It began with defeat. It may yet end with a comeback.

There was a time, not very long ago, when Barisan Nasional (BN) looked like a political relic.

GE14 in 2018 was supposed to be the end of BN as Malaysians had known it. After six decades in power, the coalition was swept out by Pakatan Harapan (PH), and the country was suddenly introduced to the intoxicating promise of a “New Malaysia”.

For many, it was supposed to be a new beginning.

For others, it became something very different.

What followed was political upheaval — governments rising and falling, defections, realignments and, after GE15, the unlikely marriage of old rivals in the Unity Government.

But beneath all the manoeuvring, something else was happening.

BN was learning how to survive.

And more importantly, it was learning how to come back.

Today, the signs are no longer subtle.

BN’s stunning performance in Johor in July — winning 48 of 56 state seats and a two-thirds majority — was more than a state election victory. It was a psychological breakthrough.

Three weeks later came Negeri Sembilan, where BN won 18 of 36 seats and returned to power after eight years, forming the state government with PN support.

Two states.

Two confidence-boosting results.

And suddenly, the conversation has changed.

BN is no longer behaving like a coalition fighting merely for survival.

It is beginning to look like one preparing for the next battle.

From “New Malaysia” to Political Fatigue

Perhaps the biggest irony of the post-GE14 story is that the forces that were supposed to bury BN may have contributed to its resurrection.

The collapse of the first PH government, the Sheraton Move and successive changes of administration left many voters exhausted.

And Malays, above all, are loyal to a fault.

For a sizeable section of the Malay electorate, 2018 meant seeing the traditional political establishment dismantled, familiar leaders prosecuted and the country plunged into prolonged political uncertainty.

Najib Razak became the most potent symbol of that rupture.

The former prime minister was convicted in the SRC International case and subsequently faced further convictions in the larger 1MDB proceedings. He remains in prison.

Yet politically, Najib has never disappeared.

For his supporters, he has become a symbol of what they regard as selective justice and political persecution.

And the pressure has not ended with Najib.

More BN-era leaders are finding themselves in court, with cases involving Tabung Haji and Felda among those drawing attention, and more cases potentially to come.

Whether these cases are viewed as accountability or political persecution, their cumulative effect within BN is difficult to ignore.

The more its leaders come under legal pressure, the more the coalition’s members appear to be closing ranks.

And that solidarity extends beyond UMNO. For the component parties, it can reinforce the sense that BN’s survival — and their own political future within it — are intertwined.

The old BN instinct of standing together may be returning.

The Unity Government’s Uncomfortable Contradiction

When BN entered the Unity Government with PH after GE15, it was widely seen as a marriage of necessity.

For Anwar Ibrahim, it provided the numbers and stability needed to govern.

For BN, it provided something equally valuable: time.

Time to regroup. Rebuild its machinery. Reconnect with voters. And remind Malaysians that BN was still there.

The irony is difficult to miss.

The coalition that was supposed to be transformed by the post-GE14 order was given the opportunity to rebuild from within it.

That does not mean BN is about to leave the Unity Government.

But politically, the distance between BN and PH increasingly looks wider than the Cabinet table suggests.

At the UMNO general assembly today, Zahid made the distinction plain: BN is in the Unity Government, but it is not the same thing as being in the “Madani Government”.

It may sound semantic.

Politically, it is anything but.

It is a reminder that BN has its own identity, its own constituency and, increasingly, its own political calculations.

Johor Changed the Mood

If one moment shifted BN’s confidence, it was Johor.

UMNO won 36 seats, MCA eight and MIC four. PH managed eight, while PN and the other parties were shut out.

The message was clear: BN could still win — and win big.

Then came Negeri Sembilan, where its return to power through an arrangement with PN reinforced the momentum.

For Zahid, the results could hardly have come at a better time.

BN’s political stock is rising, even as PH grapples with the difficult task of defending its reform credentials, managing internal contradictions and keeping a sprawling coalition together.

And then there is Najib.

The Najib Question Refuses to go Away

This week, Najib submitted a fresh application for clemency.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board met today, but his application was deferred to a future meeting.

There was no Najib pardon today.

But politically, the issue had already brought the fault line between UMNO and PH into sharp focus.

PH said those convicted of corruption and abuse of power should serve their full sentences. UMNO pushed back against what it saw as an attempt to prejudge the constitutional powers of the King.

Zahid’s position was more carefully calibrated: leave the matter to the King and the Pardons Board.

But there was little ambiguity about Najib’s emotional significance to UMNO’s grassroots.

At the assembly, Zahid spoke of expecting “good news”.

He also acknowledged another figure deeply woven into the Najib story.

When he asked Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to stand in the Dewan Merdeka, the gesture was about more than protocol.

It was a public acknowledgement of a woman who remains deeply woven into the history and emotional landscape of UMNO’s grassroots.

For those who believe Najib was treated unfairly, her presence — and Zahid’s decision to recognise her — was significant.

It was a reminder that Najib and Rosmah remain part of the emotional memory of a significant section of UMNO, and that their story is far from over in the hearts and minds of their supporters.

The Quiet Separation

Perhaps that is where BN’s revival becomes most interesting.

There has been no dramatic announcement that BN is leaving the Unity Government.

No grand declaration of war.

No political divorce.

Instead, there appears to be something quieter: a psychological separation.

BN can remain in government while increasingly behaving like a coalition preparing for life beyond it.

Johor gave it confidence.

Negeri Sembilan reinforced it.

The Najib issue has energised its grassroots.

And every disagreement with PH provides another opportunity to remind supporters that BN is not PH.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important.

BN no longer needs to convince its supporters that it can survive.

It needs to convince them that it can win.

And that is a very different political proposition.

The Next Question: Can BN Become More Than UMNO?

For decades, BN’s strength lay in bringing different communities and political traditions under one umbrella.

UMNO was its dominant force, certainly. But MCA, MIC and the other component parties were never merely decorative. They gave BN a genuinely multi-ethnic political machine with roots in different communities.

Johor offered a glimpse of that again.

MCA doubled its representation from four seats to eight. MIC won four.

They were part of the victory.

And now another part of BN’s revival deserves attention: the emergence of a younger generation of leaders.

But this is not necessarily a generation seeking to leave the past behind.

Quite the opposite.

Many grew up during Najib’s years as prime minister. They watched his rise, his fall and his transformation into “Bossku”. For many, he remains a political role model.

His influence also has a remarkable digital dimension.

An ILHAM Centre analysis in May found Najib to be Malaysia’s most followed political figure across six major social-media platforms, with 9.35 million followers, including 4.6 million on Facebook.

For BN’s young Turks, social media is their natural political battleground — and Najib remains one of the most powerful figures occupying that space.

So “young” does not necessarily mean a break with Najib or the old BN.

It may mean something quite different: a younger generation carrying forward a political legacy they still believe in, using the tools and language of a different Malaysia.

That is the story Emma Harith will explore in Part Two — the component parties, new faces and young leaders who may determine whether BN’s resurgence lasts.

Because if BN really is rising again, the story is no longer simply about whether UMNO can regain power.

It is about whether Barisan Nasional can reinvent itself without losing the identity that made its supporters loyal to it in the first place.

For now, one thing is increasingly difficult to deny.

The coalition that was supposed to have died in 2018 is very much alive.

After Johor and Negeri Sembilan, it is no longer merely trying to survive.

It is beginning to believe it can come back.

Perhaps that is the real story of the rise — and rise — of Barisan Nasional. – NMH

The post The Rise And Rise Of Barisan Nasional first appeared on NMH.

When her autistic son disappeared for several agonising hours, New Malaysia Herald Editor-in-Chief Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman was reminded that there are no simple solutions when caring for autistic adults. In this personal reflection, she shares why well-intentioned advice often falls short and why Malaysia must move beyond awareness towards genuine understanding, compassion and inclusion.

For several agonising hours this Friday, my family searched desperately for my third son, Ahmad Ziqri, who is an autistic adult. Those were among the longest hours of my life.

Thankfully, our story ended well.

A special education teacher recognised him at a restaurant in Cheras. Her quick thinking, together with the kindness of her husband, restaurant staff, dedicated police officers, security personnel, the nearby Mall staff, residence and community groups, an extraordinary neighbour who helped us search, and countless Malaysians who shared our appeal on social media, brought Ziqri safely home.

As a mother, I will remain forever grateful.

But once the relief subsided, one thought kept returning to me: what an irony life can be.

As President of Pertubuhan Rentak, Irama, Seni & Ekspresi (R.I.S.E.), a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO), I spend much of my time advocating for neurodiverse young adults and their families. Our public initiative, R.I.S.E. – Rhythm Interactive Special Needs Enabler, was established to help build pathways beyond school and beyond awareness.

Yet during those long hours, none of those titles mattered.

I was not an advocate.

I was simply a mother searching for her son. And this was not the first time it happened, perhaps, not the last.

When Advice Doesn’t Fit Reality

Almost immediately after Ziqri was found, messages of support began pouring in, together with many well-intentioned suggestions.

“Get him an AirTag.” | “Buy him a GPS tracker.” | “Make him wear an identification bracelet.” | “Print your phone number on his T-shirt.”

Every suggestion came from a place of genuine concern.

The reality, however, is that autism is never one-size-fits-all.

We have already tried AirTags.

We have tried identification bracelets.

Neither worked.

Like many autistic adults, Ziqri has strong sensory preferences. If he dislikes wearing something, he simply removes it.

Sometimes he tears up clothes he no longer wants to wear.

Sometimes he throws them into the rubbish bin.

Not only his own clothes, but occasionally those belonging to his brothers as well.

Another suggestion was to print my phone number on his T-shirts.

Again, I understand the reasoning.

But as a mother, another fear immediately crossed my mind.

What if someone with bad intentions uses that information?

What if they realise he is vulnerable?

What if they decide to exploit that vulnerability?

Parents of autistic adults constantly find themselves balancing independence with protection.

There are rarely perfect answers.

When Misunderstanding Becomes The Bigger Challenge

This was not the first time Ziqri had been misunderstood.

Five years ago, what should have been his 25th birthday ended with him spending the night in a police lock-up following an incident in which he was very much misunderstood.

It was heartbreaking for our family.

A few days later, however, something extraordinary happened.

William Cheah and Yi-Lyn Chan, together with the Kembara Kitchen team and many kind-hearted friends and supporters, organised a special birthday celebration for Ziqri at a restaurant. Guests paid to attend, while my family and I were invited to join him so he could finally celebrate the birthday he had missed.

What began as one of the saddest birthdays of his life became one of his happiest.

That evening reminded me of something I have never forgotten.

Misunderstanding can wound. But kindness has an extraordinary ability to heal.

This week, as strangers once again stepped forward to help bring Ziqri home safely, I was reminded of that same lesson.

Beyond Awareness

For almost 30 years, I have watched Ziqri grow from an autistic child into an autistic adult.

Along the way, I have learned that while autism may not change, society’s understanding of it can — and must.

Many people know about autism.

Far fewer understand autistic adults.

When school ends, life does not suddenly become easier.

For many parents, the greatest challenge begins not when their child is diagnosed, but when the structured support of childhood ends and adulthood begins.

That is one of the reasons Pertubuhan Rentak, Irama, Seni & Ekspresi (R.I.S.E.) was established by my amazing committee and team members.

Through R.I.S.E. – Rhythm Interactive Special Needs Enabler, we hope to create pathways for neurodiverse young adults to continue learning, developing their talents, finding meaningful opportunities and living with greater independence.

But organisations alone cannot build an inclusive society.

Teachers build it.

Police officers build it.

Restaurant staff build it.

Neighbours build it.

Strangers build it.

Every act of understanding becomes another step towards a more compassionate Malaysia.

A Mother’s Hope

As I watched Ziqri sleeping peacefully after finally returning home — exhausted from an adventure only he truly understands — I realised that perhaps this was never just our family’s story.

It is the story of thousands of Malaysian families raising autistic adults who continue to navigate a world that often is not designed for them.

If our experience encourages even one person to pause before judging someone who behaves differently…

If it inspires one stranger to offer help instead of looking away…

If it reminds us that kindness can make all the difference…

… then perhaps some good has already come from one of the longest days of my life.

Autism does not end at childhood. Neither should our understanding.

For one day, every autistic child will become an autistic adult. Perhaps it is time we started preparing not just them for society, but society for them. – NMH

The post Autistic Adults: A Mother’s Story, A Missing Son and Why Understanding Matters first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR: Motherhood in Malaysia is often closely linked with marriage, with couples frequently questioned on when they plan to have children soon after tying the knot.

While societal expectations surrounding motherhood remain deeply rooted, some couples are intentionally delaying parenthood for various reasons, including career growth, financial stability and personal goals.

It’s a fact to agree that motherhood pressure continues to persist in Malaysia despite changing social and economic realities across different communities.

According to the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), the country’s total fertility rate had fallen to a historic low of 1.6 children per woman.

Expected motherhood

However, its Programme Officer, Sharmilah Muniandy, said the declining fertility rate has not eased social pressure on married couples to have children, adding that motherhood is still widely treated as an expectation rather than a personal choice.

“Motherhood continues to be framed as a normative expectation for women rather than an individual choice. This perception persists due to deeply rooted cultural and religious values centralising family and procreation.

“Gender norms further reinforce this by associating caregiving roles primarily with women, while mainstream dialogue on child free or non traditional life choices remains limited,” she said.

Sharmilah said pressure surrounding parenthood often begins after marriage, with women frequently subjected to intrusive questions, comparisons and assumptions from society.

She added that women continue to bear more pressure than men, particularly when couples face fertility challenges or choose to delay having children.

“There is a tendency for women to be more scrutinised in cases of infertility, although it can affect both partners. Common patterns include women being assumed to be the sole cause, alongside greater pressure placed on them to seek medical treatment or intervention.

Emotional distress

“Women also tend to experience higher levels of emotional distress than men and in some cases report verbal abuse, psychological harm and other forms of mistreatment linked to infertility,” she said.

Sharmilah explained that women who choose to remain child free continue to face stigma in Malaysia, as they are often perceived as rejecting traditional family expectations.

At the same time, she noted that delaying parenthood is becoming increasingly common due to financial pressures and changing priorities, although judgment from society remains.

“Couples who prioritise career, financial stability or personal goals before having children usually encounter mixed responses. While there is growing recognition of economic realities, these choices can still attract judgment for delaying parenthood,” she said.

On the other hand, Metro IVF Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Lindy Bak Li Mei, said misconceptions surrounding fertility and delayed parenthood continue to shape public perception.

Before menopause

Lindy said pregnancy at an older age is still possible before menopause, especially when couples seek early advice from fertility specialists and understand the options available to them.

“As long as a woman has not reached menopause, the ovaries are still functioning and able to recruit eggs for fertilisation. Even at an advanced age, there is still hope that the recruited eggs will be able to produce a viable embryo.

“My suggestion is, please visit your fertility doctor to discuss it at such a critical age because the earlier couples seek advice, the better they can understand their fertility health and available options,” she said.

Lindy also stressed that infertility is not solely a women’s issue, noting that male and female factors contribute almost equally to difficulties in conceiving.

“Male and women factors are fairly equal in contributing to infertility, including unexplained fertility whereby both male and female are found to be within normal range of screening.

“This shows both husband and wife would have to be involved in their fertility screening as it takes both to make it work,” she said.

Echoing her, fertility specialist Dr Wong Wen Hao said advances in fertility treatment and assisted reproductive technology are continuing to give older couples opportunities to conceive later in life.

Wong told the media that advanced fertility techniques such as Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) are now helping specialists identify healthier embryos for implantation, particularly among older couples undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Maximise chances

“While natural pregnancy is very difficult after age 45, medical treatments like IVF can help couples maximise their chances using their own genetic material.

“Because donor options are generally restricted or unavailable in Malaysia, we use advanced tools like pre implantation genetic testing to find the best embryos for a healthy birth.

“For those intending to delay childbearing significantly, egg freezing, ideally before the age of 35, is a medically proven way to preserve biological potential for the future,” he said.

Wong further highlighted the emotional burden faced by couples struggling with infertility, saying public misconceptions and social pressure often worsen psychological distress.

He said infertility should be recognised as a medical condition rather than a personal failure, especially as many couples already face anxiety and emotional exhaustion throughout the process.

“Societal pressure from family and the community can lead to significant emotional distress, including clinical anxiety and social isolation, which only compounds the medical challenges couples are already facing,” he said. – NMH

The post Delayed Motherhood Remains Stigmatised In Malaysia first appeared on NMH.

BANGKOK: Cybercrime in Southeast Asia is rapidly evolving into a large-scale, organised industry, posing significant risks to the financial technology (fintech) sector as digital adoption accelerates across the region.

The threat is also increasingly evident in Malaysia, where authorities and financial institutions continue to grapple with rising online scams, account takeovers and the widespread use of mule accounts to facilitate fraudulent transactions.

With millions of users moving to digital banking and e-wallet platforms, cybercriminals are exploiting gaps in identity verification and system security, highlighting the urgency for stronger safeguards.

Speaking at Money20/20 Asia 2026 in Bangkok from 21 to 23 April, VIDA founder and chief executive officer Niki Luhur said cybercrime is outpacing traditional identity security frameworks, requiring a fundamental shift in how risks are managed.

Cross-border syndicates drive scale

Luhur said fraud operations are now run by coordinated syndicates spanning Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

In one case, authorities in Myanmar reportedly seized US$12 billion worth of Bitcoin linked to illicit operations, underscoring the scale of these networks.

“Cybercrime is democratic — they don’t care what size institution you are. They just scan for vulnerabilities. All the doors that are open, they exploit them,” he said.

Cybercrime threats go beyond deepfakes

While deepfakes draw attention, Luhur said the real risk lies earlier in the attack chain — particularly injection attacks from compromised devices using virtual cameras.

These tactics allow cybercriminals to bypass traditional biometric verification systems, reflecting a shift towards device- and infrastructure-level exploitation.

Malaysia steps up anti-scam measures

In Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and industry players have intensified efforts to combat scams, including tighter controls on mule accounts and enhanced fraud detection requirements.

Banks have introduced additional safeguards such as transaction alerts, cooling-off periods and stronger authentication measures, but scam-related losses remain a concern.

Shift towards layered security

To address these risks, VIDA advocates a layered approach that verifies the user, their identity and the device simultaneously.

This aims to close gaps in fragmented KYC and authentication systems across financial institutions.

New solution targets evolving fraud

VIDA also introduced ID FraudShield, designed to detect threats that conventional biometric systems may miss.

The solution integrates liveness detection with device intelligence, behavioural analytics and network monitoring within a single platform. – NMH

The post Cybercrime Expands, VIDA Urges Stronger Fintech Security first appeared on NMH.

Sarawak is intensifying its preparations for APRC 2028, a regional platform centred on respiratory health, by fostering stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry.

At a recent high-level engagement in Kuching, stakeholders came together to align efforts in support of the upcoming event, which is expected to spotlight pressing public health challenges, including lung disease and tuberculosis, while strengthening regional cooperation. The session reflects Sarawak’s broader ambition—not only to host a successful APRC 2028, but to leverage it as a catalyst for long-term healthcare capacity building.

Held at the office of Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian, the meeting brought together representatives from medical institutions, higher education bodies and industry partners, highlighting a unified approach to addressing lung disease and tuberculosis through integrated strategies.

Sarawak Aligns Healthcare and Talent Development for APRC 2028

Central to the discussions was the need to strengthen expertise and capabilities in respiratory health, particularly in tackling tuberculosis, which remains a significant public health concern across the region.

Sarawak has been steadily advancing its healthcare ecosystem, with increasing emphasis on training, research and cross-sector collaboration. In the lead-up to APRC 2028, efforts are being made to ensure that healthcare professionals, researchers and support systems are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to address evolving challenges in lung health.

This includes closer collaboration between universities, training institutions and healthcare providers to develop talent pipelines that are both specialised and responsive to real-world needs.

Human Impact: Strengthening Communities Through Better Care

Beyond institutional collaboration, the focus on lung health and tuberculosis carries a deeply human dimension.

For patients and communities, improved awareness, early detection and better access to care can significantly enhance quality of life and reduce disease burden. Initiatives linked to APRC 2028 are expected to play a role in amplifying public health education, while also encouraging more proactive health-seeking behaviours.

For healthcare practitioners, the platform offers opportunities to exchange knowledge, share best practices and strengthen regional networks—ultimately improving standards of care.

These efforts collectively underscore a people-first approach, where healthcare outcomes are not just measured in statistics, but in lives improved and communities strengthened.

Building a Lasting Public Health Legacy

As Sarawak prepares for APRC 2028, the focus extends beyond hosting responsibilities to building a sustainable and resilient healthcare ecosystem.

The engagement highlights how strategic collaboration can drive meaningful progress—bringing together policy direction, academic expertise and industry innovation to tackle complex health challenges.

By placing lung health and tuberculosis at the centre of its efforts, Sarawak is not only contributing to regional dialogue, but also reinforcing its commitment to public health advancement.

In doing so, APRC 2028 is set to become more than just a regional event—it represents an opportunity to create lasting impact, positioning Sarawak as a leader in collaborative healthcare solutions. – NMH

The post Sarawak Advances APRC 2028 Preparations with Focus on Respiratory Health first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 April — Xtep is positioning Malaysia as a key growth engine for its Southeast Asia ambitions, rolling out six new stores to capture rising demand for performance running gear.

The China-based sportswear group has opened outlets across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and Shah Alam, marking an early phase of its regional expansion strategy.

The move comes as Malaysia’s running scene gathers pace, supported by government initiatives such as Malaysia Aktif and increased public spending on sports development. The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon alone drew about 42,000 participants in its latest edition, underscoring the scale of growing interest in endurance sports.

Xtep is positioning its outlets as hybrid retail and community spaces, with plans to host group training sessions and running events to deepen engagement with local runners.

The company is also introducing a performance running range designed for Malaysia’s climate and terrain, in line with a broader industry shift towards localised product development.

A 10km run planned in Kuala Lumpur has drawn strong early interest, highlighting growing appetite for structured amateur competition.

Strategic push by Xtep beyond China

Founded in 2001 and listed in Hong Kong, Xtep has evolved from a domestic sportswear player into a performance-focused running brand, sharpening its positioning in recent years.

The group has accelerated its international expansion strategy, with Southeast Asia identified as a key growth region. Malaysia stands out due to its established running community, supportive policy environment and rising consumer interest in fitness and active lifestyles.

Competition heats up

Xtep’s expansion comes amid intensifying competition in Malaysia’s sportswear segment, where global names such as Nike and Adidas, alongside regional players, continue to invest in both retail presence and community-building.

Industry observers say differentiation is increasingly driven by product innovation, localisation and sustained engagement with running communities.

For Xtep, scaling its footprint while embedding itself within Malaysia’s running ecosystem will be critical to building long-term traction in the region.

The six-store rollout signals the start of a broader expansion pipeline as the group deepens its push into Southeast Asia’s growing sports retail market. – NMH

The post Xtep Targets Malaysia As South-East Asia Growth Engine first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Mac — Vietnam mencatat satu perkembangan penting dalam usaha membendung penyakit tangan, kaki dan mulut (HFMD) apabila meluluskan penggunaan vaksin HFMD pertama di negara itu.

Vaksin tersebut, ENVACGEN®, dibangunkan oleh Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (MVC) dari Taiwan, telah menerima kelulusan pemasaran daripada Pentadbiran Dadah Vietnam. Pengedaran vaksin ini akan dikendalikan oleh Substipharm Biologics.

Kelulusan ini bukan sahaja signifikan bagi Vietnam, malah dilihat sebagai langkah awal ke arah pendekatan pencegahan yang lebih menyeluruh di rantau Asia Tenggara, khususnya dalam menangani jangkitan EV71 yang boleh menyebabkan komplikasi serius dalam kalangan kanak-kanak.

Cabaran kesihatan yang berterusan di rantau ini

HFMD kekal sebagai penyakit endemik di banyak negara Asia Tenggara, dengan wabak berulang yang memberi kesan besar kepada kanak-kanak kecil serta sistem kesihatan awam.

Di Vietnam, sekitar 180,000 kes dan 31 kematian direkodkan pada tahun 2023. Situasi bertambah membimbangkan pada 2025 apabila kes meningkat kepada lebih 107,000 — peningkatan hampir 29% berbanding tahun sebelumnya.

Dengan lebih 1.3 juta kelahiran setiap tahun, keperluan terhadap langkah pencegahan seperti vaksin HFMD menjadi semakin mendesak.

Keberkesanan tinggi dan perlindungan awal

ENVACGEN® menunjukkan prestasi klinikal yang memberangsangkan, dengan kadar keberkesanan dilaporkan sehingga 100% dalam tempoh pemantauan, tanpa kes jangkitan direkodkan dalam kalangan penerima vaksin.

Vaksin ini boleh diberikan kepada bayi seawal usia dua bulan dan mampu memberikan perlindungan jangka panjang melebihi lima tahun.

MVC juga menguasai lebih 97% pasaran vaksin EV71 di Taiwan, sekali gus mencerminkan rekod prestasi yang kukuh.

Pengembangan vaksin HFMD ke seluruh Asia Tenggara

Kelulusan di Vietnam dijangka menjadi pemangkin kepada peluasan vaksin HFMD ke negara-negara lain di rantau ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MVC, Leo Lee, menyifatkan pencapaian ini sebagai satu “titik penting” dalam strategi pengembangan global syarikat, dengan kapasiti pengeluaran kini sedang ditingkatkan bagi memenuhi permintaan serantau.

Sementara itu, Substipharm Biologics akan memanfaatkan rangkaian serantaunya untuk mempercepatkan pengedaran serta kerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa kesihatan.

Implikasi kepada Malaysia dan ASEAN

Langkah Vietnam memperkenalkan vaksin HFMD berpotensi mempengaruhi negara jiran, termasuk Malaysia, untuk menilai semula pendekatan sedia ada dalam menangani HFMD.

Dalam usaha memperkukuh daya tahan sistem kesihatan dan kesiapsiagaan menghadapi wabak, strategi berasaskan vaksin dijangka memainkan peranan yang semakin penting di rantau ASEAN.

Kelulusan ini bukan sahaja menangani keperluan kesihatan semasa, malah mencerminkan peralihan ke arah pendekatan penjagaan kesihatan yang lebih proaktif dan berfokus kepada pencegahan. – NMH

The post Vaksin HFMD: Vietnam Luluskan Suntikan Pertama Tangani EV71 dalam Kalangan Kanak-Kanak first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 March — Vietnam has approved its first HFMD vaccine, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and signalling a broader shift towards preventive healthcare strategies across Southeast Asia.

The vaccine, ENVACGEN®, developed by Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (MVC), received marketing authorisation from Vietnam’s Drug Administration, with Substipharm Biologics leading its distribution in the country.

The move positions Vietnam at the forefront of regional efforts to address EV71, a key virus responsible for severe HFMD complications among young children.

A long-standing regional health challenge

HFMD remains endemic across Southeast Asia, with recurring outbreaks affecting millions of children and placing sustained pressure on public healthcare systems.

Vietnam alone recorded approximately 180,000 cases and 31 deaths in 2023. In 2025, infections surged again to more than 107,000 cases — a 28.9% increase compared to the previous year.

With over 1.3 million births annually, the introduction of an HFMD vaccine could play a critical role in reducing severe infections, hospitalisations and fatalities.

High efficacy and early protection

ENVACGEN® has demonstrated strong clinical performance, with efficacy reported at up to 100% during follow-up periods, and no infections observed among vaccinated individuals in trials.

The vaccine can be administered to infants as young as two months old and provides long-term immunity lasting more than five years.

MVC currently holds over 97% market share for EV71 vaccines in Taiwan, underscoring its established track record in this space.

HFMD vaccine expansion across Southeast Asia

The Vietnam approval is expected to serve as a springboard for wider regional expansion, as demand grows for more effective HFMD prevention measures.

MVC CEO Leo Lee described the approval as a “pivotal milestone”, adding that the company is scaling up production capacity to meet anticipated demand across Southeast Asia.

Substipharm Biologics, which operates in over 100 countries, will leverage its regional presence to accelerate distribution and engagement with healthcare authorities.

Its CEO, Fabrice Baschiera, highlighted the urgency of addressing recurrent outbreaks, noting that EV71 has remained a persistent threat to child health in Vietnam.

Implications for Malaysia and the region

The introduction of an HFMD vaccine in Vietnam may influence neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, to reassess their approach to HFMD prevention.

As ASEAN nations strengthen healthcare resilience and pandemic preparedness, vaccine-led strategies are expected to play an increasingly central role.

The approval of ENVACGEN® not only addresses an immediate public health need but also signals a broader regional shift towards proactive disease prevention. – NMH

The post HFMD Vaccine Breakthrough: Vietnam Approves First EV71 Jab for Children first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR — Rangkaian minuman dan ais krim Mixue terus memperluas kehadirannya di Malaysia sambil memperkukuh hubungan dengan komuniti tempatan melalui model perniagaan yang menekankan keusahawanan rakyat tempatan, pembangunan tenaga kerja serta pelaburan domestik berterusan.

Mixue Malaysia menyatakan strategi pertumbuhannya di Malaysia memberi penekanan kepada penyertaan tempatan dalam pelbagai aspek operasi, termasuk pemilikan francais, peluang pekerjaan dan kerjasama rantaian bekalan.

Lebih 93% daripada pemegang francais Mixue di Malaysia merupakan rakyat tempatan, dengan lebih 300 pemilik kedai mengendalikan operasi di seluruh negara. Syarikat itu berkata sistem francaisnya direka bagi membantu usahawan baharu memasuki sektor makanan dan minuman dengan lebih teratur melalui latihan, panduan operasi serta sistem pengurusan piawai.

“Kerjasama dengan usahawan tempatan membolehkan kami berkembang seiring dengan komuniti di Malaysia,” kata Teh Hwa Chun, Area Manager Trainee Mixue Malaysia. “Matlamat kami adalah membina perniagaan yang bukan sahaja menawarkan produk mampu milik, tetapi juga menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi tempatan.”

Mixue Bina Ekosistem Francais Tempatan

Menurut syarikat itu, rangkaian francaisnya turut membantu mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan dan keusahawanan di seluruh negara. Mixue memaklumkan bahawa kira-kira 4,000 pekerja telah dilatih setakat ini, manakala sekitar 2,900 rakyat Malaysia kini bekerja dalam pelbagai peranan operasi.

Selain menyediakan peluang pekerjaan, syarikat itu turut memberi tumpuan kepada pembangunan kerjaya melalui program latihan berstruktur dan laluan kenaikan pangkat dalaman, sekali gus membuka peluang kepada pekerja membina kerjaya jangka panjang dalam sektor makanan dan minuman.

Strategi penyetempatan Mixue turut melibatkan penyesuaian produk serta kempen pemasaran dengan cita rasa dan budaya tempatan. Antara inisiatifnya termasuk promosi yang diselaraskan dengan sambutan perayaan seperti Hari Raya dan Hari Kebangsaan.

Dalam masa sama, pematuhan terhadap keperluan halal turut menjadi keutamaan syarikat bagi mengekalkan kepercayaan pengguna. Setakat ini, sebanyak 157 cawangan Mixue di Malaysia telah memperoleh pensijilan halal, dengan pemantauan dilakukan oleh pasukan khusus yang memastikan pematuhan terhadap piawaian yang ditetapkan.

Bagi memastikan operasi yang konsisten di seluruh rangkaiannya, Mixue turut menggunakan pelbagai sistem digital termasuk analitik sistem jualan (POS), amaran pengurusan inventori serta papan pemuka prestasi bagi meningkatkan kecekapan operasi dan mengurangkan pembaziran.

Selain itu, pembinaan, pengubahsuaian kedai serta pengurusan logistik dan pengedaran dilaksanakan dengan kerjasama rakan logistik yang berpengalaman bagi memastikan bekalan produk dapat dihantar secara stabil ke seluruh negara.

Kehadiran di Bazaar Ramadan

Kehadiran Mixue juga semakin ketara dalam ruang komuniti. Pada Ramadan tahun ini, gerai Mixue dilihat turut mengambil bahagian di beberapa lokasi Bazaar Ramadan, sekali gus menambah pilihan minuman dan pencuci mulut kepada pengunjung.

Walaupun peniaga tradisional kekal menjadi tarikan utama di bazaar, penyertaan jenama francais seperti Mixue mencerminkan perubahan landskap perniagaan makanan dan minuman yang semakin berkembang.

Bagi pengunjung bazaar, pilihan pembelian selalunya bergantung kepada cita rasa, harga dan kemudahan. Ramai yang tidak keberatan untuk membeli daripada kedua-dua jenis peniaga — sama ada gerai tradisional mahupun jenama yang sudah dikenali.

Pemerhati industri melihat situasi ini sebagai sebahagian daripada evolusi pasaran makanan dan minuman tempatan, di mana usahawan kecil dan perniagaan berasaskan francais semakin wujud secara bersama dalam ruang pasaran yang sama.

Ke hadapan, Mixue Malaysia menyatakan bahawa syarikat itu akan terus bekerjasama dengan agensi kerajaan, persatuan industri serta rakan tempatan bagi memperkukuh pertumbuhan mampan dalam sektor tersebut.

Syarikat itu juga merancang untuk memperluas rantaian bekalan domestik, membangunkan bakat tempatan serta memperkukuh keupayaan pengurusan tempatan dalam usaha memastikan pertumbuhan jangka panjang di Malaysia. – NMH

Baca juga:
Membina Usahawan Dari Akar Umbi — Transformasi Senyap UMEC

The post Mixue Perluas Jejak Komuniti di Malaysia, Perkasa Usahawan Tempatan first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR — The rapid rise of Mixue outlets across Malaysia has been hard to miss — from neighbourhood shoplots to bustling commercial centres, and increasingly, Ramadan bazaars. But behind the snowman logo and affordable ice cream lies a broader ambition: embedding itself into local communities rather than simply expanding its footprint.

Mixue Malaysia says its long-term strategy in the country centres on local entrepreneurship, Malaysian talent and sustained domestic investment.

More than 93% of its franchisees are Malaysians, with over 300 local store owners currently operating nationwide. For many, the brand serves as a structured entry point into the competitive food and beverage sector, supported by systematic training, operational guidance and ongoing business support.

Mixue Builds a Local Franchise Ecosystem

The company says it has trained approximately 4,000 workers to date and currently employs about 2,900 Malaysians. Beyond job creation, Mixue emphasises career progression, offering structured development pathways aimed at building long-term employment rather than short-term placements.

“Our approach in Malaysia is about growing together — with entrepreneurs, employees and communities,” said Teh Hwa Chun, Area Manager Trainee of Mixue Malaysia. “We want to be seen as a brand that genuinely belongs to the people we serve.”

Localisation extends beyond ownership. Product offerings and promotional campaigns are tailored to Malaysian tastes and cultural moments, including national celebrations and Hari Raya festivities. The company has also prioritised halal compliance, securing halal certification for 157 stores — a key factor in building consumer trust.

Operationally, Mixue relies on standardised store systems, digital monitoring tools and regular supervision teams to ensure consistency. Logistics, construction and supply chain management are handled with established partners to support reliable nationwide distribution.

Modern Brands in Traditional Spaces

This Ramadan, Mixue booths have also appeared at selected Bazaar Ramadan locations, adding to the mix of food and beverage options available to visitors. While traditional vendors remain at the heart of the bazaar experience, the presence of established franchise brands reflects the evolving landscape of Malaysia’s informal retail economy. Ultimately, purchasing decisions rest with consumers — many of whom move fluidly between supporting long-time stall operators and choosing familiar branded offerings.

Industry observers note that such coexistence increasingly defines Malaysia’s modern marketplace, where small entrepreneurs and structured franchise systems operate side by side.

Looking ahead, Mixue Malaysia says it plans to deepen engagement with government agencies and industry associations, expand its domestic supply chain and further strengthen local management capabilities.

As Malaysia’s food and beverage sector continues to evolve, Mixue’s growth story suggests that scale and community integration need not be mutually exclusive — particularly when local participation remains central to expansion. – NMH

Also read:
Building Entrepreneurs from the Ground Up — Inside UMEC’s Quiet Transformation

The post Mixue Expands Community Footprint in Malaysia first appeared on NMH.