Gear up: Motorcyclists stopping along the Penang Bridge to take shelter and to put on their raincoats as a heavy shower hits the area. — KT GOH/The Star
Gear up: Motorcyclists stopping along the Penang Bridge to take shelter and to put on their raincoats as a heavy shower hits the area. — KT GOH/The Star
Public urged to stay vigilant , prepared
GEORGE TOWN: Penang and Kedah are on full alert as Malaysia braces for the La Nina season which is expected to bring heavy rain and possible flooding until December.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said all technical agencies and rescue teams had been mobilised.
“The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has carried out maintenance of retention ponds, rivers and drains at identified flood-prone areas,” he said yesterday.
He said DID had serviced hydrological stations, telemetric systems and flood-warning equipment to ensure they function properly. Under the state Disaster Management Committee, boats, mobile pumps, lorries and four-wheel-drive vehicles are on standby for quick deployment.
Flood operation control centres at state and district levels have also been activated.
Chow said 389 temporary evacuation centres across the state could be opened at short notice, while coordination with the Welfare Department and other agencies had been strengthened.
“From the agencies to local communities, everyone has a role in alerting authorities should any incident occur,” he said.
In Kedah, Civil Defence Force deputy director Major Muhammad Suhaimi Mohd Zain urged the public to stay vigilant and prepare for possible floods.
“Keep important documents in safe places and get ready an emergency bag with medicines, torchlight, dry food, water, clothing and power banks,” he said.
He reminded motorists to drive slowly in heavy rain and to switch on headlights.
“Preparedness and caution are key to minimising risks during La Nina,” he said.
Universiti Sains Malaysia atmospheric physicist Assoc Prof Dr Yusri Yusup said La Nina would typically bring increased rainfall and extended wet seasons, though its effects differed across regions.
“Coastal areas, hilly regions and low- lying towns are especially vulnerable to flash floods, landslides and crop damage,” he said.
He noted that MetMalaysia’s National Climate Centre had forecast a brief La Nina episode in early 2026, which could disrupt rainfall patterns before conditions return to normal.
“If it materialises, heavier monsoon rains can be expected in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and parts of Sabah and Sarawak,” he said. - MRAN HILMY,
Trump’s revived lunar policy has ignited a new space race – this time with China – and the countdown is already on.
Both nations are targeting manned lunar landings by 2029, a symbolic year marking the end of Trump’s presidency and the 80th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
But unlike the Cold War’s first space race, this contest is not about planting flags. It’s about who gets to stay.
Washington’s Artemis programme aims to establish a permanent base to test life beyond Earth.
Beijing has similar ambitions – and both are zeroing in on the same spot: the moon’s South Pole, where peaks of eternal sunlight border deep, shadowed craters believed to contain frozen water.
Whichever nation establishes a foothold first could claim the region – and the resources – for itself.
“The bottom line is, yes, it’s doable,” said G. Scott Hubbard, a veteran of human space exploration and Nasa’s first “Mars czar”.
“But it’ll take intense effort and proper funding. It’s not inconceivable – but it’s a stretch.”
Nasa officials fear that funding cuts and private-sector delays could hand China an early lead.
The Trump administration has proposed slashing the agency’s research budget by nearly half, fuelling uncertainty within Nasa at a critical moment.
“There’s too much uncertainty,” said one official. “Inside headquarters, everyone’s walking on eggshells.”
In the 1960s, the US government poured 4.4% of GDP into Nasa to win the space race.
Today, the share is less than 0.5%.
White House officials insist Trump is committed to making “American leadership in space great again”.
Acting Nasa administrator and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said: “Being first and beating China matters because it sets the rules of the road. Those who lead in space lead on Earth.”
Beijing, meanwhile, is steadily ticking off milestones. It recently launched its Lanyue lander – built to carry two taikonauts (China’s term for astronauts) – validating its take-off and landing systems, according to state media.
Two tests of its new Long March 10 super-heavy rocket were declared “complete successes” by the China Manned Space Agency.
“They’re progressing on every key piece they’ll need,” said Dean Cheng, a China expert at the US Institute of Peace. “They’ve built a new rocket, a lunar lander and they’re moving faster than anyone expected.”
China has accelerated its timeline from 2035 to 2029 and plans to start building a joint lunar research base with Russia by 2030, most likely at the South Pole.
“There’s room for two powers – but not without coordination,” warned Thomas Gonzalez Roberts, a space policy scholar at Georgia Tech. “Competition for the same landing sites could turn risky.”
China’s goal, experts say, is to arrive first and establish broad control – securing access routes, communications, dig sites and even a nuclear reactor to power its base.
Nasa’s own plans depend on Elon Musk’s Starship rocket – a giant, reusable launcher built by SpaceX and central to Trump’s Artemis vision.
But repeated test failures have put the schedule in jeopardy.
“Starship has yet to reach orbit,” Hubbard said. “And once it does, it’ll need to prove it can transfer cryogenic fuel in space – something never done before. Doing all that within two years is a real stretch.”
Delays have already pushed Artemis III, the first planned lunar landing, towards the end of Trump’s term.
Artemis II – a manned orbit around the moon – is expected early next year after design flaws in Lockheed Martin’s Orion capsule were fixed.
Trump’s aides fear Beijing could deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2029, allowing it to declare a “keep-out zone” and block American operations nearby.
Duffy has ordered Nasa to prepare a competing US reactor mission by the same year.
Yet, uncertainty persists.
Trump has not nominated a permanent Nasa administrator and the White House declined to identify who is overseeing the lunar effort.
Even Trump’s broader space agenda is shaky.
His administration has proposed cancelling funding for Nasa’s Mars Sample Return mission, a cornerstone of planetary science, despite evidence that the Red Planet once supported life.
Setbacks are part of the space game, but China’s pace has turned them into a liability.
If Beijing lands first, it would not just be a symbolic victory – it could reshape power dynamics on Earth.
“I’ve been on the inside,” Hubbard said. “You waste enormous time fighting budget battles.
“If you really want to beat the Chinese, give Nasa the funding and stability it needs. You’re not going to win if every week there’s a new direction, a new budget, a new administrator.”
Then he paused. “And China may still win,” he said. “That would be another claim that they’re the dominant power in the world.” — Los Angeles Times/TNS
Victor Zhikai Gao[a] (born 1962) is a Chinese lawyer, businessman,[1] and academic who is the vice president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization (CCG).
From 1983 to 1988, Gao was a translator for Deng Xiaoping.[7] He was also a member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1983 to 1989 at the United Nations Secretariat in New York. After leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1988, Gao was recommended by Henry Kissinger to study at Yale University, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 1993. Then he was a policy adviser for the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission from 1999 to 2000.[12]
Over-60s remain dangerously under-vaccinated even as cases surges
A senior citizen receiving an Influenza vaccine at Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
Positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
PETALING JAYA: The spotlight has been on schools in the current flu season, with more than 6,000 down with influenza.
However, another vulnerable group – the elderly – also needs attention, as studies have shown that the vaccination rate is low among those aged 60 and above.
A 2023 study by researchers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s (UKM) Medical Molecular Biology Institute found that only 5.5% of 13,110 elderly participants involved had received influenza jabs.
This falls far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended coverage rate of between 50% and 90%.
The study defined the elderly as individuals aged 60 and above.
“The influenza vaccination coverage rate among the Malaysian elderly was lower than that in Singapore, Brazil and Greece,” the study said.
One of the study’s authors, Dr
Nor Azila Muhammad Azami, said influenza is often perceived as a childhood illness, which has led to its impact on the elderly being overlooked.
Nor Azila, a research fellow at the UKM institute, said Malaysia must advocate greater awareness on the benefits of influenza vaccination for Malaysian seniors.
Malaysian Influenza Working Group chairman Prof Dr Zamberi Sekawi said the country was seeing a clear rise in influenza cases, mirroring trends in neighbouring countries.
He said the spike in flu cases was driven by seasonal weather changes, low population immunity rates and increased gatherings, particularly in educational institutions.
“The current influenza positive rate is higher compared with the same period last year, indicating stronger community transmission,” he said.
According to figures from WHO’S Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Information portal, the positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia reached 20.82% during Week 29 (Sept 22-28), the highest recorded this year.
This marks a sharp rise from the 5.15% recorded in Week 27 (June 30-July 6), reflecting an ongoing upward trend.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in the country.
Prof Zamberi said flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remained at below 5%, far short of WHO’S target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi said older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remained the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the ministry to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalisations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme to cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens who can make appointments through the Mysejahtera app.
NTERACTIVE: Malaysian seniors under-vaccinated as flu cases surge
A senior citizen receiving an Influenza vaccine at Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur. —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The current flu season has put the spotlight on school students, with over 6,000 down with influenza.
However, attention is also needed for another vulnerable group - the elderly.
Authorities have not released figures on how many seniors have been infected.
However, health experts say more needs to be done to encourage them to get flu shots.
This is because studies have shown that the vaccination rate in Malaysia is very low among individuals aged 60 and above.
For instance, a 2023 study by researchers at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s Medical Molecular Biology Institute found that only 5.5% of 13,110 elderly participants in the study had received influenza vaccinations.
The vaccination figure falls far below the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended coverage rate of between 50% to 90%.
The study defined the elderly as individuals aged 60 and above.
“The influenza vaccination coverage rate among Malaysian elderly was lower than that among the elderly in Singapore, Brazil, and Greece,” the study said.
One of the study’s authors Dr Nor Azila Muhammad Azami said influenza is often perceived as a childhood illness, leading to the overlooking of its impact on the elderly.
Nor Azila who is a research fellow at the UKM institute said Malaysia needs to advocate for greater awareness about the benefits of influenza vaccination in the elderly.
Malaysian Influenza Working Group chairman Professor Dr Zamberi Sekawi said the country is seeing a clear rise in influenza cases, mirroring trends in neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore.
He said the increase in flu cases is driven by seasonal weather changes, low population immunity, and increased gatherings, particularly in educational institutions.
“The current influenza positive rate is higher compared to the same period last year, indicating stronger community transmission,” he said.
According to the figures from WHO’s Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Information portal, the positive rate for tested influenza samples in Malaysia reached 20.82% during Week 29 (Sept 22-28), the highest recorded this year.
This marks a sharp rise from the 5.15% recorded in Week 27 (June 30-July 6), reflecting an ongoing upward trend.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
As of Week 40 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Influenza A and its subtypes accounted for more than 98% of all positive influenza samples in Malaysia.
During the week, the dominant influenza strain circulating in Malaysia was Influenza A (H3), which accounted for 81.76% of all positive influenza samples detected nationwide.
Flourish logoA Flourish chart
Zamberi said that flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remains at below 5%, far short of the WHO’s target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi stressed that older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remain the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the Ministry of Health to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible, and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalizations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme, which will cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens, who can make appointments through the MySejahtera app.
On Monday (October 13), Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said that about 6,000 school students nationwide have been infected with influenza so far, prompting the closure of several schools on the advice of their respective district health offices.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
Tags / Keywords:
influenza , flu season , school students , elderly , influenza vaccinations , Malaysia , vaccination rate , World Health Organization , seasonal weather changes , Influenza A (H3) , MySejahtera app
Percentage of influenza cases by virus type
The bigger a coloured area, the more dominant a particular influenza strain was at that time.
Hover the bar graphs below for details
Percentage of influenza cases by virus type
The bigger a coloured area, the more dominant a particular influenza strain was at that time.
Hover the bar graphs below for details
Zamberi said that flu vaccination coverage among Malaysian adults remains at below 5%, far short of the WHO’s target.
“The Health Ministry’s initiative to fund flu vaccinations for older adults is excellent, but it must be further strengthened,” he said.
Zamberi stressed that older adults, young children, those with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and healthcare workers remain the most vulnerable.
“I would like to urge the Ministry of Health to increase awareness of flu among high-risk groups.
“Strengthening public awareness, making vaccines more accessible, and encouraging healthcare providers to recommend vaccination can significantly reduce flu-related hospitalizations and death,” he said.
In February, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad announced the expansion of the Influenza Immunisation Programme, which will cover not only frontline healthcare workers but also senior citizens aged 60 and above with at least one chronic illness.
The voluntary vaccination drive began on Feb 18, a move expected to benefit over 170,000 high-risk senior citizens, who can make appointments through the MySejahtera app.
On Monday (October 13), Education director-general Dr Mohd Azam Ahmad said that about 6,000 school students nationwide have been infected with influenza so far, prompting the closure of several schools on the advice of their respective district health offices.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
