BERTAM, PENANG, 13 March 2026 – The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) community, along with strategic partners, and the surrounding community recently gathered for the Majlis Iftar Perdana programme organised by the USM Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Centre for Cancer (Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, PKTAAB), held at the Kapok Asmara Centre, in Bertam, Penang.

The programme, which had gathered people from different walks of life not only serves as a platform for breaking fast together, but also reflects a sense of togetherness, social concern, and the commitment of the university to become closer to society through initiatives in health, education, and welfare.

USM Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Abdul Rahman Mohamed said, PKTAAB is now moving on the right track towards becoming the main referral centre in the treatment and research on cancer in the country.

He also congratulated all the staff of PKTAAB on the proclamation of the Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (IPPT) name into Pusat Kanser Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (PKTAAB) on 22 January 2026 at Istana Arau in Perlis.

Meanwhile, Director of PKTAAB, Associate Professor Dr. Bakiah Shaharuddin said, the rapid growth of PKTAAB after it was established as IPPT in 2002 reflected the continued commitment by USM in bolstering the field of medicine, especially regarding the treatment of cancer.

She said, PKTAAB is now equipped with a variety of high-technology medical equipment especially for radiotherapy such as a ‘brachytherapy afterloader,’ a ‘superficial radiative hyperthermia’ equipment that could provide a more effective treatment for cancer, especially for head and neck cancers which has progressed, as well as a second radiotherapy linear accelerator (LINAC) equipment that could assist in reducing a patient’s waiting time to obtain radiotherapy treatment.

She continued, the treatment utilising the ‘brachytherapy’ method is now being extended to deal with cancer of the liver, oesophagus, cervix, and prostate.

She also expressed her thanks to the PKTAAB ‘Ihya’ Ramadan’ Committee on the successful organisation of various activities throughout Ramadan, including the preparation of meals for breaking of fast, ‘tadarus’ al-Quran, scholarly lectures, and handing of contributions to those in need, as well as the grand Iftar Perdana programme.

Contributions were also extended to the staff, students and the local community by the Vice-Chancellor as a gesture of care, and also contributions from the representative of Etiqa, presented as part of the corporate social responsibility of the company.

The programme was further enriched by the recitation of verses from the al‑Quran by Ustaz Mohd Lokman Mukhtar, offering the audience a deeper appreciation of the spirit of Ramadan.

Also present at the programme were Deputy Vice-Chancellor Industry and Community Network, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Student Development Affairs and Alumni, Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya; Director of USM Pusat Islam (Islamic Centre), Ustaz Zayd Zhari; along with invited guests of honour, community members, key officials, staff and students of PKTAAB.

Original Text: Nurul Amira Mohd Ali/Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin/Photo: Norizan Ishak & Noorsyuhada Abdul Rahim