecting the evolving nature of the care sector, which requires continuous refinement and policy enhancement.

Earlier in her keynote address, she said the standards would serve as a key governance instrument to strengthen the quality, safety and accountability of care services nationwide.

“They are intended to establish minimum standards of care, safeguard the dignity and rights of care recipients, and promote greater consistency in service delivery across institutional, community-based and home-based care settings,” she said.

Nancy said investment in the care economy is no longer merely a social welfare issue, but a critical economic imperative to ensure Malaysia’s future productivity and resilience.

She said addressing caregiving gaps and enabling greater labour force participation could contribute about RM77 billion annually to the national economy, equivalent to around five per cent of gross domestic product.

Citing research by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, the minister said unpaid care and domestic work are estimated to be worth RM379 billion annually, while about 3.2 million Malaysians face constraints in full labour force participation due to caregiving responsibilities.

Nancy also noted that Malaysia is undergoing significant demographic changes, with the total fertility rate declining from 6.0 births per woman in 1960 to around 1.6 currently, below the replacement level of 2.1.

To address these challenges, she said the Malaysia Care Strategic Framework and Action Plan 2026-2030 represents an important step towards establishing a more structured and coordinated national direction for the care ecosystem.

Source: Bernama

The clarification follows the circulation of an internal alert letter issued by the Terengganu State Health Department (JKNT) on June 3, which recently went viral on social media.

JKNT said the letter was distributed to healthcare facilities across the state to strengthen preparedness and enhance early detection efforts following a rise in imported malaria cases since early May.

Of the 17 cases reported, 13 involved human malaria infections while four were zoonotic malaria cases.

Among the human malaria cases, 11 involved undocumented migrants, while two were recorded among documented foreign nationals.

“All cases were contracted outside the country and classified as imported cases,” JKNT said in a statement.

The department stressed that Terengganu continues to maintain its zero local human malaria status, with no local transmission detected among residents or foreign nationals in the state.

It said all cases were identified early, treated promptly and transmission chains successfully interrupted.

Despite the absence of local infections, JKNT said it remains vigilant as imported malaria cases could increase the risk of local transmission.

To contain the disease, JKNT have intensified surveillance and contact tracing activities, stepped up vector control measures, ensured all positive cases receive complete treatment, and issued alerts to healthcare facilities statewide.

Health education campaigns are also being carried out in high-risk localities, particularly settlements housing foreign workers, while coordination efforts continue through district-level action committees.

JKNT urged the public to avoid speculation and rely on official MOH channels for updates on the malaria situation.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health and maintaining Terengganu’s malaria-free local transmission status.

Speaking at a dinner hosted by the United Chinese Association (UCA) Sibu Division on Tuesday night in honour of China’s Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, Dr Sim said Sarawak’s future prosperity would depend not only on economic growth but also on its ability to develop talent, uphold strong values and secure greater autonomy in key sectors such as healthcare and education.

He revealed that the state government is working closely with Chinese authorities and institutions on several strategic initiatives, including plans to establish a medical school linked to Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University.

“Next week I will be in Beijing to pursue the final approval needed for the project. The Shanghai government and the Malaysian government have already agreed. What remains is approval from the Chinese government,” he told reporters after the dinner.

Dr Sim said he had sought the assistance of Ouyang in facilitating discussions with the relevant authorities in China.

The proposed medical school forms part of Sarawak’s broader strategy to overcome its shortage of medical professionals and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.

“We are short of about 2,000 doctors. We need more medical schools and stronger international partnerships to produce the healthcare workforce that Sarawak requires,” he said.

He also highlighted Sarawak’s growing reputation in clinical research, noting that Sarawak General Hospital has emerged as one of Malaysia’s leading centres for clinical research.

The state, he added, is keen to explore collaboration with China’s rapidly advancing pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, particularly in cancer research and drug development.

Dr Sim credited Chinese community organisations in Sarawak, particularly those in Sibu, for their longstanding efforts in advocating recognition of medical degrees from Chinese universities.

Their efforts eventually contributed to Malaysia recognising medical qualifications from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University, enabling graduates to return and serve in Sarawak.

To date, around 70 doctors trained at the two universities are serving throughout the state.

Beyond healthcare, Dr Sim stressed that talent development remains central to Sarawak’s long-term development agenda.

Drawing lessons from China’s transformation, he said the state’s success would depend on investing in human capital and nurturing future leaders.

“China’s success is not only because of its economy. It is because of its talent and the values instilled in its people.

“Sarawak must continue to develop talent while strengthening the values that unite our society,” he said.

He noted that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had previously requested places for Sarawak-sponsored postgraduate students at top Chinese universities, including Tsinghua University and Peking University.

Dr Sim said the state government’s scholarship programmes are open to all Sarawakians regardless of race, religion or background.

He also pointed to Sarawak’s expanding education assistance programmes, including full fee sponsorships and living allowances for eligible students pursuing tertiary education.

Meanwhile, Dr Sim described unity and stability as Sarawak’s greatest strengths, saying they have enabled the state to achieve sustained development despite growing global uncertainties.

“Because we have unity, we have stability. Because we have stability, we have prosperity,” he said.

Among those present were Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Pelawan assemblyman Datuk Michael Tiang, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker and Lanang MP Alice Lau, Datuk Tiong Thai King, Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau and United Chinese Association (UCA Sibu) president Ngieng Hock Teck.

Source: Borneo Post