Members, students and alumni of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine (SPM), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, played prominent roles at the 24th Asian Congress on Occupational Health (ACOH 2026), held from 5–8 August 2026 in Kuching, Sarawak.
Under the theme “Shaping a Sustainable Future: Global Perspectives on Occupational Health”, the Congress attracted more than 1,400 participants from 35 countries, bringing together occupational health professionals, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders. Pre-Congress activities were held at venues including Hilton Kuching, while the main Congress took place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
Strong Leadership from SPM
The Department was well represented in the scientific leadership and organisation of ACOH 2026. Prof Dr Victor Hoe served as Scientific Chair, contributing to the development and coordination of the Congress scientific programme. He also moderated Forum 2: “Climate Change and Occupational Health: The Role of Environmental Sustainability” and served as the person-in-charge for the Aviation Medicine and Diving Medicine pre-Congress workshops.
Prof (Adj) Dr Marzuki Isahak served as Scientific Co-Chair, playing an important role in shaping and delivering the scientific programme. A former Associate Professor in the Department’s Occupational and Environmental Health discipline, he is currently Principal (Occupational Health) and Health Advisor at PETRONAS, bringing extensive experience in occupational medicine and health management within the oil and gas industry.
His contribution extended to the pre-Congress programme, where he was involved in the Spirometry Workshop, supporting capacity building in an important component of occupational respiratory health surveillance. Spirometry remains a fundamental tool for assessing lung function and detecting work-related respiratory impairment, particularly among workers exposed to dusts, fumes, chemicals and other airborne occupational hazards.
During the main Congress, Prof Marzuki also contributed to the scientific programme, including chairing the symposium “Occupational Health in the Informal Economy: A Global Perspective.” His involvement across the organisational, training and scientific components of ACOH 2026 reflected the strong links between academic occupational health, professional practice and industry.
Assoc Prof Dr Lim Yin Cheng served as a Scientific Committee Member and also co-chaired the symposium “Cross-Cultural Approaches to Managing Occupational Health in Multinational Companies.” Datin Dr Mona Lisa binti Md Rasip and Dr Faiz Baharudin contributed as committee members.
Prof Azlan Darus: Connecting Prevention, Rehabilitation and Social Protection
Prof (Adj) Dr Azlan Darus, an alumnus and Adjunct Professor of the Department, made several important contributions to the scientific programme. He is currently Head of the Prevention, Medical and Rehabilitation Division at the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) and is a public health specialist and occupational health physician. His work encompasses workplace safety and health, injury prevention, disability management, medical services and rehabilitation.
At the PERKESO-sponsored Symposium 4, “Bridging Recovery and Work: Disability Management and Return to Work: Models in South-East Asia”, Prof Azlan presented on “Integrating Disability Management into Occupational Health: From Prevention to Sustainable Return-to-Work.” The session highlighted the importance of connecting prevention, rehabilitation and workplace reintegration rather than viewing them as separate stages of worker health.
He also served as a panellist for Forum 1, “Occupational Health Policies Across Cultures: Challenges and Solutions”, joining international experts from Malaysia, Australia and the United Kingdom in discussing the challenges of developing occupational health policies across different social, regulatory and workplace contexts.
Celebrating Student and Alumni Achievements
The Department’s presence extended beyond its academic staff. Several current students and alumni presented oral and poster papers, demonstrating the breadth of research undertaken within the SPM community and its relevance to contemporary occupational and public health challenges.
The Congress brought particular success for several presenters associated with the Department. Alumna Dr Rosnawati Muhamad Robat of the Selangor State Health Department won First Prize for Best Poster in the Open Category, receiving RM1,500.
Dr Tham Sin Wan of the Institute for Public Health, National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, won Second Prize for Best Poster in the Open Category, receiving RM1,000, while Airin binti Ab Rahman received a Consolation Prize for Best Poster in the Open Category, with a prize of RM250.
Among the Department’s current students, Dr Azfa ‘Ammar Elias, a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student, achieved Second Place for Best Student Oral Presentation, receiving RM1,000.
These achievements reflect not only individual excellence but also the continuing contribution of postgraduate education, research mentorship and alumni engagement to occupational and public health practice.
Renewing Friendships Across Asia and Beyond
Beyond its scientific programme, ACOH 2026 provided something equally valuable: an opportunity for occupational health colleagues to meet again, renew longstanding friendships and establish new professional connections.
Kuching provided an opportunity to reconnect with friends and professional colleagues from across the Asian region, while also welcoming participants from further afield, including the United Kingdom and Ghana. Informal conversations between sessions, over meals and during social activities complemented the formal scientific programme, allowing ideas to be exchanged and potential collaborations to develop.
These relationships are particularly important in occupational health, where many emerging challenges—from climate change and migrant worker health to new technologies and changing employment arrangements—cross national boundaries and require regional and global cooperation.
A Memorable Gala Dinner
A highlight beyond the scientific programme was the ACOH 2026 Gala Dinner on Friday evening, 7 August 2026. After two days of the main Congress, the dinner provided delegates with an opportunity to strengthen professional friendships and international networks in a more informal setting.
Set against the distinctive cultural backdrop of Sarawak, the evening celebrated the collegiality and international collaboration that characterised the Congress. Such interactions are an important complement to formal scientific exchange, creating relationships that can lead to future research collaborations, professional partnerships and regional occupational health initiatives.
Shaping the Future of Occupational Health
ACOH 2026 highlighted how occupational health is increasingly interconnected with climate change, sustainability, digital transformation, disability management, social protection and changing patterns of employment. These challenges require occupational health professionals to work beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries and engage with employers, governments, communities and other sectors.
The participation of SPM academics, adjunct professors, students and alumni, as scientific leaders, committee members, chairs, moderators, discussants, speakers, presenters and award recipients, demonstrated the Department’s continuing contribution to occupational health in Malaysia and internationally.
The Department congratulates all its members, students and alumni who contributed to ACOH 2026 and acknowledges the ACOH 2026 Organising and Scientific Committees, speakers, moderators, facilitators, partners, volunteers and delegates for making the Congress a successful platform for advancing occupational health across the region.
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