Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 27 December 2025
Following a successful Better Health Better Lives (BHBL) outreach visit to an indigenous village in July 2025, the initiative has formally progressed into its next phase, Better Health Better Lives 2.0, with a stronger emphasis on research-driven and technology-enabled health solutions for indigenous communities.
After the field engagement, Louie Liu met with researchers from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM);- Malaysia’s largest public university including Associate Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nazir Ahmad, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Visual Informatics (UKM IVI), and Dr. Mohamed Afiq Hidayat bin Zailani, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, UKM, to better understand how scientific research and digital technologies could be translated into meaningful health outcomes for Malaysia’s indigenous population.
Louie Liu is the project sponsor of Better Health Better Lives, an initiative focused on improving health outcomes for underserved and indigenous communities through collaboration with academic institutions and healthcare researchers. The initiative emphasises translating community engagement into sustainable, research-driven solutions by supporting scientific studies, digital innovation, and public-health education.
During the discussion, Dr. Afiq shared findings from his landmark study on Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency among the Orang Asli — the first research in Malaysia to document the prevalence and mutation spectrum of G6PD deficiency within the Proto-Malay indigenous group. The study revealed a significantly higher prevalence than previously recognised, highlighting the need for targeted screening and early intervention.
In parallel, Associate Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nazir Ahmad and his team presented how Smart Reality Artificial Intelligence (SRAI) could be integrated into Better Health Better Lives 2.0. The technology will be used to create immersive digital experiences on the Better Health Better Lives website, allowing research findings and indigenous health challenges to be communicated in a more accessible and engaging manner to stakeholders, students, policymakers, and the public.
Following these engagements, Louie Liu successfully completed a second round of fundraising totalling RM200,000.00 to support the implementation of Better Health Better Lives 2.0.
“This marks a transition from awareness to action, where scientific research and immersive technology come together to create sustainable health impact for indigenous communities,” said Louie Liu.
The funds will support advanced research initiatives at UKM while enabling the integration of immersive digital platforms to enhance public understanding, transparency, and long-term engagement.
Better Health Better Lives 2.0 reflects a collaborative approach where academia, technology, and social responsibility converge, with the shared goal of improving health equity and quality of life for Malaysia’s indigenous communities.
