Hadi Awang recovers swiftly after heart procedure at IJN
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar said medical specialists treating the Marang MP described his recovery process as unusually swift and exceeding expectations.
'Alhamdulillah, I visited him and was genuinely pleased to see how smoothly the procedure went. His recovery has been remarkably fast. Insya-Allah, he will be able to return to work soon,' he told reporters after officiating the 2025 East Coast Energy (ECE) Conference at the Islamic Civilisation Park Convention Centre here.
The Yang Dipertuan Muda of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan, officiated the two-day ECE 2025 Conference, which began today.
When asked why details about Abdul Hadi's treatment and its location were not made public before, Ahmad Samsuri explained that it was a precautionary decision due to the leader's age and condition, which necessitated limiting visitors.
'We must understand that in such circumstances, if we disclose where he is, people will naturally want to visit. If we deny them, feelings may be hurt. But considering Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi's age and health, we have to minimise any risks that could disrupt his treatment,' he added.
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Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
PAS leader dismisses talk of Abdul Hadi stepping down, say president's health ‘better than before'
MARANG, July 5 – Those close to PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang have denied claims he plans to step down from his post amid his health woes, saying such speculation has only come from outside the party. Utusan Malaysia cited Bachok MP Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman, who previously served as Abdul Hadi's political secretary, saying the rumours had surfaced ahead of the party's 71st Muktamar or annual congress in September but were unfounded. 'We haven't heard anything about it internally. It's just talk from outsiders,' he was quoted saying. 'Even the deputy president has addressed this. Those of us close to him, even his family, have heard nothing,' he added, referring to Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. Tuan Ibrahim had recently said he feels Abdul Hadi should remain in the role, rather than being moved to be the spiritual leader. Mohd Syahir added that Abdul Hadi's health had significantly improved following a medical procedure at the National Heart Institute last week, and that his recovery has been swift. He said the doctors treating Abdul Hadi were also satisfied with his progress and that he is expected to attend more public events in person moving forward. 'Tok Guru's health is very good, even better than before. He's already resumed his lectures and attended meetings, so there's nothing preventing him from joining more physical events,' he said, referring to Abdul Hadi. Following the lecture, Abdul Hadi's aides requested that media personnel give the PAS president space and refrain from seeking comments from him. Abdul Hadi resumed delivering his weekly duha lecture on Friday, which he had paused for over a month due to treatment at IJN on June 17. He has conducted the session weekly for decades, with the last held on May 30 before his recent break. Despite still recovering, Abdul Hadi also attended funeral prayers on Monday for the late Hamzah Ngah, former PAS Kuala Terengganu deputy chief, at Masjid Rusila in Terengganu.
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
Three Malaysian top executives cycle to stay fit, focused and fulfilled
At a time when corporate leaders are seeking balance amid hectic and demanding schedules, three high-profile Malaysian executives have turned to an increasingly popular sport to stay fit, focused and fulfilled – cycling. But to the three gentlemen – RHB Islamic Bank Bhd managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Adissadikin Ali, Batik Air chief executive officer Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy and National Heart Institute cardiovascular sports and fitness director and senior consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Prof Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Jeswant Dillon – cycling isn't just a sport, it's a passion. Rediscovering the joy More than a hobby, cycling is rediscovering a childhood ritual, says Adissadikin, 55. 'I used to cycle to school every day in Jasin, Melaka,' he recalls. 'But I only got serious about road biking seven months ago after an earlier health scare.' Now, he rides every weekend, covering up to 40km along the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE). 'It helps me stay fit and clear my mind. When you're heading a company, you need mental clarity. Sitting in the office for too long can bog you down. Cycling brings balance.' Adissadikin says cycling is an accessible sport, with affordable options for beginners. For him, the pursuit started casually, through a corporate ride event organised by RHB. The bank is big on organising community sports events, like the RHB Lekas Highway Ride. But Adissadikin eventually started taking cycling more seriously. 'I bought my own road bike and started doing 30km-40km weekend rides. I realised that not only was it good for my health, it also helped me stay mentally sharp,' he says. 'Cycling allows me to reconnect with myself.' His usual weekend route along the GCE near his home offers him enough time to ride and come home before his kids wake up, he says. "Sunday mornings are family time. So if I go out by 7am, I'm back by 9am. In life, it's all about balance.' A doctor's prescription If anyone understands the science behind exercise, it's Dr Jeffrey Jeswant, 60. 'I got into cycling through mountain biking more than 15 years ago,' he says. 'As a doctor, I knew the importance of cardiovascular workouts, and I used to jog and play football. But as time passed, I needed something gentler on my joints. Cycling is non-weight-bearing, making it ideal for people recovering from joint injuries,' he explains. 'In group rides, you must stay alert. You're responsible not just for yourself but also the safety of others,' says Dr Jeffrey Jeswant. Today, Dr Jeffrey Jeswant's rides are a mix of solo routes and group rides, including multi-sport events like the Powerman duathlon. 'Cycling helped me transition into relay-endurance sports,' he says. Its benefits are not just physical. Dr Jeffrey Jeswant emphasises how being on a bike cultivates discipline, humility and leadership. 'In the office, you may be the boss. But on the road, you've got to earn your place in the peloton. Others might wait for you once or twice, but after that, you'd better keep up. It can be a humbling experience. 'And that lesson translates back into the workplace. It helps you understand your team better and you become more compassionate.' He also notes the mental benefits of this activity. 'During solo rides on safe roads, my mind gets to wander. That's when the best ideas come,' he adds. 'But in group rides, you must stay sharp and alert. You're responsible not just for yourself, but also for the safety of others.' Building bond on wheels For Chandran, cycling is both a personal passion and a company-wide movement. 'I started with mountain biking in 2018 and eventually moved to road cycling in 2022,' he shares. 'It began as a fitness goal – something to help me lose weight and stay active. And it worked. I used to weigh 85kg–90kg. Today, I'm 74kg.' Chandran says cycling brings out a different side of people. Chandran's enthusiasm and drive for the sport has become contagious at Batik Air, where he actively encourages employees to join him on rides. 'We even created a new wellness section in our in-flight magazine inspired by cycling,' he adds. 'There's something about riding together – whether it's with colleagues or fellow company executives – that brings out a different side of people.' Like Dr Jeffrey Jeswant and Adissadikin, Chandran highlights the absence of hierarchy during group rides. 'At work, I may be the boss. But on the road, my staff have taught me how to gear up hills or pace myself. It levels the playing field.' More than a sport All three leaders agree that cycling is much more than just a physical activity. It's a tool for leadership development, a way to manage stress and a platform for community outreach. 'Cycling teaches you how to face problems,' says Dr Jeffrey Jeswant. 'If your tyre punctures or your chain drops, you've got to figure it out. You can't always rely on others to fix it for you. It mirrors how we troubleshoot in life and at work.' (From left) Adissadikin, Dr Jeffrey Jeswant and Chandran each has his own personal goal in cycling. RHB's sponsorship of cycling events like the Lekas Highway Ride and WCE Century Ride speaks of a larger corporate commitment toward community building. Similarly, IJN's Ride 4 Your Heart initiative promotes cardiovascular fitness and a healthy lifestyle through cycling. Cycling is also woven into Batik Air's social mission. 'We supported the cycling mission of a child and helped raise awareness about the benefits of the sport for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It's meaningful when something personal becomes impactful,' says Chandran. Is cycling the new golf? While golf has long been considered the sport of business networking, these corporate leaders suggest cycling is carving its own path – and perhaps, a more inclusive one. 'Golf can be expensive and time-consuming,' Adissadikin observes. 'Cycling, on the other hand, is accessible. Sure, high-end bikes cost a lot of money, but there are also options for beginners. So anyone can cycle.' For (from left) Chandran, Adissadikin and Dr Jeffrey Jeswant, cycling has evolved from a means of staying healthy to a way of fostering camaraderie and friendship. Dr Jeffrey Jeswant agrees. 'We don't cycle to network, but we end up building strong friendships. That sense of camaraderie – whether you're a doctor, banker or businessman – is real.' 'Cycling, they say, builds bridges. You ride together, you sweat together. We see each other for who we really are,' says Chandran. Shaping the future The growing popularity of cycling, however, is not without its challenges. They all point to the lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure in Malaysia. 'We need more cycling lanes, rental services and safer routes,' Chandran says, noting how cities like Jakarta and Bangkok have embraced car-free zones and airport-adjacent cycling tracks. 'It's about building a culture that supports it.' (From left) Chandran, Adissadikin and Dr Jeffrey Jeswant agree that the country needs dedicated cycling infrastructure to cater to demands and encourage active living. Dr Jeffrey Jeswant, who also sits on the Olympic Council of Malaysia, echoes the need for policy support. 'We're talking to the Youth and Sports Ministry to design cycling-friendly roads and isolated tracks for weekend rides. The demand is there. It's just a matter of will.' They are also constantly setting new personal goals in cycling. Adissadikin is gearing up for his first major ride at the RHB Lekas Highway Ride 2025. Dr Jeffrey Jeswant, a seasoned participant in Ironman and Powerman events, continues to support and mentor other sportsmen, including his son. Chandran dreams of riding overseas one day to explore different landscapes and seasons. And while their rides may vary in speed and distance, one thing is clear: cycling has become a source of inspiration, and a way to build resilience and community. Their advice to those who haven't started? 'Just do it,' says Chandran. 'Start small, be consistent and enjoy the ride.' Dr Jeffrey Jeswant adds: 'Get a health check first, especially if you're over 40. Then get on the bike and take that first step.' Adissadikin sums it up simply: 'Don't do it just because others are doing it. Do it because it gives you joy. Once that happens, you'll never look back.'
The Star
30-06-2025
- The Star
Pioneering a greener healthcare centre
AS climate change becomes more apparent around the world—with melting icecaps, rising sea levels and severe, more frequent weather conditions—many industries have taken notice and are finding ways to reduce their carbon and GHG impact of their operations. Similarly, the post-Covid 19 pandemic demonstrated companies that embraced environment, social and governance (ESG) values tend to show more resilience, as mentioned in two separate reports on China (Gao, M., Geng, X.) and Nordic (Habeeb Yahya) companies. Straddled in a unique yet precarious situation is the healthcare industry, which National Heart Institute (IJN) chief executive officer Prof Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib described the practices as 'a very complex environment.' He admitted in a recent interview that hospitals are traditionally one of the main culprits of carbon emitters due largely to the wide range of medical devices that they use. 'In the past, we used cloth masks so they were reusable. Due to worries of infection, there was a change to disposable masks and caps in the operating theatre.' He said this resulted in the increase in single-use medical devices that resulted in an increased number of waste products. 'Now with the concern for sustainability, environment and ESG, there's a relook at what we're doing now, if that is correct,' he added, referring to the use of plastic containers and bags for medication. 'To make that change will result in rising costs to repackage and redeliver these sustainably, and that is challenging. That's why it's not easy for the medical line to become fully ESG, but no doubt we are moving in that direction,' he explained. A greener approach Dr Mohamed Ezani: 'As a role model, we need to be responsible for our patients, and the environment as well'.— RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star . Dr Mohamed Ezani explained that IJN is recognised as a premier health centre globally, thanks to its cutting-edge technology and services. As such, it has become an example for healthcare centres within the country to aspire to become. 'As a role model, we need to be responsible for our patients, and the environment as well,' he said. However he pointed out that the challenge arises in how to implement sustainability procedures without compromising the patient care or healthcare standards, basically: 'How to prevent infection from happening while using sustainable approaches.' He does so by targeting sustainability 'low-hanging fruits', such as using more energy efficient LED lights and harvesting rainwater to water plants in the landscaped areas of the centre. 'We have also installed solar panels on half or more of our rooftops, which means using less from the main grid. Electricity consumed from solar generation is approximately 32,000kWh per day on average which contributes to about 2.2% of IJN's total electricity consumption per day.' A significant challenge he identified was changing employees' mindset of using excessive resources such as electricity and papers. With his efforts, IJN has almost gone paperless for its clinical and financial operations for the environment. 'We benchmarked our performance against the highest standard possible, which is the American standard.' Waste issues Dr Mohamed Ezani said that IJN has been segregating its waste into either clinical or general. 'Clinical waste carries a lot of carbon footprint because it is either to burn, which has a high carbon footprint, or bury it in landfills. For this, we will ensure that the amount of waste given to our waste vendors is minimised,' he said. Another aspect involves recycling, of which he said the hospital's food services are currently using recyclable materials. 'We're trying to cut down the usage of single-use plastics, in the wards. Now we don't use plastic spoons, instead we have recyclable items. Food containers are also recyclable as opposed to using plastic or polystyrene in the past. About 30% of the hospital's surgical cases are already almost green,' he said. He also explained that the hospital has policies that minimise or eliminate redundancies in its operations, in order to be as green as possible. Social awareness Dr Mohamed Ezani pointed out that IJN has been taking the CSR road before ESG became important. 'We realised that in Malaysia, there's a lot of issues about non-communicable diseases and for the last 10 years, we have visited more than 160 rural areas, such as the islands off the East Coast, to conduct healthcare screening for more than 160,000 participants for free. He explained that the hospital conducted such screenings to identify those at risk, then referring them to the nearest hospital when needed, or even bringing them back to IJN for treatment if necessary. 'We have been doing this as a service to return what we have gained back to the people. Our way of giving back to the community.' He also mentioned that patients can expect the best care possible and that the accessibility to this standard is important. 'When you talk about being sustainable, it also means that any Malaysian should have access to IJN. Our target is that 75% of new patients should receive their first appointment within two weeks. We will also ensure IJN is free of risk of infections—these are the things that we monitor.' Matter of governance IJN has been diligent in ensuring it is accredited in its standing, from ISO 55001:2014 Asset Management System to MS ISO/IEC 27001:2013 in Information Security Management System and more. 'Way before anybody had been talking about this, we've been looking at topics like anti-bribery, net zero carbon charges, cybersecurity and of course digitalisation. We've been careful to ensure that SDG Goal 5 in upholding transparency is observed all the way up to the board of directors. 'We have to report to our audit risk and compliance committee to make sure these are performed.' In light that World Ocean Day is in July, he shared that IJN will embark on more rural community work, which will include cleaning out the beaches from plastics and other marine litter.
