Malaysia to Prepare for Biological, Chemical Threats

Malaysia is expected to form a task force comprised of government officials and public health experts to counter potential threats from biological and chemical weapons, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, May 17).

“The aim is to come up with strategic measures … to detect and contain the threat from viruses, biochemicals and (biological and chemical) weapons which can undermine the nation’s economic and political stability,” Zainal Abidin Zin, Malaysian deputy defense minister, told the New Straits Times.

The task force is expected to begin work by 2006. It will consist of health, defense, foreign affairs, agriculture and science and technology officials, as well as scientists and other experts from research institutes and universities.

It is not clear whether the task force is being formed to counter specific biological or chemical threats. However, last year Malaysian officials carefully monitored internal SARS and bird flu outbreaks (Associated Press/Yahoo News, May 31).

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