PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia recorded 55,399 dengue cases in 2025, a significant 54.7% decline compared with 122,423 cases in 2024, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
He said deaths due to dengue complications also fell by 59.8%, with 47 fatalities compared with 117 previously.
In a statement, Ahmad Zahid said this was presented at the Cabinet Committee on National Health meeting, which he chaired yesterday.
“Although this achievement is encouraging, all parties including government agencies, local authorities, the private sector and the community must continue to strengthen efforts to maintain environmental cleanliness,” he said, Bernama reported.
In this regard, he said the Health Ministry would implement the Dengue-Free Community initiative in selected localities through three main strategies – environmental management, empowering community engagement and entomological intervention.
He said the meeting also stressed the importance of complying with the Design and Building Structure Review Note issued by the Public Works Department in all development projects to prevent the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes.
On the meeting, Ahmad Zahid said it was convened specifically to address the health needs of the people.
“This meeting marks the beginning of a new phase in national health governance, with the integration of three previously separate main committees related to the National Healthy Malaysia Agenda (ANMS), Dengue and Child Malnutrition, now unified under a single strategic governance framework.
“This integration reflects the government’s commitment to address the people’s health needs holistically, through close collaboration between the federal and state governments under the Whole of Nation approach,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the government remains committed to ensuring well-being through various initiatives implemented to enhance health literacy.
“This includes the implementation of the ANMS Roadshow, the Malaysia Healthy and Prosperous Month celebration, outreach activities and health promotion and advocacy throughout the First Half-Term (2021-2025).
“These efforts are also supported through the involvement of MyChampion volunteers as well as improved access to services through the development of Wellness Hubs and the procurement of Wellness on Wheels,” he said.
For the Second Half-Term (2026-2030), Ahmad Zahid said ANMS would be strengthened with a Behavioural Insights approach based on behavioural science through the expansion of targeted initiatives to reduce the prevalence of diseases and health risk factors, thereby improving the quality of life of people of all ages.
“The government is committed to addressing the burden of malnutrition, but this effort requires strong synergy from parents as the key stakeholders.
“We invite parents to come forward as proactive volunteers to shoulder shared responsibility in ensuring that the quality and standards of nutrition at childcare centres are always safeguarded, for the future of the children we cherish,” he added.
