There was a plot to attack the Perlis mufti with acid but the assailants refused and only agreed to torch his car.

IPOH: The Peduli Kesihatan B40 scheme has benefited some 6,000 people who use the healthcare protection programme to get free health screening, says Dr Lee Boon Chye.

The Deputy Health Minister said since its launch about a month ago, the beneficiaries received health checks at various government and private clinics nationwide.

“The response towards the programme is encouraging. There was a clinic that did the test for 360 patients in less than a month,” he said after opening a health programme organised by the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall Women’s’ Wing here yesterday.

Dr Lee said some 1,000 doctors from the private sector were involved in the programme.

“We hope to get 800,000 people to benefit from the programme this year,” he said.

The programme is fully sponsored by the government and is aimed at helping those aged 50 and above in the B40 group who are receiving Bantuan Sara Hidup.

The other benefits include medical equipment aid, cancer treatment incentive and transportation fare subsidy.

On a separate matter, Dr Lee said the government had beefed up efforts to combat the sale of illicit alcohol.

“It involves the Health Ministry, police, Customs, and the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.

“For the Health Ministry, our focus is more on alcohol content,” he said.

It was reported that there were 13 methanol poisoning cases in Perak with five deaths involving three foreigners and two Malaysians, aged between 23 and 73, including a woman.

A total of 97 methanol poisoning cases were reported last year, with 48 deaths in Selangor, Perak and Kuala Lumpur.