The Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaya (UM), Professor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, today announced that Universiti Malaya will add and expand the number of operating theatres at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (PPUM/UMMC), following the historic success of a liver transplant surgery that saved the life of a four-month-old baby boy.
In addressing the growing demand for tertiary healthcare services, the Vice-Chancellor announced that UM will increase the number of operating theatres at PPUM, alongside strengthening infrastructure, critical care facilities and support systems for specialist medical teams.
Professor Noor Azuan emphasised that this commitment will ensure UM’s doctors, surgeons, nurses and allied health professionals continue to be empowered with the best facilities and support, enabling them to serve the people, save lives and contribute positively to the well-being of society and the nation.
The announcement was made during a special appreciation ceremony hosted by the Vice-Chancellor to honour the PPUM multidisciplinary team involved in the exceptionally high-risk and highly complex surgery performed on 25 November 2025.
According to the Director of Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, Professor Dr. Mohd Zulkiflee Abu Bakar, the infant is the youngest liver transplant recipient in Malaysia, weighing 6.2 kilograms, setting a new milestone in the nation’s medical history.
“The infant suffered acute liver failure and collapsed just minutes before the surgery commenced, requiring intensive treatment and resuscitation efforts for more than an hour in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
“After the medical team successfully stabilised him, a bold and critical clinical decision was made to proceed with the surgery, a decision that ultimately saved his life,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor shared that he had personally visited the infant and met with the parents, expressing deep pride and heartfelt appreciation for the commitment, expertise, resilience and fighting spirit demonstrated by the entire PPUM medical and surgical team.
“This extraordinary success demonstrates world-class medical expertise, precise clinical judgement during critical moments, and the strength of teamwork underpinned by humanitarian values and professional responsibility,” Professor Noor Azuan added.
He further emphasised that the achievement represents not only a clinical success, but also clear evidence of how UM’s commitment to world-class research has been translated into real impact for patients. The clinical approach and treatment framework applied in this case were based on research findings published in the international journal Pediatric Surgery International.
“These UM research outcomes have been referenced and adopted globally, and have now proven successful in saving lives through clinical implementation at PPUM. This reflects the spirit of Universiti Malaya, where high-quality research, innovation and the highest global standards are reinforced within clinical practice for the benefit of Malaysia and the world.”
The Vice-Chancellor expressed deep pride in the entire PPUM team, stressing that this success marks a major milestone in the nation’s medical history and stands as a symbol of courage, leadership, professionalism and humanity. The infant is currently under close specialist monitoring, marking a significant moment in the history of paediatric liver transplantation in Malaysia and strengthening the mission of Universiti Malaya and PPUM to continue protecting, treating and saving lives.
The infant’s father, Mr Tan Hock Siong, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all PPUM staff involved in his child’s care and treatment, and conveyed his sincere hope that his baby will continue to recover and remain healthy.
The ceremony also accorded special recognition to the leadership of the liver transplant team led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Koh Peng Soon, Chairman of the Liver Transplant Team and Senior Consultant Hepatobiliary Surgeon; Prof. Shireen Anne Nah Han Yien, Senior Consultant in Paediatric Surgery; Dr. Chew Kee Seang, Consultant in Paediatric Gastroenterology; Dr. Chuah Soo Lin, Consultant in Paediatrics (Paediatric Intensive Care); Prof. Ina Ismiarti binti Shariffuddin, Senior Consultant in Anaesthesiology; Prof. Alizan bin Abdul Khalil, Senior Consultant in Plastic Surgery; and Prof. Anushya a/p Vijayananthan, Senior Consultant in Radiology.
They represent the core leadership of more than 45 multidisciplinary team members, encompassing hepatobiliary surgery, paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, anaesthesiology, adult and paediatric intensive care, paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology, nursing, radiology, as well as the Blood Bank and Pathology units.
The ceremony also paid a solemn tribute and conveyed deepest condolences to the late Adjunct Associate Professor Dr. Yoong Boon Koon, pioneer of liver transplant services at PPUM and Founder and Head of the Liver Transplant Team in 2017. After years of dedicated effort in developing service capability and training, Dr. Yoong continued to return to PPUM on a pro bono basis to support liver transplant surgeries even after moving into the private sector, until his passing at the age of 54.
The Vice-Chancellor said that Dr. Yoong’s legacy lives on in every life saved, every surgical success and every clinician he inspired, while extending prayers and heartfelt appreciation to his wife and three children.
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NAIB CANSELOR UM UMUM PENAMBAHAN DEWAN BEDAH BAHARU DI PPUM, SUSULAN KEJAYAAN BERSEJARAH PEMBEDAHAN PEMINDAHAN HATI MENYELAMATKAN NYAWA BAYI
Naib Canselor Universiti Malaya (UM), Profesor Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman hari ini mengumumkan bahawa UM akan menambah dan memperluas bilangan dewan bedah di Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM/UMMC), susulan kejayaan bersejarah pembedahan pemindahan hati yang menyelamatkan nyawa seorang bayi lelaki berusia empat bulan.
Bagi memenuhi keperluan perkhidmatan kesihatan tertiari yang semakin meningkat, Naib Canselor mengumumkan bahawa UM akan menambah bilangan dewan bedah di PPUM, di samping memperkukuh infrastruktur, kemudahan rawatan kritikal dan sistem sokongan bagi pasukan kepakaran perubatan.
Profesor Azuan menegaskan bahawa komitmen ini akan memastikan kepakaran doktor, pakar bedah, jururawat dan anggota kesihatan UM terus diperkasa dengan kemudahan dan sokongan terbaik untuk terus berkhidmat kepada rakyat, menyelamatkan nyawa serta memberi impak positif kepada kesejahteraan masyarakat dan negara.
Pengumuman tersebut dibuat dalam majlis penghargaan khas yang dihoskan oleh Naib Canselor bagi meraikan pasukan pelbagai disiplin PPUM yang terlibat dalam pembedahan berisiko tinggi dan amat kompleks yang dilaksanakan pada 25 November.
Menurut Pengarah Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya, Profesor Dr. Mohd Zulkiflee Abu Bakar, bayi tersebut merupakan penerima pemindahan hati termuda dan seberat 6.2 kilogram, sekali gus menjadi rekod dalam sejarah perubatan Malaysia.
“Bayi tersebut mengalami kegagalan hati akut dan rebah beberapa minit sebelum pembedahan dijalankan, memerlukan usaha rawatan rapi serta bantuan resusitasi selama lebih sejam di Unit Rawatan Rapi Pediatrik.
“Selepas pasukan perubatan berjaya menstabilkannya, keputusan klinikal yang berani dan kritikal dibuat untuk meneruskan pembedahan, langkah yang akhirnya berjaya menyelamatkan nyawanya,” katanya.
Naib Canselor memaklumkan bahawa beliau telah menziarahi bayi berkenaan dan bertemu ibu bapanya, serta menyatakan rasa amat bangga dan terharu terhadap komitmen, kecekapan, ketabahan dan semangat juang seluruh pasukan perubatan dan pembedahan PPUM.
“Kejayaan luar biasa ini membuktikan kepakaran bertaraf dunia, ketelitian klinikal pada saat getir serta kekuatan kerjasama berpasukan yang didukung oleh nilai kemanusiaan dan tanggungjawab profesional,” tambah Profesor Azuan.
Naib Canselor juga turut menegaskan bahawa kejayaan ini bukan sahaja kejayaan klinikal, malah membuktikan bagaimana komitmen UM terhadap penyelidikan bertaraf dunia telah diterjemahkan kepada impak sebenar kepada pesakit. Pendekatan klinikal dan kerangka rawatan yang digunakan dalam kes ini berasaskan dapatan penyelidikan yang diterbitkan dalam jurnal antarabangsa Pediatric Surgery International.
“Hasil penyelidikan UM ini telah dirujuk serta diguna pakai di peringkat global dan kini terbukti berjaya menyelamatkan nyawa melalui pelaksanaan klinikal di PPUM. Ini mencerminkan semangat UM, di mana penyelidikan berkualiti tinggi, inovasi dan piawaian global tertinggi diperkukuh dalam amalan rawatan klinikal bagi manfaat Malaysia dan dunia.
Naib Canselor menyatakan rasa bangga yang mendalam terhadap seluruh pasukan PPUM, sambil menegaskan bahawa kejayaan ini merupakan mercu tanda besar dalam sejarah perubatan negara serta lambang keberanian, kepimpinan, profesionalisme dan kemanusiaan. Bayi tersebut kini berada dalam pemantauan rapi pakar, menandakan satu detik penting dalam sejarah pemindahan hati pediatrik Malaysia dan memperkukuh misi Universiti Malaya dan PPUM untuk terus melindungi, merawat dan menyelamatkan nyawa.
Bapa kepada bayi tersebut, Tan Hock Siong mengucapkan terima kasih kepada kesemua staf PPUM yang terlibat kerana membantu bayi beliau dan beliau sangat berharap bayi beliau terus sihat.
Majlis tersebut turut memberi pengiktirafan khas kepada barisan kepimpinan pasukan pemindahan hati yang diketuai oleh Prof. Madya Dr. Koh Peng Soon, Pengerusi Pasukan Pemindahan Hati & Pakar Perunding Kanan Pembedahan Hepatobilier; Prof. Shireen Anne Nah Han Yien, Pakar Perunding Kanan Pembedahan Pediatrik; Dr. Chew Kee Seang, Pakar Perunding Pediatrik Gastroenterologi; Dr. Chuah Soo Lin, Pakar Perunding Pediatrik (Rawatan Rapi Pediatrik); Prof. Ina Ismiarti binti Shariffuddin, Pakar Perunding Kanan Bius; Prof. Alizan bin Abdul Khalil, Pakar Perunding Kanan Pembedahan Plastik; serta Prof. Anushya a/p Vijayananthan, Pakar Perunding Kanan Radiologi.
Mereka mewakili teras kepimpinan daripada lebih 45 anggota pasukan pelbagai disiplin yang turut melibatkan bidang hepatobilier, pembedahan pediatrik, pembedahan plastik, anestesiologi, ICU dewasa, ICU pediatrik, pediatrik gastroenterologi & hepatologi, kejururawatan, radiologi serta unit Bank Darah dan Patologi.
Majlis turut menzahirkan penghormatan penuh takziah kepada mendiang Professor Madya Adjung Dr. Yoong Boon Koon, perintis perkhidmatan pemindahan hati di PPUM serta Pengasas dan Ketua Pasukan Pemindahan Hati pada tahun 2017. Setelah sekian lama berjuang membangunkan keupayaan perkhidmatan dan latihan, beliau terus kembali ke PPUM secara pro bono bagi menyokong pembedahan pemindahan hati walaupun telah berada dalam sektor swasta sehingga pemergiannya pada usia 54 tahun. Naib Canselor menyifatkan legasi Dr. Yoong hidup dalam setiap nyawa yang diselamatkan, setiap kejayaan pembedahan dan setiap warga klinikal yang terus diilhamkannya, sambil menyampaikan doa serta penghargaan kepada isteri dan tiga orang anak beliau.