PUTRAJAYA, May 17 — Approximately 59.2 per cent of workers who underwent the Health Screening Programme organised by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) between 2023 and 2025 were found to be overweight or obese, said Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
The findings also showed that about 19 per cent of them had diabetes, while 17.45 per cent suffered from high blood pressure.
He said the analysis further revealed that about 59.24 per cent of those screened had high cholesterol levels, with the risk profile mainly among workers aged 40 to 59.
“We need to realise that the pre-retirement phase is a productive period, but at the same time, it is also a critical period for the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
“In fact, the Health Ministry has also disclosed that only 14.7 per cent of senior citizens in Malaysia are currently able to achieve healthy ageing,” he said when launching the Socso Run and Ride 2026 programme in conjunction with Workers’ Day 2026 today.
Also present are the Human Resources Ministry (MOHR) deputy secretary-general (policy and international) Mohd Shaharin Umar; Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Rahimi Ismail, SOCSO chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, and SOCSO group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
Khairul also voiced concern over cancer, which remains the third leading cause of death among Malaysians and is now increasingly affecting younger people.
He urged for greater awareness of the dangers of NCDs and advised workers not to take the risks lightly, while encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
On the SOCSO Run and Ride 2026, the deputy minister said the programme had shown positive momentum, with today’s participation rate indicating that participants in their 40s and 50s made up nearly 30 per cent of the total turnout.
“This is a very encouraging development, and I hope all workers, regardless of age, will continue to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
“This is because workers’ health is a key determinant of our productivity and indirectly influences socio-economic sustainability,” Khairul said.
The ninth edition of the SOCSO Run and Ride 2026 recorded its largest participation to date, with 12,000 participants joining the programme, reflecting the MOHR's support in driving collective lifestyle changes.
