Latest news with #Azrul
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Transparency, action keys to building trust in tackling workplace bullying in public healthcare sector '
KUALA LUMPUR: Confidential complaint channels and support systems for victims are crucial in addressing workplace bullying in the public healthcare sector, says Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said these mechanisms must be supported with regular reporting of incidents, actions taken and remedial measures — potentially through online dashboards — to ensure transparency and accountability. "It sends a right and positive signal that allegations of workplace bullying and related issues will be taken seriously. "This move provides a framework for such complaints to be properly handled and places accountability on supervisors and the Health Ministry's leadership," he told the New Straits Times. Azrul was commenting on Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement that a secure complaint channel and psychosocial support are among the key features of the ministry's upcoming workplace bullying guidelines, scheduled for launch this October. The guidelines, which will apply to all Health Ministry personnel, outline structured measures to prevent, report, and manage bullying incidents across the ministry. He said the guidelines will include designated reporting channels that ensure confidentiality and protection for complainants. Currently, bullying cases can be reported through the MyHELP portal, which was launched on Oct 1, 2022. Reports submitted online must be investigated within 15 working days, depending on whether the case is classified as standard or complex. Azrul said that while the proposed confidential complaint channels and psychosocial support mechanisms were a step in the right direction, their success would depend on implementation and trust in the system. "The key factor is to ensure confidentiality is protected and that these mechanisms function effectively. It must work through decades of institutional inertia and distrust of bureaucracy," he said. To ensure the guidelines are enforced effectively nationwide, he said leadership must set the tone — from the minister down to heads of divisions, state health directors and frontliners at hospitals and clinics. "There must be training and briefings to show that these guidelines are being taken seriously. Leaders must lead by example to build trust in the system," he said.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Free food cafe serving the poor closes after five years amid funding crunch
ALOR SETAR: A free food cafe that once served as a lifeline for the homeless and the poor has been forced to shut down after nearly five years due to a lack of funding. The cafe, run by Food Bank Malaysia, first opened at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 at premises on Jalan Sultanah and had since become a fixture for free meal distribution. Its founder, Mohd Azrul Mohd Razak, 40, said the initiative started with food basket distributions after seeing how many people were struggling during the pandemic. "Many came asking for help. Some had lost their jobs, others became homeless. I also thought about those renting small rooms without kitchens. "They were hungry too, but had no place to cook. That's when I started turning the space below our office into a cafe where they could come and eat," he said. Starting with a small kitchen and help from friends, Azrul and a team of volunteers prepared food every Friday. They served rice, dishes, vegetables and either fruit or ice cream for the children. "Those who came were not only allowed to eat there, but could also pack food for their families at home, especially if someone was unwell and couldn't come. "We created a restaurant-like concept so that children from poor families could enjoy the experience of dining out, which they usually only watched others do," said the father of four. Azrul said the cafe saw a steady flow of 50 to 80 visitors each week. Preparations would begin as early as 3pm, with food served after Maghrib prayers until 10pm or 11pm. What made the cafe even more special was how it provided side income opportunities for single mothers and asnaf (eligible zakat recipients), who were paid to cook and clean. "This wasn't just a place to eat. It was a space to help more people whether they were hungry or in need of work to support their families," he said. However, since the beginning of this year, the cafe's regular funding began to dry up. Azrul said that from February onwards, he and his fellow volunteers relied on their savings and personal contributions to keep things going. "Last week, on July 12, that was our last day of operations. Once the money completely ran out, we had no choice but to close," he said. The closure, he added, was felt not only by the recipients but also by the volunteers, who had become like a big family. "This place wasn't just for meals. It was where they shared stories, laughed, and relieved stress. That atmosphere is gone now," he said. Each meal session cost up to RM1,000, including ingredients and wages, amounting to around RM4,000 monthly, a burden that became unsustainable without regular sponsorship. Now, although the cafe's doors are shut, Azrul and his team continue distributing food baskets to the best of their ability. "We use our own salaries and chip in a little each. Just so they'll still have some groceries at home," he said. Azrul said he truly understands the hardship of going hungry, having experienced it himself as a child. "Because I've felt hunger, I know how painful it is. When God gives more, I just want to give back," he said.
Focus Malaysia
16-07-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Galen Centre: Breast cancer must be recognised in the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health
THE Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy has called for the United Nations and its member states to explicitly recognise breast cancer as a priority disease area within the final Political Declaration to be adopted during the 4th High-Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York this September. Its chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the ommission of breast cancer in the zero draft of the 2025 Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health is a serious oversight that fails to reflect the lived realities and urgent public health needs of millions of women across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia. 'We call for Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN for 2025 and a leader of this region, to take up this call to include breast cancer in this important declaration,' he said. 'In Malaysia, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, accounting for over 30% of all female cancers. Nine women lose their lives to breast cancer each day.' Citing the Malaysian National Cancer Registry Report 2012–2016, Azrul further noted that one in 19 women is at risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Worryingly, over 47% of cases are detected at late stages (Stage 3 or 4), when survival rates are significantly lower and treatment costs exponentially higher. Unfortunately, Malaysia's 5 year survival rate for breast cancer is among the worst in the Asia-Pacific region. Meanwhile, a study by Universiti Putra Malaysia found that 13.6% of women in Malaysia are diagnosed before the age of 40, which is higher than in Western countries. 'The burden of breast cancer is not only medical—it is social, economic, and deeply gendered. Many women face barriers to early detection, including stigma, low awareness, lack of access to mammograms, and unaffordable treatment options,' Azrul continued. 'The disease also disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries in the region, where health systems are under strain and cancer care infrastructure remains underdeveloped. We cannot afford to leave out breast cancer in this important declaration. 'In Southeast Asia, the incidence of breast cancer has risen steadily, compounded by increasing urbanisation, lifestyle changes, and ageing populations. 'Health illiteracy, the lack of structured national screening programmes and delays in diagnosis contribute to high mortality rates across the Southeast Asian region. 'We strongly echo the sentiments expressed by global health advocates that breast cancer cannot be excluded from global NCD agendas. It is a leading cause of premature death among women and demands a concerted, multisectoral response.' The Galen Centre calls for the 2025 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health to: Explicitly include breast cancer as a priority NCD within the global agenda; Recognise the unique challenges faced by women in low- and middle-income countries in accessing breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care; Support equity in cancer control, including commitments to universal health coverage, affordable medicines, early detection programmes, and investments in oncology infrastructure; and Promote national cancer control strategies that integrate breast cancer prevention and treatment, with measurable targets and accountability frameworks. 'No woman should be left behind in the fight against NCDs. Breast cancer should be recognised as a political, economic, and health priority for the region and the world,' stressed Azrul. 'As Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries strive to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 (to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030) the inclusion of breast cancer is not optional; it is essential.' ‒ July 17, 2025 Main image: Shutterstock/Jo Panuwat D
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- New Straits Times
PDPA breach: Student data misuse could lead to jail, hefty fine
KUALA LUMPUR: Many private higher education institutions have been found sending marketing materials without first obtaining permission from students or their parents, breaching personal data laws. Personal Data Protection Department (JPDP) principal assistant director Mohamad Azrul Azmisaid such actions violate the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) 2010, which requires clear consent before personal data can be used or processed. Disclosing personal information such as phone numbers without consent can result in a fine of up to RM1 million or a three-year jail term, Kosmo! reported. "This clearly violates the first principle of the PDPA, which requires consent from the data owner before any use or processing of their personal data. "For instance, if a private higher education institution sends promotional offers via WhatsApp without permission, that already breaches the core principle of the PDPA. "Such offences may implicate not just the institution, but also third parties that supplied the data," he said. Azrul said if student data was obtained through a third party such as a data broker company, both parties could face prosecution. "Legal action will be taken if individuals or organisations continue to harass recipients after being warned. "However, if the sender persists, individuals may lodge an official complaint with JPDP accompanied by supporting evidence such as screenshots," he said. He added that many parents and students who receive unsolicited offers to further their studies are unaware they can file a direct complaint with JPDP. "The complaints process begins with lodging a report directly with the sender. "If the harassment continues after a warning, the complaint can be escalated to JPDP, which will then issue a Section 43 Notice," he said. The public may submit complaints to JPDP through its website at if their personal data has been misused. Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam Faculty of Information Science associate professor Dr Muhamad Khairulnizam Zaini said several key factors often lead to data leaks. He said although every case requires specific investigation, breaches are commonly caused by two main factors: unauthorised access and weaknesses in system security. "Leaks can occur when someone without permission infiltrates a system and accesses confidential data, whether from inside or outside the organisation," he said. According to Kosmo!, many private higher education institutions have been using the personal data of SPM leavers to send unsolicited offers of admission, raising concerns over data privacy violations.
New Straits Times
12-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Teenagers at risk as AI, erotic content proliferate online
KUALA LUMPUR: Teenagers are among the most vulnerable groups to the misuse of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which has been increasingly linked to the spread of pornographic content, including explicit deepfake material and erotic fiction. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), 99.3 per cent of households in the country had access to smart devices in 2023. Among teenagers aged 13 to 17, 85.6 per cent are active internet users, with 94 per cent accessing it through smartphones, followed by computers (62 per cent) and tablets (31 per cent). In addition, 92 per cent of teenagers reportedly have their own social media accounts, spending an average of three to five hours online each day. Technology activist and Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) deputy president, Azrul Zafri Azmi, said the widespread accessibility of AI tools and social media platforms has exposed teenagers to disturbing new threats, particularly AI-generated pornography and deepfake content. "This is extremely worrying for parents, as almost all teenagers today have access to smart devices. "They can easily register on AI platforms that offer deepfake services, often by falsifying age or using fake emails. This is a growing threat that requires a collective response." Azrul urged parents to play a more active role and avoid giving children full autonomy over their devices. He recommended the use of parental control software, available across all operating systems, to monitor web activity and screen time. "Parents should regularly review their children's viewing history, app usage, and talk openly about the risks of the digital world," he added. He stressed the need to educate teenagers on the long-term psychological and behavioural effects of exposure to immoral content, including addiction to pornography. Beyond videos and images, text-based pornography, particularly erotic novels, is fast becoming a widespread and underregulated threat. MCCA president Siraj Jalil warned that these detailed "intimate stories" stimulate sexual imagination more strongly than visual content and are just as harmful. He noted a sharp increase in openly accessible erotic content across websites, blogs, and apps, with many disguised as "romantic fiction" despite being sexually explicit. "Both visual and written forms of pornography are equally dangerous. Action must be taken to prevent teenagers from becoming addicted to these materials." He stressed that current enforcement should not focus solely on conventional porn, but also target written content. MCCA is calling for tougher action under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, along with updated laws to cover deepfake and AI-generated sexual material. "These so-called romantic novels can distort moral values and damage adolescents' critical understanding of relationships," he warned. Siraj also urged for parental guidance tools, as well as nationwide awareness campaigns to help parents monitor and guide their children's digital consumption at home. In response to rising digital threats, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has established a special task force to monitor pornographic advertisements and related offences across social media platforms. Between Jan 1 and June 1 last year, MCMC took down 549 pornographic websites and 69 prostitution-related platforms. From 2016 to 2021, it blocked 6,661 such websites based on public complaints under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. MCMC also collaborates with platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which treat sexually explicit content as a violation of community standards. "Any reported pornographic content will be removed according to the community guidelines of these platforms," a source said. From this year, MCMC will require all social media and internet messaging services with eight million or more registered users to apply for a Class Licence under Act 588. This measure aims to ensure that major platforms comply with best practices, as outlined in MCMC's Code of Conduct, and take greater responsibility for the content and interactions on their platforms.
