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Fulltext A study of (a) the prevalence of hypertension (b) the distribution of blood groups, in Sibu, Sarawak, July - August 1988

Hu CH

Family Practitioner, 1988;11(3):67-69.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Functional dependence and nutritional status among leprosy survivors in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia

Mohamad-Rodi Isa, Siti-Munira Yasin, Mohammad-Idris Zamhuri

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1(1):29-35.

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease which also known as Hansen’s disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The social rights and health requirements should not be neglected among the remaining survivors. Although nutritional status and leprosy invasion has been studied in the past, there is still an unclear relationship between these two. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between nutritional status and disability among the leprosy survivors.
sampling was conducted at Sungai Buloh, Selangor area from June 2014 to July 2014. The degree of disability was assessed using Barthel’s Index and the nutritional status assessment was assessed using Mini Nutritional Assessment. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 73 patients were involved in the study (60.3% were male and 89.0% were Chinese). The prevalence of disability was 56.2% (95% CI: 44.5 – 67.8) with walking up-stair s the highest item that need help (50.7%). There were 9.6% malnourished and 49.3% were at risk of malnutrition. There was a negative strong correlation between Nutritional score and the Barthel’s index score (Spearman rho, ρ = -0.714, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Measures must be taken to improve their nutritional status in order to increase their ability to be more independent particularly those who are very old. The degree of disability increases with malnutrition.
KEYWORDS: Functional dependence, nutritional status, leprosy

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Migraine masquerading as temporomandibular disorders: a case report

Shoji Y, Cohen HV

Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2018;3(1):43-46.
MyJurnal

Migraine is a common disabling primary headache disorder. Ipsilateral radiation of pain to orofacial regions, including teeth, jaws and temporomandibular joints, although not a common complaint, could occur. The area of involvement may obscure the diagnosis and lead to unnecessary dental treatment. A case is presented in which a patient initially sought dental care for left jaw pain that radiated to her left maxillary teeth and temple region and she was also experiencing discomfort in the left masticatory musculature. Subsequently a medical consult diagnosed migraine headache without aura and fortunately unnecessary dental treatment was not done. The key issue here is the complexity of the Trigeminal nerve when the dentist is assessing a patient for dental or other orofacial pain complaints and dental pathology has been ruled out. Equally as important is the dentist taking thorough medical history since a patient may not tell a dentist about a “headache” because the pain is in the teeth and/or jaws. And, perhaps most important is the final differential diagnosis whether made by the dentist or medical care provider.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Psychosocial mechanisms of change in symptoms of Persistent Complex Bereavement Disorder amongst refugees from Myanmar over the course of Integrative Adapt Therapy

Tay AK, Khat Mung H, Badrudduza M, Balasundaram S, Fadil Azim D, Arfah Zaini N, et al.

Eur J Psychotraumatol, 2020 Sep 16;11(1):1807170.
PMID: 33062211 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1807170

Background: The ability to adapt to the psychosocial disruptions associated with the refugee experience may influence the course of complicated grief reactions. Objective: We examine these relationships amongst Myanmar refugees relocated to Malaysia who participated in a six-week course of Integrative Adapt Therapy (IAT). Method: Participants (n = 170) included Rohingya, Chin, and Kachin refugees relocated to Malaysia. At baseline and six-week post-treatment, we applied culturally adapted measures to assess symptoms of Prolonged Complex Bereavement Disorder (PCBD) and adaptive capacity to psychosocial disruptions, based on the Adaptive Stress Index (ASI). The ASI comprises five sub-scales of safety/security (ASI-1); bonds and networks (ASI-2); injustice (ASI-3); roles and identity (ASI-4); and existential meaning (ASI-5). Results: Multilevel linear models indicated that the relationship between baseline and posttreatment PCBD symptoms was mediated by the ASI scale scores. Further, ASI scale scores assessed posttreatment mediated the relationship between baseline and posttreatment PCBD symptoms. Mediation of PCBD change was greatest for the ASI II scale representing disrupted bonds and networks. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the informing model of IAT in demonstrating that changes in adaptive capacity, and especially in dealing with disrupted bonds and networks, may mediate the process of symptom improvement over the course of therapy.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Psychometric Properties of the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF-M): Evidence from a Sample of Malaysian Undergraduates

Ling SL, Nik Jaafar NR, Tan KA, Bahar N, Baharudin A, Ahmad Tajjudin AI

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 03 05;18(5).
PMID: 33807598 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052592

In recent years, increased interest in Internet Gaming Disorder has led to the development of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form. Translation and subsequent validation of such a scale are important for cross-cultural use. The aim of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties (factor structure, reliability, and validity) of the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form using a sample of Malaysian undergraduates. The present sample included 137 Malaysian undergraduates. Participants completed a self-administered online survey containing demographic items, the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form, the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Malay Version of the Internet Addiction Test. The present findings confirm the one-factor model of the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form. Good reliability, as measured by Cronbach alpha, was found for the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form. The Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form has demonstrated concurrent validity by significantly correlating with the Problematic Online Gaming Questionnaire-Short Form as well as demonstrated convergent validity with respect to the Malay Version of the Internet Addiction Test. The Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form is a reliable and valid tool for assessing Internet Gaming Disorder in Malaysian undergraduates. As more research is still needed to confirm the status of Internet Gaming Disorder as a formal disorder, it is hoped that the Malay Version of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form can facilitate future research examining antecedents and consequences of Internet Gaming Disorder in a Malaysian setting.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Comparing empowering, transformational, and transactional leadership on supervisory coaching and job performance: A multilevel perspective

Lee MCC, Ding AYL

Psych J, 2020 Oct;9(5):668-681.
PMID: 32022454 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.345

With a leader being able to possess different types of leadership styles, there is a lack of literature investigating which leadership style best facilitates supervisory coaching behavior. The current study aimed to investigate which leadership style would exhibit supervisory coaching behavior, and if supervisory coaching behavior would mediate the relationship between leadership styles and job performance. The study compared the effects of three leadership styles-transformational, transactional, and empowering leadership-on supervisory coaching behavior, which has been reported to influence job performance. A multilevel approach was adopted in this study using 500 employees from 65 organizations within Malaysia. The study found that only empowering and transactional leadership styles exhibited supervisory coaching behavior, which in turn mediated their relationships with job performance. Overall, the findings suggest the importance of leadership styles that prioritize employee development, as these would lead to improved job performance in employees.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext House building tips (HBT) corpus dataset as a resource to discover Malay architectural ingenuity and identity

Zaini MF, Sarudin A, Muhammad MM, Osman Z, Mohamed Redzwan HF, Al-Muhsin MA

Data Brief, 2021 Jun;36:107013.
PMID: 33898671 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2021.107013

House Building Tips is the title of a classic text containing historical information on early house construction in Malay communities. These tips were written by a scholar with knowledge of house construction through observation of the surrounding environment. In Malaysia, written sources or records of house construction are scarce and underexposed. As such, this research was conducted to guarantee the written legacy of the construction of Malay houses. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a statistical data source of house building tips that is laden with Malay ingenuity and identity. The wordlists generated from this study can become a source of reference for the field of Malay architecture. Accordingly, this study utilises the quantitative method by applying the Linguistic Corpus Statistical Approach; these data utilise specific corpus development procedures, beginning with text collection, scanning and cleaning processes, text annotation, and data storing in plain text. Next, the data analysis procedure utilises a corpus software, LancsBox, to generate specialised wordlists. The bubble graphs are developed based on these wordlists through the Tableau software, and illustrate the most used lexical items with the raw and relative frequency values. This facilitates searches for, and the reading of, architectural words and architectural word references. These data represent written sources that need to be preserved and become points of reference concerning Malay architectural ingenuity and identity.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Six new species of the spider genus Belisana/ (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Southeast Asia

Zhu W, Li S

Zootaxa, 2021 Apr 16;4963(1):zootaxa.4963.1.5.
PMID: 33903565 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4963.1.5

Six new species belonging to Belisana Thorell, 1898 are described from Southeast Asia: Belisana bachma sp. nov. (Vietnam; male, female), B. cucphuong sp. nov. (Vietnam; male, female), B. jaegeri sp. nov. (Malaysia; male, female), B. kachin sp. nov. (Myanmar; male, female), B. putao sp. nov. (Myanmar; male) and B. tarang sp. nov. (Indonesia; male, female). These new species bring the total number of Belisana to 143 species worldwide.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Voice therapy for Parkinson's disease via smartphone videoconference in Malaysia: A preliminary study

Chan MY, Chu SY, Ahmad K, Ibrahim NM

J Telemed Telecare, 2021 Apr;27(3):174-182.
PMID: 31431134 DOI: 10.1177/1357633X19870913

INTRODUCTION: Intensive voice therapy is one of the best evidence-based treatments to improve speech and voice difficulties to individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, accessibility to intensive voice therapy is highly challenging in Malaysia due to the lack of voice specialised speech-language therapists. This study examined the feasibility of using smartphone videoconference to deliver intensive voice therapy to individuals with PD in Malaysia.
METHODS: Intensive voice therapy was delivered to 11 adults with PD using a smartphone videoconference method via WhatsApp Messenger freeware. The therapy consisted of 12 sessions over four weeks and focused on increasing vocal loudness. Outcomes were assessed using objective, perceptual and quality-of-life measures pre and post treatment. Participant satisfaction with the telerehabilitation method was obtained via the Smartphone-Based Therapy Satisfaction Questionnaire.
RESULTS: Significant gains were reported for sound pressure level in sustained vowels and monologue. Perceptual ratings showed significant improvements in overall mean severity and loudness after treatment. Mean scores of speech intelligibility and Voice Handicap Index-10 were significantly better post treatment. Overall, participants were highly satisfied with the smartphone videoconference method.
DISCUSSION: Present results suggest that the smartphone videoconference method is feasible to deliver intensive voice therapy to individuals with PD to gain better speech and voice functions. Future studies need to address the standardisation of the system protocol to optimise this novel service delivery method in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Optimal implementation of low impact development for urban stormwater quantity and quality control using multi-objective optimization

Rezaei AR, Ismail Z, Niksokhan MH, Dayarian MA, Ramli AH, Yusoff S

Environ Monit Assess, 2021 Mar 31;193(4):241.
PMID: 33791871 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09010-4

Stormwater runoff is a major concern in urban areas which is mostly the result of vast urbanization. To reduce urban stormwater runoff and improve water quality, low impact development (LID) is used in urban areas. Therefore, it is vital to find the optimal combination of LID controls to achieve maximum reduction in both stormwater runoff and pollutants with optimal cost. In this study, a simulation-optimization model was developed by linking the EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to the Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) using MATLAB. The coupled model could carry out multi-objective optimization (MOO) and find potential solutions to the optimization objectives using the SWMM simulation model outputs. The SWMM model was developed using data from the BUNUS catchment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The total suspended solids (TSS) and total nitrogen (TN) were selected as pollutants to be used in the simulation model. Vegetated swale and rain garden were selected as LID controls for the study area. The LID controls were assigned to the model using the catchment characteristics. The target objectives were to minimize peak stormwater runoff, TSS, and TN with the minimum number of LID controls applications. The LID combination scenarios were also tested in SWMM to identify the best LID types and combination to achieve maximum reduction in both peak runoff and pollutants. This study found that the peak runoff, TSS, and TN were reduced by 13%, 38%, and 24%, respectively. The optimal number of LID controls that could be used at the BUNUS catchment area was also found to be 25.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext The Psychology of Murder Concealment Acts

Kamaluddin MR, Mahat NA, Mat Saat GA, Othman A, Anthony IL, Kumar S, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 03 18;18(6).
PMID: 33803514 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18063113

The escalating trend of murder victim concealment worldwide appears worrying, and literature does not reveal any specific study focusing on victim concealment amongst convicted male Malaysian murderers. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the psychological traits that may underlie the act of murder concealment in Malaysia via mixed method approaches. Male murderers (n = 71) from 11 prisons were selected via purposive sampling technique. In the quantitative analysis, a cross-sectional study design using the validated questionnaire was used. The questionnaire contained murder concealment variables and four Malay validated psychometric instruments measuring: personality traits, self-control, aggression, and cognitive distortion. The independent sample t-tests revealed the significantly higher level of anger in murderers who did not commit concealment acts (8.55 ± 2.85, p < 0.05) when compared with those who did so (6.40 ± 2.64). Meanwhile, the Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed that anger and the personality trait of aggressiveness-hostility significantly varied across the different groups of murder concealment acts (p < 0.05). The qualitative data obtained via the in-depth interviews revealed two important themes for the murderers to commit murder concealment acts: (1) fear of discovery and punishment and (2) blaming others. These findings discussed from the perspectives of the murderers within the context of criminology and psychology may provide the first ever insight into the murder concealment acts in Malaysia that can benefit the relevant authorities for crime prevention and investigation efforts.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Chemical composition of three Malaysian Horsfieldia essential oils

Salleh WMNHW, Shakri NM, Khamis S, Setzer WN, Nadri MH

Nat Prod Res, 2020 Sep 14.
PMID: 32927975 DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1819274

This study aims to assess the chemical compositions of the essential oils from three Horsfieldia species namely H. fulva Warb., H. sucosa Warb. and H. superba Warb., which are found in Malaysia. The essential oils were derived from the samples through hydrodistillation which were then characterised by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Based on the findings, the H. fulva, H. sucosa and H. superba essential oils represented 98.2%, 98.7% and 98.5% of the total oils, respectively. The major component of H. fulva oil was identified to be germacrene D (20.8%), H. sucosa oil mainly contained α-cadinol (17.5%), whereas H. superba oil was rich in δ-cadinene (18.2%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of the composition of the essential oils from these selected Horsfieldia species.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Rapid shifts in methanotrophic bacterial communities mitigate methane emissions from a tropical hydropower reservoir and its downstream river

Reis PCJ, Ruiz-González C, Crevecoeur S, Soued C, Prairie YT

Sci Total Environ, 2020 Dec 15;748:141374.
PMID: 32823225 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141374

Methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) present in the water column mitigate methane (CH4) emissions from hydropower complexes to the atmosphere. By creating a discontinuity in rivers, dams cause large environmental variations, including in CH4 and oxygen concentrations, between upstream, reservoir, and downstream segments. Although highest freshwater methanotrophic activity is often detected at low oxygen concentrations, CH4 oxidation in well-oxygenated downstream rivers below dams has also been reported. Here we combined DNA and RNA high-throughput sequencing with microscopic enumeration (by CARD-FISH) and biogeochemical data to investigate the abundance, composition, and potential activity of MOB taxa from upstream to downstream waters in the tropical hydropower complex Batang Ai (Malaysia). High relative abundance of MOB (up to 61% in 16S rRNA sequences and 19% in cell counts) and enrichment of stable isotopic signatures of CH4 (up to 0‰) were detected in the hypoxic hypolimnion of the reservoir and in the outflowing downstream river. MOB community shifts along the river-reservoir system reflected environmental sorting of taxa and an interrupted hydrologic connectivity in which downstream MOB communities resembled reservoir's hypolimnetic communities but differed from upstream and surface reservoir communities. In downstream waters, CH4 oxidation was accompanied by fast cell growth of particular MOB taxa. Our results suggest that rapid shifts in active MOB communities allow the mitigation of CH4 emissions from different zones of hydropower complexes, including in quickly re-oxygenated rivers downstream of dams.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Scale of Medical Personnel on Smoking Cessation Guidelines: A Review on Associations and Questionnaires

Shaiful Ehsan Shalihin, Mohamad Haniki NM

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;13(2):3-13.
MyJurnal

The number of active smokers in Malaysia is increasing despite the availability of stop smoking clinics and smoking cessation medications. Other than smokers’ level of motivation to quit smoking, competency of the healthcare professionals involved in providing smoking cessation intervention using evidence based guidelines needs to be considered. Hence, knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the healthcare providers in relation to existing clinical practice guidelines on smoking cessation should be assessed. In this review, we look at the factors contributing to the KAP of medical personnel on the guidelines and also the previously available assessment tool, mainly in the form of a validated questionnaire, for the purpose of applying it to the context of the Malaysian healthcare providers.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Data on the impact of socioeconomic status on academic achievement among students in Malaysian public universities

Sulaiman NFC, Akhir NHM, Hussain NE, Jamin RM, Ramli NH

Data Brief, 2020 Aug;31:106018.
PMID: 32728602 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106018

This data article presents the impact of parents' socioeconomic status on undergraduate students' academic achievements at a Malaysian higher education institution. The eastern parts of Peninsular Malaysia are populated by low-income citizens compared to the national average. The survey was conducted in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. The targeted population is final year social science students. The total size of the target population is 965 students. Using Krejcie and Morgan's sampling method, a sample size of 333 students was surveyed. A descriptive research design was adopted in this study. Data were obtained from stratified random sampling comprising a total of 333 respondents in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu from 14 states across Malaysia. The data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using tables and figures. The findings revealed that most of the students stated that a parent's socioeconomic status does not influence their academic achievement.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Multiple linear regression model of rice production using conjugate gradient methods

Nur Idalisa, Mohd. Rivaie, Nurul Hafawati Fadhilah, Nur Atikah, Anis Shahida, Nur Hidayah Mohd. Noh

MATEMATIKA, 2019;35(2):229-235.
MyJurnal

Regression is one of the basic relationship models in statistics. This paper focuses on the formation of regression models for the rice production in Malaysia by analysing the effects of paddy population, planted area, human population and domestic consumption. In this study, the data were collected from the year 1980 until 2014 from the website of the Department of Statistics Malaysia and Index Mundi. It is well known that the regression model can be solved using the least square method. Since least square problem is an unconstrained optimisation, the Conjugate Gradient (CG) was chosen to generate a solution for regression model and hence to obtain the coefficient value of independent variables. Results show that the CG methods could produce a good regression equation with acceptable Root Mean-Square Error (RMSE) value.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Comparison of energy and protein adequacy between closed and open enteral nutrition system in critically-ill adult patients [Abstract]

Zheng YL, Norafizah MN, Rosli MS, Marlina MN, Maslina M, Nora Nurlinda Z, et al.

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;2(101):17-18.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Critically-ill patients are commonly fed with EN via open system (OS) or closed system (CS). Several studies showed that patients on CS had received greater volume of EN compared to OS.
Objective: As there was no study conducted in Malaysia, hence this study is conducted to compare the energy and protein adequacy of both systems.
Methodology: This cohort prospective study was conducted in GICU (OS) and NICU/NHDW (CS) in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Patients aged ≥18 years and fed by feeding pump in OS were included. Patients who were moribund or not given EN were excluded. Patients’ demographic data and disease severity score were collected on day 1 in ICU and followed for 5 days until decease or discharge. Adequacy was determined by percentage of energy/protein received from requirements.
Results: Fifty-five patients were included (25 OS and 30 CS) with mean aged 45.41±17.46 years old, 78.2% male and 65.5% Malay. The mean SAPS II, SOFA score and ICU LOS were 46.47±10.65, 8.60±3.64 and 9.24±7.91 days respectively. The ICU mortality was 20%. EN was started about 2.56±2.89 days after ICU admission and the mean adequacy of energy was 74.56±32.23%, while protein adequacy was and 69.15±35.78%. Compared with the CS, OS were significantly older than CS (51 years old vs 42.5 years old; p=0.035) and had a higher SOFA score (10 vs 7.5; p= 0.014). No difference in ICU LOS and mortality between group were found. Energy (45.64% vs 96.71%; p<0.001) and protein adequacy (38.78% vs 94.12%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the CS than the OS.
Conclusion: CS as compared with OS may improve nutritional adequacy as CS delivered more 108% energy and 141% protein than OS. The difference in adequacy might be attributed to these factors; feeding method used in the system, patients’ characteristics and condition rather than the feeding system itself.
Keywords: enteral nutrition, critically-ill patients, open system, closed system, adequacy

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext Diagnostic Dilemma of Intracranial Aneurysm in Neonatal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH)

Teo Y E, Abd Ghani F, Nik Lah N S H, Sriram P R

Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences, 2019;2(101):25-26.
MyJurnal

Cerebral aneurysm is an exceedingly rare aetiology of neonatal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH). Detailed history and pattern recognition of the SAH is crucial in suspecting aneurysm.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Modelling the fate and transport of colloidal particles in association with BPA in river water

Shehab ZN, Jamil NR, Aris AZ

J Environ Manage, 2020 Nov 15;274:111141.
PMID: 32818827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111141

A simplified modelling approach for illustrating the fate of emerging pollutants can improve risk assessment of these chemicals. Once released into aquatic environments, these pollutants will interact with various substances including suspended particles, colloidal or nano particles, which will greatly influence their distribution and ultimate fate. Understanding these interactions in aquatic environments continues to be an important issue because of their possible risk. In this study, bisphenol A (BPA) in the water column of Bentong River, Malaysia, was investigated in both its soluble and colloidal phase. A spatially explicit hydrological model was established to illustrate the associated dispersion processes of colloidal-bound BPA. Modelling results demonstrated the significance of spatial detail in predicting hot spots or peak concentrations of colloidal-bound BPA in the sediment and water columns as well. The magnitude and setting of such spots were system based and depended mainly on flow conditions. The results highlighted the effects of colloidal particles' concentration and density on BPA's removal from the water column. It also demonstrated the tendency of colloidal particles to aggregate and the impact all these processes had on BPA's transport potential and fate in a river water. All scenarios showed that after 7.5-10 km mark BPA's concentration started to reach a steady state with very low concentrations which indicated that a downstream transport of colloidal-bound BPA was less likely due to minute BPA levels.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia
Fulltext What can law do to combat obesity in Malaysia?

Sia, Chin Chin, Duraisingam T. J.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(102):42-42.
MyJurnal

Introduction: The obesity rate in Malaysia is increasing exponentially. This is alarming as obesity in a population is likely to lead to health complications and negatively impact national economic productivity. The quality of health of our country is of paramount importance to a sustainable nation. To safeguard the health of our population in this country, there are current laws and potential laws to be implemented to combat obesity. In Malaysia, the government have introduced ‘soft policies’ approach such as Healthy life style programmes and campaigns as means to curb obesity yet its impact is questionable. ‘Hard policies’, such as regulations (e.g. imposing a tax, removal of subsidies, reduction of operational hours of eateries, menu-labelling, curbing of marketing of unhealthy food, implementation of pedestrian and bicycle paths, metabo laws) may be used as legitimate interventions to combat obesity in Malaysia. The aims of this paper is to (i) analyse the legal justifications for implementation of obesity prevention regulations, (ii) to compare and contrast the pros and cons of current and potential obesity prevention regulations to reduce obesity. Results and Conclusion: The law could be used to facilitate promotion of public health. In light of new scientific advances, gaps in the current regulatory framework, and the increasingly obesogenic environment, this paper proposes
potential legal approaches to address obesity in Malaysia. It is important for legal scholars to devise innovative strategies to address obesity from new perspectives. The great potential for the law to rectify the status quo has yet to be fully explored. With reduction of obesity, the fiscal burden of the nation on medical bills could be reduced and productivity could be increased.

Matched MeSH terms: Malaysia

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