Malaysia Pulse delivers breaking news, politics, business, sports and lifestyle coverage from Malaysia and Southeast Asia — trusted, timely and independent.
Labuan has officially opened its upgraded Public Recreation Park at Tanjung Purun following a RM495,382 investment, transforming a neglected downtown area into a modern leisure facility with jogging tracks and fitness equipment.
Malaysia has recorded 1,059 hiking accidents with 63 fatalities between 2021 and 2025, prompting the government to implement comprehensive safety measures including certified guides and digital trail management systems.
A Kenyan High Court judge has ruled that Health Minister Aden Duale violated court orders by overseeing construction of a controversial US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, despite judicial directives to halt the project.
Malaysia's mental health burden could reach RM25.3 billion by 2030 without intervention, according to Parliament's special committee. Depression rates have doubled in five years, with one in four adolescents affected.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has surged past 1,000 confirmed cases with 254 deaths recorded since mid-May. Health authorities continue containment efforts despite warnings the crisis could rival the devastating 2014-2016 West African epidemic.
Southeast Asia continues evolving across multiple fronts as Indonesia accelerates waste management, Myanmar explores agricultural exports to China, the Philippines tightens police accountability, Singapore sees youth football enthusiasm spike, and Vietnam's biofuel transition drives cassava demand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead India's 12th International Day of Yoga celebrations from Kolkata's Red Road on June 21. The event, themed 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing,' will feature mass demonstrations and record participation across India and 211 missions worldwide.
Malaysian authorities have documented 402 vape seizures containing dangerous synthetic drugs, providing what Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad describes as compelling justification for a nationwide vaping ban currently under government consideration.
Singapore faces a dangerous surge in drug-impaired driving, with emergency physicians warning that etomidate-laced vapes and methamphetamine are causing fatal road accidents at alarming rates.
Thailand's parliament is reassessing its cannabis framework following widespread unregulated sales and legal grey areas. A June 18 committee meeting revealed deep divisions between medical groups pushing for stricter controls and operators warning of economic harm.
Survivors of Congo's devastating 2018-2020 Ebola outbreak are speaking out about the barriers that fuelled the disease's rapid spread, warning that similar challenges could hamper the current response to a new outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus.
Malaysian health officials and policymakers are pushing for mandatory iron deficiency screening in children, citing research showing one in three Malaysian children at risk of the preventable condition.
Indonesian police have determined that a family of four died from carbon monoxide poisoning while camping in Central Java last month. The victims brought a smouldering charcoal stove into their sealed tent overnight, leading to dangerous gas accumulation.
Pahang's health authorities have opened an investigation into allegations that multiple visitors contracted food poisoning following recreational activities at a popular river site near Bentong. The probe centres on potential contamination or unsafe food handling at the Janda Baik location.
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Pahang's health department is investigating claims that visitors to a recreational river site near Bentong contracted acute gastroenteritis. Initial findings show no confirmed cases linked to the incident, though water testing is ongoing.
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The Pahang State Health Department has initiated an investigation into reports of gastrointestinal illness among people who visited Janda Baik river, with authorities stepping up water quality and sanitation checks in the popular recreational area.
A groundbreaking study from France shows that mosquitoes can learn to connect the smell of DEET insect repellent with food sources, fundamentally altering our understanding of how these common defences actually function against disease-carrying insects.
Malaysia's medicine supplies are stable and sufficient, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad confirmed, though the Ministry of Health closely monitors 118 high-risk items representing 16.8 per cent of tracked medications.
Penang authorities have temporarily closed 177 food premises for failing hygiene standards. The shutdowns followed inspections of 4,069 establishments by the Penang Health Department from January to April, with pest control issues cited as the primary violation.
Malaysia could experience significantly drier and warmer weather as El Niño intensifies towards year-end, prompting warnings from experts about drought risks, disease spread, and environmental degradation.
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Malaysia's National Poison Centre has raised concerns about the escalating misuse of vape devices for consuming illegal drugs and synthetic substances, warning of serious health risks particularly for young people.
Ahead of the Global Health Security Conference in Kuala Lumpur, health experts warn that pandemic preparedness alone cannot protect nations. True security requires tackling chronic disease, inequality, and public trust.
The Ministry of Health will spend RM1.8 billion developing healthcare infrastructure in Melaka, including a new 400-bed specialist hospital and expanding existing facilities to meet growing demand.
Penang's health authority has cracked down on smoking in George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site, issuing 597 notices over enforcement operations since 2022, with violations rising this year.
Thailand's government has reassured citizens that the Covid-19 variant currently spreading in the country shows no signs of increased severity, while urging the public to maintain standard health measures.
Malaysia's Health Ministry has inspected over 680,000 premises nationwide under the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, issuing nearly 234,000 compound notices for violations.
Authorities need coordinated, intelligence-driven enforcement to eliminate underground drug-laced vape networks and curb vaping among Malaysian schoolchildren.
A criminologist warns that a complete vape prohibition risks creating a thriving black market, while concerning products like 'mushroom', 'zombie' and 'kuah' variants gain traction in schools.
Cambodia has reached its 95-95-95 HIV treatment targets, positioning the nation to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, according to Health Minister Chheang Ra.
The United Nations Children's Fund has begun transporting critical humanitarian supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where confirmed Ebola cases have surpassed 1,000 amid a worsening outbreak in eastern regions.
Twelve people have died in Maharashtra's Pune district after consuming spurious liquor. Authorities suspect methanol contamination and have launched an investigation, with several arrests made.
Kenya's High Court has temporarily stopped plans to build an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility for US citizens, after the Katiba Institute challenged the proposal in court proceedings.
An investigation into a hantavirus outbreak connected to a Dutch couple has cast a shadow over Ushuaia, Argentina's primary Antarctic departure point. The remote city fears potential cruise cancellations as authorities search for the virus's source.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's health ministry says suspected Ebola cases have topped 1,000, with confirmed infections rising to 121 and 17 deaths recorded since the outbreak began.
The Trump administration has ordered the US military to establish a quarantine facility in central Kenya within seven days to house Americans exposed to Ebola, rather than returning them to the United States.
India has ramped up Ebola detection protocols at airports following the World Health Organisation's declaration of a public health emergency over the disease outbreak in parts of Africa.
An Ebola treatment facility in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo came under attack Friday when residents set fire to tents, resulting in 13 suspected patients fleeing the site.
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The Kelantan Health Department has issued 85 notices to premise owners who breached no-smoking regulations between January and April, with food establishments accounting for over half the violations.
Vietnam's Health Ministry has instructed hospitals nationwide to strengthen Ebola detection and containment measures, including screening travellers from affected regions and bolstering isolation facilities, as the WHO tracks an active outbreak in Central Africa.
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has confirmed more than 100 cases since mid-May, affecting multiple provinces. Seven deaths have been recorded, with Uganda reporting five confirmed cases and neighbouring countries on high alert.
Malaysia's National Anti-Drugs Agency has rolled out a community-based drug prevention initiative in Pulau Banggi, emphasising direct engagement with local residents and families rather than top-down approaches.
An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in more than 200 suspected deaths, though only 10 cases have been confirmed. The World Health Organisation recently declared the Bundibugyo strain outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.
Extreme heat has claimed at least 16 lives in India's southern Telangana state, as temperatures soar past 45°C across the country. Officials warn of unprecedented heat intensity and call for public vigilance.
A rare Ebola variant, Bundibugyo, is driving an outbreak in Congo that has killed over 130 people. Unlike other strains, no vaccines or treatments exist, forcing responders to rely on containment basics like contact tracing and protective equipment.
Burkina Faso has bolstered its defences against Ebola by enhancing border surveillance, activating laboratory networks, and preparing isolation facilities. Health authorities confirm no infections have occurred domestically.
Bangladesh has formally requested the World Health Organisation to investigate a severe measles outbreak that has claimed 512 lives and hospitalised more than 62,000 children since March, amid criticism of the previous interim government's handling.
The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. The rare Bundibugyo virus variant, with no approved vaccines or treatments, has caused 88 deaths among 336 suspected cases.
Rwanda has implemented mandatory quarantine for travellers arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak has sickened hundreds. Foreign nationals who have been to Congo in the past month face entry bans.
The WHO has praised Vietnam's Health Ministry for stepping up disease surveillance and public communication following the declaration of Ebola as a public health emergency of international concern on May 17.
Thailand has strengthened health screening procedures for travellers from Congo and Uganda following official designation as Ebola-risk areas. Measures include pre-registration, temperature checks and 21-day symptom monitoring at international checkpoints.
Hanoi's health department has ordered disease control centres, hospitals and local authorities to intensify monitoring for Ebola, with particular focus on travellers from affected African nations following a sharp rise in cases.
Experts assess the risk of Ebola transmission at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as very low for attendees, though heightened US border screening measures will likely create delays at airports and add administrative costs.
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Bangladesh faces a severe measles crisis with 499 deaths confirmed since mid-March, including 85 verified cases. Authorities have administered vaccines to millions of children as the outbreak continues spreading across the country.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made a visit to Kuala Lumpur Hospital where he met with patients and expressed appreciation for the dedication of medical and nursing staff serving the public healthcare system.
With a vape ban under consideration, policymakers face pressure over whether prohibition will backfire. Global examples suggest regulated frameworks work better than outright bans at controlling tobacco-related harm and revenue loss.
The National Water Services Commission has flagged severely poor compliance with septic tank maintenance regulations in Perlis, with only 3.5 percent of domestic property owners carrying out required desludging work despite receiving notices.
The Malaysian Medical Association has joined voices opposing a government appeal of a nicotine ruling, arguing the case exposes how financial interests overshadow medical evidence in policymaking.