He stated that today’s digital world exposes children to various online influences including games affecting emotional stability and mental development.

“Anyone regardless of age can experience mental health problems but vulnerable groups such as children must receive attention and empathy from society.”

“Therefore those facing mental health issues should not be stigmatised but rather supported with access to proper treatment,” he told reporters after officiating the Rahmah Mesra Santuni MADANI Programme at Pantai Jeram.

He added that anyone could face mental health challenges during emotional fluctuations or increased stress whether experiencing anxiety or depression.

Dzulkefly confirmed the Health Ministry implemented several initiatives including the 15555 Hotline and K-Mindset Programme to address mental health concerns.

“Through K-Mindset the government allocated RM21.6 million to train village heads penghulus and religious figures to safeguard community mental health.”

He earlier officiated the 2025 Healthy Lungs and Mind Carnival part of the ministry’s Lung Health Initiative nationwide movement.

The initiative enhances access to screening early treatment and awareness advocacy for lung diseases including COPD asthma and lung cancer.

It now expands nationwide including Selangor through partnerships involving public private and community sectors.

Source – Bernama

He said the system, called “Waktu Bekerja Berlainan” or WBB, remains a “recommendation” that is still being fine-tuned.

“I have not approved it (and) I don’t know how this was leaked,” Dzulkefly told reporters after an event at SK Putrajaya Precint 9(2) here today.

“We will definitely have to go through stringent engagement sessions with healthcare experts, specialists, and heads of departments (before approving it).”

WBB limits doctors and dentists in the public health service to 18 consecutive work hours, lower than the current 24 to 33 hours straight from on-call duties.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) raised concerns over the new shift system, warning that the initiative might strain the already overburdened public healthcare system.

MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said there is insufficient manpower at public hospitals for a meaningful reduction of work hours as the workforce already struggles with high workloads during their current shifts.

Task force report on doctor’s death out soon

Separately, Dzulkefly said the independent special task force’s report on the death of a pathologist in Lahad Datu, Sabah, is expected to be made public next month.

He said the final report had gone through a few minor revisions and was now in his possession.

“We will definitely make it public as promised. I will share the final report with the Cabinet, where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will be present,” said Dzulkefly.

He said the family of the doctor, Dr Tay Tien Yaa, had also requested that the government provide them with the task force’s findings before publishing the report.

Last October, Dzulkefly pledged to reveal the findings of the task force set up to investigate Tay’s death on Aug 29, 2024, after her sister claimed that she had been bullied.

Source: FMT