September-October. 2025 | The HEALTH

LOCAL NEWS

The appointment, announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, is effective Sep 29, 2025.

Suriaghandi ' s career demonstrated a strong track record in leading transformation initiatives, enhancing operations, and driving sustainable growth across various sectors.

Most recently, he served as healthcare advisor to the Employees Provident Fund( EPF), where he played a crucial role in shaping the EPF ' s Healthcare Investment Strategy.

Additionally, as a board member of the National Sports Council,

BUILDING FUTURES: Dato ' Seri Amirudin Shari officiates the handover ceremony of the new healthcare facility in Sepang.

PARAGON Globe Berhad( PGB), a Main Market-listed property developer on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, successfully completed and handed over a purpose-built facility in Sepang, Selangor, to Selgate Healthcare Sdn Bhd.

The ceremony was officiated by Dato ' Seri Amirudin Shari, the menteri besar of Selangor, alongside other dignitaries, underscoring the state he led significant reforms and was instrumental in launching the Olympic Sports Development Programme.

His leadership experience encompassed several senior roles, including Group Chief

Operating Officer at KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Consultant at Vamed Healthcare

NEW BEGINNINGS:

Suriaghandi Suppiah officially takes the helm as

CEO of MHTC.

government ' s support for publicprivate partnerships throughout Selangor.

This project marked PGB ' s inaugural foray into healthcare-related development, showcasing the Group ' s capacity to deliver technically complex projects that extend beyond its core residential and industrial portfolios.

Under a 15-year lease agreement,

Services, and Director of Property Management at Savills Malaysia.

His contributions also extended to Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Parkway Group Healthcare, where he championed strategic investments and organisational transformation.

Upon welcoming Suriaghandi to his new role, Dr Dzulkefly stated: " Malaysia ' s healthcare ecosystem continues to grow in strength, both domestically and internationally.

" With the upcoming Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism 2026( MYMT2026), we are committed to positioning the nation as a global leader in healthcare tourism.

" His leadership at MHTC will strengthen our efforts to expand access, attract international patients, and enhance Malaysia ' s reputation as a trusted destination for quality and affordable healthcare."

Selgate Healthcare will occupy and operate the newly completed facility. This arrangement has established a stable, recurring income stream for the Group, enhancing its property development earnings and bolstering its long-term growth trajectory.

PGB Executive Chairman Dato ' Sri Edwin Tan Pei Seng expressed pride in the milestone achieved: " The successful completion and handover of this facility is a proud milestone for PGB.

" It marks our entry into healthcare real estate, diversifying our portfolio and creating recurring income streams. More importantly, this project reflects our commitment to building developments that add value to businesses, communities, and Selangor."

Selgate Group Chief Executive Officer Dato ' Noor Hisham Mohd Ghouth, commented on the collaboration: " Paragon Globe Berhad is an organisation that has proven its capabilities and achievements in the property development sector with proud success.

" Our decision to work with them stemmed from our confidence in the quality, integrity, and commitment they bring. The handover of this facility not only symbolises the success of Paragon Globe Berhad but also represents a shared success for Selgate, with the synergy between both parties now realised in tangible form."

HEALTH HEROES: Oko Lele brings fun and education to children, teaching them the importance of safe medication disposal

IN a significant initiative aimed at promoting environmental and health education among children, the Alpro Foundation successfully launched a new animated series featuring Oko Lele, a popular cartoon character with over 3.6 million YouTube subscribers and 4 billion views globally.

Developed in collaboration with Metal Brain Studio, this series aimed to engage children in responsible consumer behaviours, with a particular focus on the critical issue of safe medication disposal.

The initiative addressed a pressing environmental crisis in Malaysia, where studies by the Department of Environment( DOE), Jabatan Alam Sekitar, and NAHRIM had revealed the contamination of rivers with pharmaceutical compounds, including ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, acetaminophen, and hormones.

These substances posed moderate ecological risks, disrupting aquatic ecosystems and contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance, a growing global health concern highlighted by the World Health Organisation.

Alpro Foundation Chief Executive Officer Ostwin Paw stated: " We believe education should start young, and last a lifetime." He emphasised that the animated series would deliver essential health and environmental education in a manner that children would enjoy and remember.

The Alpro x Oko Lele Safe Medication Disposal Series aimed to provide content that is evergreen, suitable for ongoing use in homes, schools, clinics, and public awareness campaigns.

It featured vibrant animation, child-friendly storytelling, and scientifically-backed facts to make learning about safe medication disposal engaging and impactful. Full episodes became available on YouTube.

Metal Brain Studio Co-Founder and Managing Director Charlie Chan expressed pride in the collaboration: " Animation has the power to connect deeply with children, and we are excited to support the Alpro Foundation in this meaningful mission."- The HEALTH