Category: Health EN

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has observed that Penang ferry users are not conducting themselves properly at the ferry terminals with Covid-19 in mind. When the ferry gates open to let riders on and off the ferry most of the passengers rush for the ferry gates. This kind of behaviour is dangerous because when all the ferry passengers rush for the ferry gates they are squeezing into...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the federal government to take serious action on the adverse effect of toys made of black recycled plastics that poses threat to the health of children. A ground-breaking study analysing the effects of toxic chemicals in plastic children’s toys and consumer products on human cells has revealed that toys made from some recycled plastics are...

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) is gravely concerned to learn that the National Health Commission of China has recommended the use of bear bile in the treatment of severe and critical cases of COVID-19.   This move is a blow to conservationists worldwide, as on Feb 24th this year, China declared an immediate and comprehensive ban on the trade in wildlife and the sale of wild animals for food,...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) finds it shocking that the Social Security Organisation (Socso) had agreed to bear Covid-19 screening fee for all employees who had to work during the current Movement Control Order (MCO). The International Trade and Industry (Miti) Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had recently announced that employees from companies permitted to operate during the...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is aghast at how the economic stimulus package left gaps of problems unaddressed. Even though the government touted that every tier of society would benefit from the economic stimulus package that was announced on 27th March, there are glaring loopholes that need to be fixed urgently. The government should address the problem of escalating food prices...

SAM has been receiving reports from indigenous communities in interior Sarawak, which describe how the movement control order (MCO) has affected them. The communities are currently anxious over the dwindling supply of essential food items, daily necessities and cash, and their inability to access medical, banking and other essential services and sell their produce in the nearest rural...

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urges the government to consider using Pulau Jerejak as a temporary quarantine centre for the northern region. This is not a frivolous idea since it had been used as a health quarantine centre for immigrants in 1875 and just a five-minute boat ride away from Penang Island. It has the land area, isolation, and because it is about 6 km from the Penang...

Malaysia is now in its second day of the 2020 Malaysia Movement Control Order. Considering the gravity of the situation, we expected to see abandoned malls, vacant hawker centres and empty sidewalks. Instead we saw people out and about as usual, going on strolls with their dogs and babies, and dining in for breakfast, lunch and dinner. So far Malaysia has 790 confirmed Covid – 19 cases and 2...

On March 5th two Bangladeshi workers were killed at a housing project construction site in Mentakab, Temerloh when they were buried by huge piles of soil that had been collected on the edge of the pits, as they were installing sewerage pipes. Reports further state that when the two workers were carrying out their work in an estimated 6 metre pit, there were two machines close to the pit being...

Environment groups in Asia Pacific call on policy makers to beef up single-use plastics ban; phase-out toxic chemicals from food packaging; and mandate safe, reusable alternatives Australia/India/Malaysia/Nepal/Philippines -- Close to 200 environmental and public health organizations led by the UNWRAPPED Project (UPSTREAM, Zero Waste Europe, and GAIA) released a Call to Action in response to a...