ASEAN Must Boost Cooperation Against Cross-Border Biological Threats - Hanifah
MIRI, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member states must strengthen cross-border cooperation, information-sharing and emergency response coordination to ensure effective management of biological incidents.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said biological threats could spread rapidly across borders and have far-reaching consequences beyond public health, including impacts on national security, animal health, food security and the environment.
“We must remember, we rely on each other for trading, food, goods and services, and we have a shared environment such as water and the jungle.
“For this reason, we must be receptive to our neighbour's concerns, especially in ASEAN,” she said in her closing remarks at the ASEAN Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Network Cross-Border Miri Simulation Exercise (MSE) 2026 here today.
Hanifah said the three-day simulation provided an opportunity to test how agencies communicated information, assessed risks, escalated decisions, managed patients and biological samples, and coordinated responses across different operational levels.
“The shortcomings identified should serve as lessons to improve emergency preparedness rather than be viewed as failures. A successful practice drill isn't about being perfect. It's about finding areas for improvement before a real emergency hits,” she said.
The ASEAN Biological Incident Management Workshop and Miri Simulation Exercise 2026, held from Oct 12 to 16, brought together 99 participants from the ministry, various government agencies and ASEAN member states.
Organised in collaboration with the Sarawak State Health Department, the programme aimed to strengthen emergency preparedness, operational coordination and communication among agencies at national and regional levels.
-- BERNAMA
