PUTRAJAYA, 24 August 2026 (The Capital Post) – Health Minister YB Datuk Seri Dr. Dzulkefly Ahmad has stressed that health security must be prioritised as an integral component of Malaysia’s national security agenda.
He made the remarks while delivering a keynote address at an Executive Talk session organised by the National Resilience College (NRC) at the National Defence Studies Centre (PUSPAHANAS), Putrajaya.
Dzulkefly was invited to deliver the keynote address titled “Health Security for a Secure and Prosperous Malaysia: Maintaining The Wellbeing of The Population” to 23 participants from the seventh NRC course cohort, including five international participants from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Pakistan.
The participants comprised officers holding the ranks of Colonel and Brigadier General or their equivalents.
During his address, Dzulkefly highlighted that threats to health are no longer limited to pandemics and infectious diseases, but also include antimicrobial resistance, disruptions to the supply chains of medicines, vaccines and medical devices, cyberattacks targeting health systems, misuse of artificial intelligence and the spread of misinformation that could undermine public trust.
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He also outlined Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen its preparedness and response capabilities in dealing with health system crises.
Dzulkefly said a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach was necessary to ensure the protection of public health, the workforce, critical infrastructure and public trust, while strengthening national security.
His participation was welcomed by Major General Dato’ Saiful Bahari bin Zainol, Commandant of the NRC.
According to a post on the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, the session provided strategic exposure to participants on the importance of health security and Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen the resilience of its national health system. – The Capital Post
