KKM's New Registry Of Rare Diseases

Feb 04, 2026

The Health Ministry is setting up a registry of rare diseases to strengthen the support structures for patients with such conditions.

It says such a registry will improve early diagnosis of rare diseases and give patients better access to specialised treatements and medications.

Currently, Malaysia has around 12,000 patients who suffer from 500 types of rare diseases.

The govt could tighten its rules on pre-paid SIM card registrations, as part of efforts to combat scam syndicates.

The Communications Minister says it may include reducing the number of SIM cards that any one person can register.

Currently, people can register up to five cards per telco.

Datuk Fahmi Fadzil says the revision is necessary due to the abuse of eSIMs among scammers.

In related news, the DPM says the cybercrime bill is expected to be tabled in parliament next month.

Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi says the bill takes a holistic approach to combatting all forms of cybercrime including fraud.

He says last year alone, losses due to online fraud stood at a massive RM2.9 billion.

The Prime Minister says govt is still finalising negotiations over the land border between Indonesia and Sabah and Sarawak.

He denied claims that Malaysia had surrendered some land to Indonesia as compensation, after three Indonesian villages in Kalimantan were included into Malaysia.

In other news

A teenager has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service for injuring the then-Dang Wangi police chief during the Kampung Sungai Baru eviction last year.

Two siblings have been charged with murder, over the discovery of 6 skeletal remains at a burned-down house in JB last month.

And Selangor police have identified the suspects in recent high-profile shootings in Klang and Banting but declined to give further details.