Miri:ASEAN member states need to strengthen cross-border cooperation, information sharing, and emergency response coordination to effectively manage biological incidents.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib emphasized that biological threats can quickly cross borders and have significant impacts not only on public health but also on national security, animal health, food security, and the environment.

Speaking at the ASEAN Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Network Cross-Border Miri Simulation Exercise (MSE) 2026, Hanifah highlighted the importance of being attentive to neighboring countries' concerns, given the shared reliance on trade, food, goods, services, and common environments like water and jungles.

The three-day simulation exercise allowed agencies to test their communication, risk assessment, decision escalation, patient and biological sample management, and response coordination across different operational levels. Hanifah pointed out that the exercise's identified shortcomings should be seen as opportunities for improvement rather than failures, as the goal is to enhance preparedness before a real emergency occurs.

The ASEAN Biological Incident Management Workshop and Miri Simulation Exercise 2026, held from October 12 to 16, included 99 participants from the ministry, various government agencies, and ASEAN member states. Organized in collaboration with the Sarawak State Health Department, the program aimed to bolster emergency preparedness, operational coordination, and communication among agencies on both national and regional levels.