Conversations about health are not always easy, particularly when they involve conditions that many people may know about but rarely discuss openly.
In Malaysia, the numbers underline why these conversations matter. According to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2017–2021, prostate cancer is the third most common cancer among Malaysian men. Of cases with available staging information, 63.3 percent were diagnosed at Stage Three or Four.
Against this backdrop, RSGC joined the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) on Saturday, 4 July 2026, for a Health Talk on Prostate Cancer at the Banquet Hall, bringing Members and guests together for an afternoon centred on awareness, early detection and preventive health.
The programme formed part of MGA’s “Swing for Blue” initiative under the Women in Golf Charter (WIGC), in collaboration with the University Malaya Prostate Cancer Foundation. With MGA noting that approximately 70 percent of Malaysia’s golfing population comprises men, the golfing community provides a relevant platform for conversations about prostate cancer and men’s health.
The programme formed part of MGA’s “Swing for Blue” initiative under the Women in Golf Charter (WIGC), in collaboration with the University Malaya Prostate Cancer Foundation. With MGA noting that approximately 70 percent of Malaysia’s golfing population comprises men, the golfing community provides a relevant platform for conversations about prostate cancer and men’s health.
The afternoon opened with a welcome to Members and guests and introductions to Merina Gan, Vice President of MGA and Chairman of WIGC, and the two speakers, Professor Dr. Ong Teng Aik and Dr. Yuen Kai Cheong. Merina then delivered the welcome address, setting the stage for an afternoon that would move from understanding prostate cancer to considering the wider role of preventive health.
Professor Dr. Ong, Professor of Surgery and Consultant Urologist at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, led the first session, Understanding Prostate Cancer, Risk Factors & Early Detection. A specialist in urologic oncology, he shared insights into prostate cancer, its risk factors and the importance of early detection.
The conversation then broadened with Dr. Yuen, a General Practitioner and Nutrigenomics Practitioner with an interest in preventive medicine and personalised healthcare. His session, Lifestyle, Nutrition & Prevention Strategies, explored how genetics, nutrition and lifestyle can play a role in supporting long-term health and wellbeing.
Among those attending were MGA President Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, Captain Lee Kok Kwan and Past Captain Chang See Tum, reflecting support from both MGA and RSGC for greater awareness of men’s health within the golfing community.
The interest in the subject was particularly evident during the question-and-answer sessions. Members and guests engaged actively with the speakers, with a lively exchange of questions on prostate cancer screening, preventive healthcare, nutrition and lifestyle. The discussions gave participants an opportunity not only to hear from the experts, but also to raise the health questions that mattered to them.
Importantly, the programme went beyond raising awareness. Participants were also offered complimentary Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) screening, providing an opportunity to turn what they had heard during the afternoon into action.
Eleven individuals underwent the screening, with two recording elevated PSA levels. Both were subsequently contacted to facilitate appropriate medical follow-up.
It was a tangible reminder of why early detection matters.
The programme concluded with an appreciation presentation to the speakers, followed by a group photograph and an opportunity for Members, guests and speakers to continue their conversations over refreshments.
Health awareness can begin with something as simple as a conversation — a question someone decides to ask, a screening someone chooses to take or a decision to pay closer attention to one’s health.
For those who joined us that afternoon, we hope the conversation will continue long after the session itself.
