Education Ministry to increase teaching hours for sex education module in 2027
The Education Minister said the PEERS module is part of the health education curriculum, which is taught to pre-schoolers and primary and secondary school students. It provides them with information and skills, particularly psychosocial competencies, allowing them to make informed decisions in their daily lives.
Fadhlina said the initiative is part of the Education Ministry's ongoing advocacy efforts through the Generasi Madani programme and various awareness programmes rolled out in schools.
"InsyaAllah, in 2027, under the new curriculum, we will increase the teaching hours for PEERS.
"There will be a significant responsibility and commitment from the Education Ministry to extend the (PEERS module teaching) time and to ensure our children receive proper education on this issue,' she said after officiating the 56th MOE-MSSM-Milo Sports Awards 2024, here on Tuesday (April 29).
ALSO READ: Review sex education syllabus to curb social issues among youth, says Hannah
She was responding to a news report published by a portal on April 26, which stated that HIV infections among university and school students are on the rise, with most cases linked to sexual activity.
Malaysian AIDS Council and Malaysian AIDS Foundation honorary secretary Dr Zaiton Yahaya was reported as saying that the majority of those infected are between 20 and 29 years old, accounting for 44 per cent of all cases.
She also cited that four per cent of school students between the ages of 13 and 19 were confirmed to have contracted HIV, with the majority of cases linked to sexual activity.
Concerning the high failure rate in Mathematics in the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, Fadhlina said the ministry would carry out intervention measures for subjects that recorded a decline in performance.
"For example, last year (SPM 2023), when Bahasa Melayu and History showed a decline, we immediately implemented interventions, and this year's results show that those efforts were successful, particularly for those two subjects,' she said.
According to the SPM 2024 Examination Results Analysis Report, 84,025 candidates failed the Mathematics subject, which is 22.4 per cent of the 375,115 who took the subject. – Bernama
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Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
From crisis to collaboration: Why harm reduction is Malaysia's public health opportunity — Bakhtiar Talhah
JULY 31 — Almost two decades ago, I stood at the frontlines of Malaysia's HIV epidemic — a time when fear, stigma and silence ruled the discourse around drug use and HIV. The data was grim: some 70 per cent of new HIV infections were among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). We were losing lives, and our response was fragmented at best. We knew something had to change. What followed was bold and unprecedented. With the support of allies across the Ministry of Health, civil society, law enforcement and religious leadership, we launched the Needle and Syringe Exchange Programme (NSEP) in 2006. At the time, it was politically unpopular. Critics worried it would condone drug use. But we persisted, because science and humanity demanded it. Today, the success is undeniable: HIV transmission among PWIDs and their partners has dropped dramatically. The NSEP saved lives — and transformed mindsets. Yet despite this progress, the underlying policy framework that criminalises and marginalises people who use drugs remains largely intact. Malaysia's drug laws continue to emphasise punishment over rehabilitation, incarceration over care. We cannot meaningfully implement harm reduction while treating drug dependence as a moral failing or criminal offence. This is the core argument: drug policy reform is not just complementary to harm reduction — it is foundational to it. Without reforming our approach to drugs — legally, institutionally, and socially — our harm reduction efforts will always be constrained. We need a national paradigm shift from punitive drug control to public health-based policies. This means decriminalising personal drug use, investing in treatment and prevention services, and empowering community-led initiatives. Other countries have taken this step — and seen measurable public health and economic benefits. Portugal, for instance, decriminalised all drugs in 2001, and instead focused on harm reduction, treatment, and reintegration. As a result, drug-related deaths and HIV infections plummeted. Malaysia must take inspiration and adapt such evidence-based models to our context. And reform doesn't stop with laws. It requires strong political will, inter-agency collaboration, and courage to lead with compassion. When we launched NSEP, success was only possible because of multisectoral alignment — from the Ministry of Health to the Royal Malaysian Police, from NGOs to the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (JAKIM). This is the same spirit we must reignite for wider drug policy reform. Regulation, too, is essential. Harm reduction does not mean lack of control — it demands smart, risk-proportionate governance. Whether it's opioid substitution therapy or access to safer nicotine products, clear and evidence-based regulation ensures both public safety and access to lifesaving tools. This applies directly to Malaysia's fast-evolving tobacco and vape landscape. Overregulation can drive people to unregulated markets; underregulation risks misuse and public backlash. The middle path — firmly regulated but widely accessible harm reduction tools — is where real progress lies. This includes decisive measures such as banning high-risk open-system vape devices prone to adulteration, while maintaining strict controls on other products. Regulation should target illicit and poorly regulated outlets through enhanced enforcement — without punishing law-abiding players who operate within compliance. Bakhtiar Talhah (second left) speaking on a HIV/AIDS advocacy programme. — Picture courtesy of Malaysian AIDS Foundation Enforcement initiatives like Ops Selamat Paru-Paru (Ops Selamat Papa), recently launched by the Ministry of Health, are an encouraging sign that the government recognises the urgency of the issue. However, enforcement has always been the Achilles' heel of public health in Malaysia. Raids, confiscations, and press conferences make headlines, but without sustained follow-through, the illicit market adapts and continues to thrive. For enforcement to succeed, it must be systematic, consistent, and paired with structural reforms: closing loopholes in licensing, disrupting illicit supply chains, and ensuring penalties are applied evenly. Otherwise, Ops Selamat Papa risks becoming another short-lived operation rather than a lasting pillar of harm reduction. Fiscal policy has a role too. In line with public health objectives, tax rates on vape products should be increased relative to cigarettes and heated tobacco sticks. A balanced tax framework can discourage uptake among youth, align with harm reduction goals for smokers, and generate revenue for health programmes. Equally important is the role of the private sector. I have seen firsthand how partnerships with foundations like Yayasan Sime Darby and corporate leaders such as Sunway Group have amplified impact in the HIV and health space. With strategic backing from the Ministry of Finance, the private sector can support innovation, financing, and delivery of sustainable harm reduction programmes. Religious authorities, particularly in Malaysia's Islamic context, have been instrumental in reframing harm reduction as a moral obligation to protect life. Fatwas and views that support methadone programmes and needle exchanges helped legitimise these interventions within the Muslim community. This synergy between faith and evidence is uniquely Malaysian — and powerful. This is why I founded Humanize Malaysia. We are a bridge — linking corporate actors, policymakers, civil society, and communities to drive sustainable change. Our mission is to humanise health, to put people — not ideology — at the centre of policy. The broader opportunity is this: harm reduction must evolve into a cornerstone of Malaysia's public health strategy — not just for HIV, but also for challenges like alcohol abuse, tobacco dependence, rising sugar consumption, and synthetic drug use. Every one of these issues shares a common truth: punitive responses fail. People do not need punishment — they need options, support, and dignity. Across the globe, countries that embraced harm reduction and reformed outdated drug laws are saving lives, reducing crime, and cutting costs. Japan's shift to heated tobacco products has already shown public health benefits and cost savings. In New Zealand, support for safer nicotine products helped halve adult smoking rates in just five years. Malaysia can, and must, be a leader in this space. We already know what works. Data-led policy. Bold political leadership. Corporate partnership. Community empowerment. Religious engagement. These are not new ideas — they are proven ingredients. But they require one thing above all: the courage to shift from criminalising to caring. Let us not wait for another epidemic to force our hand. Let's build on our past successes. Let's expand harm reduction and truly put health and humanity first. Let's humanise policy. Let's humanise health. * Bakhtiar Talhah is the CEO of Humanize Malaysia, trustee of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation, and former president of the Malaysian AIDS Council. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Shenzhen and Hong Kong Join Hands to Promote the Development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 30 July 2025 - The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute of Hong Kong ('GBAICTI'), the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center of Shenzhen ('BAY TRIAL'), Immuno Cure BioTech ('Immuno Cure') in Hong Kong are pleased to jointly announce today the signing of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding ('MOU') in Shenzhen on July 29, 2025. This collaboration aims to advance the globalization of clinical trials in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area ('GBA'), further deepens clinical research cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and implements the first ever cross-border multi-centre Phase II clinical trial project for ICVAX, a therapeutic DNA vaccine for HIV/AIDS, developed through collaboration between Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. This collaboration is witnessed by a Hong Kong Government delegation led by the Director of Health, Dr. Ronald LAM, and a Shenzhen Government delegation led by the Deputy Director General of Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Ms. ZHOU Liping, following their GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration meeting held in Shenzhen. GBAICTI and the BAY TRIAL plan to establish the GBA Clinical Trial Collaboration Platform ('Platform') by the end of this year. The Platform is expected to offer a range of services, including project evaluation, trial design consultation, and subject recruitment planning for multi-centre clinical trials, provided by a joint Shenzhen-Hong Kong advisory team; integration of artificial intelligence technologies to assist with matching clinical trial institutions and researchers, as well as offering intelligent consultation services; establishment of a coordinated ethics review mechanism between the two regions to enhance approval efficiency; promotion of talent exchange, collaboration, and professional training; creation of a research talent pool to facilitate talent mobility and regional collaboration; and as a pilot, the development of clinical databases and biobanks based on disease areas of strength in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Professor Bernard CHEUNG Man-yung, Chief Executive Officer of GBAICTI, said: 'The ICVAX vaccine, developed by Immuno Cure and the AIDS Institute at the University of Hong Kong, is now poised for cross-border clinical trials in the Greater Bay Area. This highlights the achievements and potential of innovation and technology in China and the Hong Kong SAR. If the clinical trial results are positive, the new vaccine would bring hope to HIV/AIDS patients worldwide, particularly in Belt and Road countries. We aim to leverage the strength of both Guangdong and Hong Kong to establish the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as a global hub for clinical trials.' Dr. LI Yichong, Director of BAY TRIAL, said: 'This collaboration marks the first cross border clinical trial project between the BAY TRIAL and Hong Kong, signifying a new phase in the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the biopharmaceutical sector of GBA. We will fully leverage the synergistic advantages of both regions to establish an international clinical trial platform with the BAY TRIAL, continuously injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of the Bay Area's pharmaceutical and medical device industry.' Since the first discovery of AIDS in 1981, 40 million people have died from HIV infection. Currently, there are still over 39 million people living with HIV worldwide. Although antiretroviral therapy ('ART') can effectively control HIV, it cannot cure the disease, highlighting the importance of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy aims to enhance the host's immune response, with the expectation of controlling viral replication without ART, ultimately achieving complete viral suppression and functional cure. Immuno Cure's ICVAX induces broad-spectrum, multifunctional virus-specific T cells to achieve the goal of controlling viral replication without ART. Immuno Cure completed the first-in-human Phase I clinical trial of the ICVAX vaccine in November 2024. The results demonstrated excellent safety and good immunogenicity. This year, two multi-center Phase II clinical trials will be conducted to evaluate the mechanism of action and efficacy, respectively, of ICVAX in humans. Both are randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation studies, with clinical trial centres in the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong and eight Grade 3A hospitals in China, including The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Beijing Youan Hospital, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Tianjin Second People's Hospital, The Sixth People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center, and Chongqing Public Health Medical Center. Dr. Xia JIN, Chief Executive Officer of Immuno Cure, said: 'We are delighted to receive support from both GBAICTI and BAY TRIAL, integrating medical resources from both regions to advance Immuno Cure's therapeutic vaccine for HIV, ICVAX, to multi-center Phase II clinical trials. We will continue to collaborate with the HKU AIDS Institute to drive innovation in drug development, leverage local advantages in drug research and translation, accelerate ICVAX towards commercialization, provide more effective treatment options for HIV patients, and contribute to global health.' GBAICTI, BAY TRIAL, and Immuno Cure look forward to further deepening clinical trial cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in future collaborations, jointly promoting the development and globalisation of innovative drug development, and supporting the national 'Healthy China' strategic goals.
The Sun
26-07-2025
- The Sun
French left urges Macron to stop US contraceptive destruction
PARIS: France's left-wing politicians on Saturday called on President Emmanuel Macron to intervene over US plans to destroy nearly $10 million worth of female contraceptives in Europe, calling it an 'affront' to public health. A State Department spokesperson told AFP this week that 'a preliminary decision was made to destroy certain' birth control products from 'terminated Biden-era USAID contracts.' The US Agency for International Development, the country's foreign aid arm, was dismantled by Donald Trump's administration when he returned to office in January, replacing former president Joe Biden. Under the plan, some $9.7 million worth of implant and IUD contraceptives stored in Belgium are reportedly set to be incinerated in France. An open letter signed by French Green leader Marine Tondelier and several female lawmakers called the US decision 'an affront to the fundamental principles of solidarity, public health and sexual and reproductive rights that France is committed to defending.' In the letter, they urged the French president 'not to be complicit, even indirectly, in retrograde policies,' saying women's contraception products such as IUDs and implants were intended for 'low- and middle-income countries.' 'Cutting aid for contraception is shameful, destroying products that have already been manufactured and financed is even more mind-boggling,' Tondelier told AFP. The Greens urged Macron to request the suspension of the plan 'as part of a joint initiative with the European Commission.' They also called on him to back humanitarian organisations that say they are ready to redistribute the contraception products. Separately, Mathilde Panot, parliamentary leader of the hard left France Unbowed (LFI) party, also urged Macron and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to take action. 'You have a responsibility to act to prevent this destruction, which will cost lives,' she said on X. 'These resources are vital, particularly for the 218 million women who do not have access to contraceptive care.' The US plan has sparked outrage from global health NGOs, with Doctors Without Borders denouncing the 'callous waste.' 'It is unconscionable to think of these health products being burned when the demand for them globally is so great,' said Rachel Milkovich of the medical charity's US office. The State Department spokesperson said the destruction will cost $167,000 and 'no HIV medications or condoms are being destroyed.' Doctors Without Borders says that other organisations have offered to cover the shipping and distribution costs of the supplies, but the US government declined to sign off. US lawmakers have approved slashing some $9 billion in aid primarily destined for foreign countries. - AFP
