Ban asbestos campaigners in Malaysia have united to form a ban asbestos network. This coalition comprises trade unions, consumer associations, and health civil society organisations that have come together to form a unified voice in support of the Malaysian government’s efforts to enact a ban on asbestos. This alliance will consolidate technical expertise, coordinate local advocacy efforts, and present a powerful, non-partisan front for public health and worker safety to the Malaysian government and the community.
A key focus is to maintain pressure on the Malaysian government and counter the influence of the chrysotile industry, which has derailed previous attempts to enact an asbestos ban in Malaysia. Speaking to local media, Mageswari Sangaralingam, chief executive of the Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), a founding member of the network and a Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA partner, said:
“CAP has been advocating for an outright ban on asbestos for decades. In fact, we had… a memorandum submitted to the government in July 2024 (that) renewed our call for all forms of asbestos to be banned.
“We believe that the chrysotile industry group derailed the (previous) proposal for a ban in Malaysia by diminishing the dangers of chrysotile. However, it is evident that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are hazardous to human health.”
Since its establishment in December 2025, the network has actively encouraged the newly appointed Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Arthur Joseph Kurup, to prioritise and finalise a complete ban on all forms of asbestos by 2027. In early 2026, campaigners launched a media blitz urging the government to follow through on its commitments to the asbestos transition with clear action.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is working with the ban asbestos network members to secure a comprehensive national ban on the production, importation, and use of all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, in Malaysia by 2027. This effort is supported by the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity Fund (IPEF) through a technical assistance and economic cooperation project funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).