PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia needs to move beyond just awareness campaigns, by introducing systematic early screening to tackle iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) among children, which has affected one in three children in the country.
The Chairperson of the Select Committee (JKP) on Women, Children and Community Development, Yeo Bee Yin, said that the level of awareness about IDA is still low, including among policymakers and health stakeholders, even though it can have a major impact on children’s development.
He said the findings of screening conducted among children from low-income households in Puchong showed that about half of the programme recipients were at risk of suffering from iron deficiency, thus showing the need for routine screening nationwide.
“Making IDA screening mandatory, especially through clinics and primary healthcare services, could change the landscape of child nutrition in Malaysia.
“Many parents may not be aware of this condition, but if screening becomes part of routine healthcare, more children can be identified and treated earlier,” he said.
The call was made at the Iron Strong Generation Arena programme here yesterday, organised under the Iron Strong Generation initiative by Dumex Dugro, bringing together policymakers, health professionals and researchers to emphasise the need for stronger interventions, including IDA screening.
The Puchong MP said undetected iron deficiency can contribute to inequality among children, as inadequate nutrition in the early stages of growth can affect their cognitive development, learning ability and future.
He also reiterated the committee’s recommendation that access to milk and nutritional products for children be improved, as a balanced diet is crucial to ensuring that every child has an equal opportunity to reach their full potential.
Meanwhile, Danone Malaysia and Singapore Marketing Director, Yek Pek Kuan, said the company took appropriate steps after the Iron Strong Study in 2023 found that one in three Malaysian children were at risk of developing IDA, with 90 percent not showing obvious symptoms.
“Perhaps we have overlooked the IDA issue. Iron deficiency can have long-term effects on children’s brain development, information processing ability, focus and the development of basic cognitive skills,” he said.
Yek said the company has expanded efforts to reach out to the community, collaborate with government agencies and non-governmental organisations, and increase access to non-invasive screening services as part of efforts to bridge the gap between awareness and action.
He said that national men’s doubles badminton player Nur Izzuddin Rumsani has been appointed as the Dumex Dugro brand ambassador to encourage parents to take proactive steps to monitor their children’s iron status.
Meanwhile, Family Medicine Consultant, Dr Sri Wahyu Taher, stressed the importance of iron in brain development and neurological function, especially during childhood.
He said iron is important for the formation of neural connections and communication pathways in the brain, with a deficiency affecting memory, concentration, reasoning ability and learning performance.
Iron is also important for physical growth, muscle development and overall health, making early detection and intervention essential to ensure children reach their full developmental potential.
— BERNAMA
![PUTRAJAYA, JUNE 19 -- The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) cracked down on the sale of suspected counterfeit branded goods involving a seizure value of RM600,000 at three separate locations in Johor Bahru, last Monday. KPDN Enforcement Director-General, Datuk Azman Adam said that his party, through the Putrajaya Enforcement Division, raided three premises that offered various types of branded goods displaying the trademarks of several well-known brands without the permission of the registered trademark owners. "This operation is the result of a month's worth of intelligence on traders who were found to be selling at major supermarkets, as well as being suspected of being distributors to other traders." "The raid team seized various types of goods suspected of using the trademark incorrectly, such as clothing, handbags, wallets, belts, perfumes and related business documents, with a total value of the seizure estimated at RM600,000," he said in a statement today. Azman said that the results of the initial inspection and verification with the complainant's representative found that there was reasonable cause to believe that an offence had been committed. In this regard, he said, the Ministry of National Development and Reform also detained four local individuals, consisting of the owner and caretaker of the premises, to assist in the investigation as they are believed to be involved in the management of the business operations. He said the case is being investigated under Section 102(1)(c) of the Trademark Act 2019 [Act 815] and individuals convicted of the offence can be fined a maximum of RM10,000 for each counterfeit item or imprisoned for a maximum of three years or both for the first offence, while for subsequent offences, a maximum fine of RM20,000 for each item or imprisoned for a maximum of five years or both. He said that for company or corporate offenders, the maximum fine is RM15,000 for each item for the first offence and a maximum of RM30,000 for each item for subsequent offences. Azman said the Ministry of Trade and Industry would continue to intensify enforcement operations and would not compromise with any party that carries out activities such as selling or distributing counterfeit goods that violate intellectual property rights and mislead consumers. -- BERNAMA](https://minutesmy.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/TB_KPDN-SITA_KPDN-1024x576.webp)
