It is my wish to see the Ministry and Malaysia stands tall together with other countries at global arena. Recently, the Ministry of Health Malaysia received the HP Gold Standard Award for Policy-Maker of the Year 2013. The Gold Standard Awards are operated by Public Affairs Asia Ltd, which is the network for senior government relations, corporate affairs and corporate communications professionals operating across the Asia Pacific region.

The HP GOLD STANDARD AWARD FOR POLICY-MAKER OF THE YEAR recognises a policymaker in the Asia Pacific region for their gold standard achievement in innovative and consultative policymaking. Entries should illustrate how, through engagement with external stakeholders, an individual minister or policy-maker [for example a regulator] has successfully developed and implemented a specific initiative which addresses the needs or concerns of stakeholders.

The Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia were nominated by The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (Malaysian Food Manufacturing Group) for their work in spearheading initiatives to encourage Responsible Marketing of Food and Beverages to Children since end-2011.

Through consistent-meetings and open-dialogue sessions with all relevant stakeholders, the multi-sectoral TWG was able to propose the country’s first ever “Pledge on Responsible Advertising to Children,” which was eventually accepted and endorsed by the Minister of Health at the National Food Safety and Nutrition Council in December 2012. This was officially launched by the Minister of Health on 5 August 2013. This event was attended by chief executive officers of ten local and multinational food and beverage companies. This in itself demonstrates the significance of this initiative. Of equal significance is the on-going engagement by all parties in addressing the incidence of non-communicable diseases.

Congratulation to all who have contributed to this…

THE WINNER: Ministry of Health Malaysia, The Disease Control Division, (Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar and Dr. Feisul Idzwan Mustapha). Event was held in Hong Kong on Thursday, 5 December 2013.

THE SHORTLIST:
• Manish Tewari, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting in India
• Ma Ying-jeou, President, Republic of China (Taiwan)