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FORMER Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah (picture) is suggesting mandating basic health screenings for election candidates prior to nomination, citing international practices and growing concerns over the physical demands of public office.

Her remarks follow the death of Sabah BN chairman Bung Moktar Radin less than a week after he narrowly retained his Lamag seat in the Nov 29 state election, and a reminder from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul that many MPs have yet to complete their annual medical check-ups.

Maria said some countries already require candidates to declare their health status before nomination. 

“In Indonesia, presidential candidates must submit health certificates from government hospitals.

“Every candidate should undergo health checks before nomination day and annually while in office. Elections are stressful, especially for those in key Cabinet roles. It is a significant waste of time, money and effort when elected representatives are unable to serve due to poor health,” she said, as quoted by FMT.

She proposed that medical examinations be conducted at government hospitals, with health certificates submitted to the Election Commission (EC). However, she acknowledged that the EC currently lacks the authority to enforce such a requirement.

“At present, the EC can only make recommendations. Our laws need to be amended to make basic health certificates a mandatory part of submissions to the EC,” she said, adding that disclosures should be limited and made public only with the candidate’s consent.

Electoral reform group Engage chairman Thomas Fann said the proposal is reasonable but would require an amendment to Article 47 of the Federal Constitution, which sets out eligibility criteria for election candidates.

“Under the current constitutional framework, such a requirement would not be permissible,” he said.

He added that Parliament would need to explicitly include health certification as a condition for candidacy.

He warned of the potential for political abuse and stressed that there must be provisions for appeals against disqualification and for second medical opinions.

“We do not want a situation where the government uses its influence over hospitals to disqualify key opposition candidates from contesting elections,” Fann said.

He suggested that health screenings focus on life-threatening illnesses such as heart disease or cancer, rather than lifestyle-related conditions like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan cautioned that mandatory disclosure could raise privacy concerns, recommending voluntary health declarations as a more practical approach.

“If candidates volunteer this information, they may gain voters’ confidence through transparency,” he said. 

He added that it would be a plus point for candidates to demonstrate they are fit for office. 

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KAJANG — Road Transport Department (JPJ) enforcement officers in Selangor began using body-worn cameras (BWC) last Monday to enhance transparency, accountability and integrity during enforcement operations.

Selangor JPJ director Azrin Borhan said the visual and audio recordings captured by the BWCs serve as valid supporting evidence.

“The use of BWCs is also intended to protect enforcement officers from misunderstandings, unfounded accusations or harassment while carrying out their duties,” he said at a press conference after leading the Selangor JPJ Integrated Special Operation at the Sungai Ramal Toll Plaza last night.

Azrin added that Selangor JPJ remains committed to carrying out the nationwide “Operasi Perang Lebih Muatan” (War Against Overloading), which was launched last October.

As of last Wednesday, he said 22 vehicles had been detained for overloading, while 39,555 notices were issued for various offences.

The most common offence involved driving with an expired motor vehicle licence (LKM), with 5,160 notices issued, followed by driving without a competent driving licence (CDL) with 4,440 notices, lack of insurance (3,492), and absence of a vocational licence (2,299).

“Enforcement is not intended merely to punish, but to educate and ensure that commercial vehicle operators and owners comply with technical specifications, load limits and road safety standards for the common good,” he said.

In a four-hour integrated operation that began at 8 pm yesterday, Azrin said 45 individuals were screened by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), with eight men aged between their 30s and 40s arrested after testing positive for methamphetamine and marijuana.

Among those detained was a 47-year-old e-hailing driver, he added.

Azrin said a total of 2,185 vehicles were inspected during the operation, action was taken against 301 vehicles, and 422 notices were issued to motorists for various traffic offences. — BERNAMA

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GEORGE TOWN — Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (picture), described the press as both a guardian of integrity and a vital bridge between cultures, indispensable for building informed, cohesive communities.

He emphasised that the media is a crucial partner in realising the Malaysia MADANI vision, advancing it through the promotion of good governance, transparency, the sharing of knowledge and social harmony.

“For Malaysia, the media remains a vital pillar of public life. In the age of big data, generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and borderless communication, the world needs responsible journalism, narratives that elevate our shared humanity, a deeper commitment to truth, fairness and dignity,” he said.

Anwar delivered this message in a recorded speech for the 58th Annual Conference of the World Chinese Language Press Institute at the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery here today.

The conference was officiated by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and attended by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong and Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.

The two-day conference is hosted by the Penang-based newspaper Kwong Wah Yit Poh in conjunction with its 115th anniversary.

Anwar remarked that the gathering at the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery, hosted by the historic Kwong Wah Yit Poh, symbolises the resilience and cultural contribution of Chinese-language media in Malaysia.

He also noted that since its founding in 1968, the World Chinese Language Press Institute has been instrumental in upholding press freedom, strengthening professional standards and fostering collaboration among Chinese-language media worldwide.

Speaking on technological progress, the Prime Minister observed that AI is rapidly transforming the media landscape, fundamentally changing how information is both created and shared.

“It offers opportunities to boost efficiency and reduce costs, while also requiring deeper reflection on ethics, responsibility, and the evolving role of Chinese-language media in a rapidly changing technological landscape,” he said.

Anwar also highlighted the legacy of Kwong Wah Yit Poh, describing it as one of the world’s oldest surviving Chinese newspapers, which has endured colonial rule, periods of conflict, transitioning to self-governance, and now the digital revolution.

He added that Malaysia is ready to enhance cooperation with Chinese-language media worldwide. Such partnerships, he said, are important to strengthen regional information networks, foster deeper cultural understanding, and contribute to a more enlightened global community. — BERNAMA

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PUTRAJAYA — The Government will implement the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme, or Solar ATAP, effective Jan 1, next year, to utilise rooftop spaces for generating renewable energy.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) confirmed that the programme aligns with its earlier announcement on Sept 12 and is the successor to the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme that ended on June 30.

“As the regulator of the electricity supply industry, the Energy Commission has prepared the Solar ATAP guidelines, accessible on its website from Dec 31. 

“Applications can be submitted starting Jan 1, 2026, via the Sustainable Energy Development Authority’s (SEDA) website,” said the ministry. 

PETRA added that the final programme incorporates several improvements based on stakeholder feedback. Notably, Solar ATAP will not have a fixed quota at launch, though the government retains the authority to impose a cap should future, uncontrolled integration risk destabilising the national grid.

Furthermore, the programme retains a core principle of NEM by allowing surplus solar energy to be fed into the grid for energy credit, with specific adjustments to make it more attractive than the existing Solar for Self-Consumption (SelCo) scheme.

PETRA has set the energy credit rates based on electricity market prices, with non-domestic consumers receiving the system marginal price and domestic consumers receiving their prevailing energy charge.

“The solar system installation limit is set at 100 percent of maximum demand, allowing consumers to fully optimise their solar installation for self-use. For domestic users, single-phase homes are permitted to install systems with a capacity of 5kW, while the capacity for three-phase homes has been raised from 12.5kW to 15kW,” the statement read. 

The Solar ATAP programme is expected to provide a viable choice for consumers to use building rooftops for renewable energy generation, while also significantly accelerating clean energy development to support national carbon reduction goals.

PETRA is confident it will serve as a strategic, long-term catalyst for strengthening the national energy landscape and supporting Malaysia’s aspiration to achieve 70 percent renewable energy capacity by 2050.

“This initiative not only drives national sustainability but also demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to fulfilling its responsibility to current and future generations, in line with the core pillars and values of MADANI Malaysia,” said PETRA. — BERNAMA

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