SHAH ALAM, El Sky News – Malaysia’s healthcare landscape today saw two major developments: a state-level initiative to improve emergency response access and a federal crackdown on unregistered health products.
Free Ambulance Access: Selangor Pioneers Health Mobility Initiative
In Shah Alam, the Selangor State Government officially launched a key initiative, “Ambulans Kita Selangor” (AKS), aimed at bridging the response-time gap in medical emergencies.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari announced an allocation of RM1 million to deploy 48 ambulances under the program. The AKS initiative offers free health mobility services to residents, particularly for emergency cases and patient transfers from homes to public healthcare facilities.
“This is a strategic intervention by the State Government to address ambulance delays at emergency sites. We are ensuring that access to critical care becomes faster and more reachable for the people,” he said during the launch ceremony.
Initially, AKS will be implemented across six Local Authorities (PBT) spanning the districts of Petaling, Kuala Langat, and Kuala Selangor. The program is carried out in close collaboration with St. John Ambulans Malaysia (SJAM) Selangor as the main implementation partner.
Health Ministry Bans ‘Hong Thai Inhaler’, Warns Against Unregistered Products
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has taken swift action to safeguard public health by banning the sale and issuing a strong warning against the use of the herbal product ‘Hong Thai Inhaler’.
The popular product was found to be unregistered with the Drug Control Authority (DCA), making it illegal to sell or possess in Malaysia. More alarmingly, the product has also been recalled in its country of origin, Thailand, due to contamination with harmful bacteria.
The MOH’s Pharmaceutical Enforcement Division reported that efforts to curb the sale of this illegal product are ongoing, with over 300 advertisements and sales links detected and requested for removal from e-commerce platforms.
The ministry reminded the public that selling or distributing unregistered medicines and health products constitutes a serious offence under Malaysian law and may result in heavy fines or imprisonment. Consumers who have purchased the product are advised to immediately stop using it and seek medical attention if they experience any suspicious symptoms.
