When Malaysia’s Deputy Health Minister stepped into the cutting-edge laboratories of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) on June 30, 2025, it marked more than just a ceremonial visit. The three-hour engagement represented the solidification of a groundbreaking partnership that positions APU as an official consultant to Malaysia’s Ministry of Health, driving the nation’s most ambitious healthcare technology initiatives forward.
APU Named Official Consultant to MOH’s Health Performance Unit, Spearheading National HealthTech Advancements
The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) was honoured to host a distinguished visit from Deputy Health Minister YB Dato Lukanisman Awang Sauni on June 30, 2025. This milestone follows the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia’s appointment of APU as one of its official consultants to the Health Performance Unit (HPU) on May 26, 2025.
Accompanied by Dr Saravanan S.R. Sundaramurthy, Director of the HPU, and senior officers from the MOH, the Deputy Health Minister spent three hours at APU’s campus. The visit included extensive dialogue with the university’s senior leadership team, led by Datuk Parmjit Singh, Chief Executive Officer of APU. Moreover, the comprehensive tour of the university’s high-tech laboratories affirmed APU’s standing as a Premier Digital Tech Institution (PDTI) and strategic partner in national healthcare innovation.
Digital Transformation Reshaping Malaysia’s Healthcare Landscape
During the session, Dato Lukanisman emphasised that Malaysia’s healthcare system is undergoing a transformative shift, steered by digital innovation, strategic planning, and firm policy direction. Furthermore, he outlined ambitious plans for nationwide healthcare technology implementation.
“To enhance system interoperability, MOH is working towards the rollout of a nationwide electronic medical record (EMR) system, placing cybersecurity and data privacy at the core,” he said.
The Deputy Health Minister acknowledged that public trust remains a key hurdle, as evidenced in countries like Singapore, Australia, and parts of Europe. “Building that trust through transparent data governance is essential,” he added, highlighting the critical importance of healthcare cybersecurity measures in gaining public confidence.
Legislative Framework and AI Integration in Healthcare
The Deputy Health Minister highlighted the Ministry’s efforts in exploring legislation to regulate artificial intelligence use in healthcare. “We are ensuring that while technology supports clinical decisions, it never overrides medical autonomy,” he remarked. Additionally, he elaborated on the scope of the Ministry’s Digital Health Division, which now encompasses software and hardware development alongside policy formulation for telemedicine, medical devices, and digital standards.
He also expressed optimism about collaborations with private universities such as APU, particularly in upskilling healthcare professionals and broadening postgraduate education pathways. “Our future-ready system must be built on strong academic and industry partnerships,” he said.
APU’s Strategic Role in Healthcare Technology Development
Leading the consultancy efforts for MOH’s Health Performance Unit is APU’s Chief Enterprise & Innovation Officer, Prof Ir EUR ING Dr Vinesh Thiruchelvam, supported by Dr Julia Juremi, Head of the Forensics and Cyber Security Research Centre (FSeC), and Ms Hema Latha Krishna Nair, Head of the Asia Pacific Centre for Analytics (APCA).
During his presentation, Prof Vinesh detailed APU’s decade-long journey in healthcare innovation. Under its structured 10-year development framework, APU has strategically aligned its research and talent development with national economic drivers, especially in healthcare technology advancement.
He emphasised plans for MOH and APU to co-develop entrepreneurs within the Ministry, transforming innovations into commercial products. Among the key initiatives is the Asia Pacific Centre for Robotic Engineering (APCoRE), which pioneers biomedical robotics including:
- Brain-computer interfaces
- VR-based rehabilitation systems
- Soft robotic mobility aids
- TremorX solutions for Parkinson’s patients
Pioneering Research with Real-World Healthcare Applications
Ms Hema Latha and her team at APCA are advancing predictive and prescriptive analytics to support clinical decision-making, including disease forecasting tools and treatment rescheduling systems. Meanwhile, APU’s broader research efforts span epidemiological studies such as Type 2 diabetes prevalence, dengue outbreak modelling, and insights into nasopharyngeal carcinoma, leveraging global datasets like those from the US CDC.
Further projects include AI and machine learning collaborations with Advanced Pact on ventilator maintenance and XR technologies led by Ts Dr Siti Azreena, XR Studio Lead at APU, for immersive medical training and mental health awareness initiatives.
In addition, Ir Narendran Ramasenderan, Director of APU’s Centre for IoT and Drones (CREDIT), is developing automated hospital transport systems, medical drones, and AI disease detection tools, demonstrating APU’s multidisciplinary innovation capacity.
Addressing Malaysia’s Talent Pipeline Challenges
In his concluding remarks, Datuk Parmjit Singh underscored the importance of cultivating future-ready talent and bridging the gap between research and industry application. “Talent is the cornerstone of economic progress. At APU, we focus on producing graduates who are not only skilled but globally competitive, particularly in cybersecurity,” he said.
He responded to Dato Lukanisman’s remarks on challenges such as skilled professional emigration. “APU’s model of ‘overproducing’ qualified graduates helps counteract brain drain, with many of our alumni now contributing abroad,” he explained.
Datuk Parmjit highlighted that a significant portion of APU’s academic staff are former industry professionals, ensuring the curriculum remains relevant and practical. Consequently, APU’s strong entrepreneurship culture is reinforced through strategic partnerships and an active alumni network, creating a supportive ecosystem for innovation and economic contribution.
Inspiring Sarawakian Students in Technology Fields
In a special meeting during the visit, Dato Lukanisman, who serves as Member of Parliament for Sibuti, Sarawak, met with four APU students from Sarawak: Ryan Goh Shun Jie (Diploma in International Studies), Chong Ri Rong (BSc in Actuarial Studies with Data Analytics), Ria Annice Jara Sunting (Bachelor in Banking and Finance), and Annabel Yu Li Yin (BSc in Computer Science with AI).
Expressing pride in their academic choices, he said, “It is encouraging to see Sarawakian students pursuing studies in emerging technologies that will directly contribute to Sarawak’s digital economic transformation.” He also briefed them on the benefits and opportunities offered by the Sarawak state government.
Showcasing Advanced Healthcare Technology Infrastructure
To round off the visit, the Deputy Health Minister and his delegation toured APU’s cutting-edge facilities, including the Cybersecurity Talent Zone (CTZ), FSeC, APCA, XR Studio, and APCoRE. These centres reflect APU’s relentless pursuit of excellence and its continued contribution to Malaysia’s digital and healthcare transformation.
The visit concluded with a token presentation and group photo session, featuring key stakeholders including Ms Caroline Binti Boni, Senior Private Secretary to the Minister, and senior APU leadership team members.
A Foundation for Long-Term Healthcare Innovation
This strategic partnership between the Ministry of Health and APU represents a significant milestone in Malaysia’s healthcare technology evolution. By leveraging APU’s research capabilities, cutting-edge facilities, and industry-experienced faculty, the collaboration promises to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative healthcare solutions that will benefit Malaysian citizens for years to come. As both institutions move forward together, they are poised to set new benchmarks in healthcare technology advancement and talent development across Southeast Asia.
