3rd September 2026 - 6 min read
The RinggitPlus Team were at the Concourse Area of Medan MARA in Kuala Lumpur earlier today for the official launch of the LIAM Nationwide Blood Donation and Health Awareness Campaign 2026.
The campaign is run by the Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) with its 16 member companies and the National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA). They are working with Pusat Darah Negara (PDN), the national blood centre. The campaign runs from 1 September to 30 November 2026. This is the 10th year LIAM has run it.
Ms Lau Chin Ching, Director of the Consumer and Market Conduct Department at Bank Negara Malaysia, officially launched the campaign. She was joined by LIAM President Ms Pauline Teoh, Pusat Darah Negara Director Dr Nor Nazahah Mahmud and NAMLIFA President Robin Woh, with MARA hosting the event at Medan MARA.
LIAM President Ms Pauline Teoh thanked everyone who came forward to give blood, and said that giving blood takes only a little of your time but can make a big difference to someone who needs it.
At Medan MARA, LIAM is holding a three-day event from 2 to 4 September. It is open from 10am to 4.30pm each day, so you can still drop by tomorrow for the free health screenings, health talks or blood donation.
There are five health booths, run by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia, ROSE Foundation, KPJ Healthcare Group, Medic Physio Empire and SALAM Shah Alam Specialist Hospital. You can get free health screenings, health consultations and posture checks, speak to health experts and donate blood, all in one place. Everything is open to the public and free.
LIAM also runs daily health talks from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, on topics like cervical cancer awareness, cancer prevention and managing stress.
There is a SEMAK KASIH counter at the event too. This is a service set up by LIAM and the Malaysian Takaful Association that helps families check if a loved one who has passed away left behind any life insurance or takaful (its Islamic version) that was never claimed. If you think a relative may have had a policy, you can check whether there are any unclaimed policies through SEMAK KASIH.
As part of the RinggitPlus team, I went through some of the health checks myself. Here is what you can expect if you go.
First, they check your blood pressure. Your height and weight are then used to work out your BMI (body mass index), a rough check of whether your weight sits in a healthy range for your height.
Next is a Smokerlyzer test. You breathe into a small device that measures carbon monoxide in your exhaled breath. The reading gives you a rough idea of your lung health. The staff told me that a reading of 1 to 6 is considered healthy, while anything above 6 is considered unhealthy.
There is also a test for colorectal cancer, which is cancer of the colon or rectum, the lower part of your gut. You get a small kit to take home. I thought this meant handing over a whole stool (poo) sample, but it does not. You poke the stick into three different spots of the sample, put it back in the tube, then throw the rest away. That little bit is all they need.
The lab then checks it for traces of blood you cannot see with your eyes, which can be an early sign of colorectal cancer. You pay a RM20 deposit when you take the kit and get it back once you return the tube. Your results are sent to you on WhatsApp.
You can get tested for hepatitis B and hepatitis C too. These are two viruses that can harm your liver, and they spread through blood and body fluids. The staff take a small drop of blood from your finger and put it into a testing kit. They patiently explained the difference between the two to me.
For women, there is a breast examination in a private room, done one person at a time. The doctor also shows you how to check your own breasts at home. Getting to know how your body normally feels helps you notice any changes quickly, which is one of the simplest ways to look after yourself.
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia gave a health talk called “Stay Informed, Stay Healthy”, led by Dr Kruthika Jaisankar, a Medical Programme Officer at the society.
She explained that the five most common cancers in Malaysia are breast, colorectal, lung, lymphoma and nasopharyngeal cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. For men, colorectal cancer is the most common, with lung cancer in second place.
One of her main points was that many cancers in Malaysia are found late. According to the society, about one in two breast cancers, seven in 10 colorectal cancers and nine in 10 lung cancers are only found at a later stage, when they are harder to treat.
She also went through the warning signs to look out for. These include losing weight without trying to, a lump that stays in your body, and feeling tired all the time for no clear reason. If you notice any of these, it is worth seeing a doctor.
Dr Kruthika said about 30% of cancers can be prevented through daily habits, such as going for regular screening, exercising, eating healthy food, not smoking and drinking less alcohol. Your age, sex and family history can also affect your risk.
A serious illness like cancer can affect your health as well as your finances. Treatment can be expensive, especially if you need ongoing care. Getting health checks regularly gives you a chance to spot potential problems earlier and seek medical advice if something looks unusual.
Going for a health check is one way to look after your health, while having the right insurance can help you prepare for the financial side of an illness. A medical card can cover eligible hospital and treatment costs, so you don’t have to pay the entire bill out of your own pocket.
If you’re thinking about the financial side of serious illnesses, critical illness insurance can pay a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a covered condition such as cancer, a heart attack or a stroke.
If you want to take part, the event at Medan MARA is open until 4 September, from 10am to 4.30pm, with free health screenings and blood donation. Other blood donation drives and health activities will also be held around the country until 30 November, with dates and locations available on the LIAM website. The tests at the event are a starting point rather than a full diagnosis, so follow up with a doctor if you’re concerned about any result.
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Christina writes about personal finance with an eye for making the complicated feel straightforward. She is drawn to the everyday money decisions people face and genuinely enjoys finding the clearest way to explain them. Between articles, she is probably napping, on a hiking trail, or terrorising her sister’s cats.
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