AGP Executive Report

Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules to make cigarette and vape packaging less appealing, including plain packaging and stronger health warnings aimed at reducing youth smoking. Public Health Funding: The Philippines has secured an $18.85m grant from the Pandemic Fund to boost pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, with work led by the health and agriculture departments. Healthcare Experience Research: A multi-center study examines how gender differences shape satisfaction with nursing home services among disabled elderly inpatients across different disease categories. Environment & Health Rights: ASEAN adopted a Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, but implementation is now the key challenge for protecting frontline communities. Brunei Leadership: Brunei’s Sultan named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet in a major reshuffle, signalling leadership continuity. Regional Safety & Justice: Indonesia and Brunei police coordinated over a fatal assault case involving Brunei nationals in Jakarta, with possible trial in Indonesia still under discussion. Conservation Monitoring: A project in Brunei and other countries is using bioacoustics to track whether forest ecosystems remain healthy beyond what satellites can show. Sports Tourism (Local Interest): 40 participants will compete in Labuan’s Super Novice 4X4 Challenge, drawing drivers from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia is drafting rules to curb youth smoking, including plain packaging and stronger health warnings for cigarettes and vapes. Healthcare & Ageing: A multi-centre study looks at gender differences in satisfaction among disabled elderly inpatients across multiple disease groups and care domains. Food Security: ASEAN is pushing the Asean Food Security Alliance (AFSA) to turn food-security plans into practical, scalable market solutions amid climate and conflict pressures. Public Health Preparedness: The Philippines has signed a Pandemic Fund grant to strengthen pandemic detection, reporting and response, with work led by health and agriculture agencies. Local Governance & Leadership: Brunei’s cabinet reshuffle names Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and Prince Abdul Malik to a new cabinet role, signalling leadership continuity. Regional Safety Coordination: Indonesia and Brunei police coordinated on a fatal assault case involving Brunei nationals in Jakarta. Sports & Wellness Tourism: Labuan’s Super Novice 4X4 Challenge kicks off today with 40 drivers from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, featuring seven stages over three days. Environment & Conservation: A new bioacoustics approach is building acoustic baselines for intact forests, including pilot work in Brunei.

Tobacco Control (Indonesia): Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging standards to make products less appealing to children and teens and curb smoking initiation. Public Health & Policy (Brunei/Region): Brunei’s cabinet reshuffle names Prince Abdul Mateen as Foreign Minister, with broader leadership changes that may shape future health and social priorities. Healthcare Access & Care Quality (Study): A multi-center study looks at gender differences in satisfaction with nursing home services among disabled elderly inpatients across disease categories, highlighting how care experience can vary by gender and condition. Food Security (ASEAN): Amid climate shocks and conflict-linked supply risks, ASEAN is pushing the Asean Food Security Alliance (AFSA) to move from plans into scalable market solutions using agricultural tech and sustainable farming. Health Diplomacy (Sarawak–China): Sarawak Deputy Premier Dr Sim says Sarawak could set up trade and tourism offices in China and is seeking support for Fudan Medical School/Medical Centre plans in Miri. Nutrition & Consumer Health (Singapore): Yakult Singapore will replace its long-running orange flavour with a peach mix starting July 2026, with orange production ending end-June. Bioacoustics for Conservation (Brunei): A Soundscape Baselines Project is using continuous forest recordings, including sites in Brunei, to detect ecological change beyond what satellites can show. Pandemic Preparedness (Philippines): The Philippines signed an $18.85m grant to strengthen pandemic detection and response capacity, implemented by Health and Agriculture agencies.

Brunei Governance: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah reshuffled his Cabinet, naming Prince Abdul Mateen as Foreign Minister and appointing Prince Abdul Malik to new government roles, a move widely seen as leadership continuity for the next generation. Tobacco Control (Region): Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging to reduce appeal to children and teens. Food Security (Region): Asean is pushing the Asean Food Security Alliance to strengthen food security as the Middle East conflict and an upcoming “super” El Niño threaten Southeast Asia’s food system. Healthcare Research: A multi-center study examines how gender differences affect satisfaction with nursing home services among disabled elderly inpatients across different disease categories. Public Health Funding (Region): The Philippines signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to boost pandemic preparedness, with the project led by the health and agriculture departments. Conservation Monitoring: A new bioacoustics approach is building acoustic baselines for intact forests, including pilot work in Brunei, to better track biodiversity changes. Ocean Health (Local): Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched at UBD under “Ocean of Opportunities,” focusing on marine conservation, livelihoods, and blue economy initiatives. Agri Storage (Region): Pakistan launched an agri-storage financing facility backed by private capital and credit guarantees to cut post-harvest losses.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging and standardised designs, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teenagers and curb smoking initiation. Brunei Leadership & Health Context: Brunei’s Sultan has named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet in a major reshuffle, with the move widely seen as preparing for the next generation amid the Sultan’s recent health issues. Brunei Governance & Policy Direction: The same reshuffle also created new coordinating minister roles and restructured the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism into the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as Brunei pushes ahead with Wawasan 2035. Ocean & Community Health Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 was launched with a month-long programme on blue economy, marine conservation, and community livelihoods—key for food security and healthier coastal ecosystems. Regional Diplomacy: India highlighted the ARF framework and support for dialogue and diplomacy at a senior officials meeting in Manila, focusing on maintaining a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. Wellness Retail (Regional): Yakult in Singapore is ending its orange flavour by end-June and switching to peach in July 2026, while Holland & Barrett returns to Singapore via Guardian stores with vitamins and women’s health products.

Food & Gut Health: Yakult Singapore is ending its long-running orange probiotic flavour by end-June, with a peach version replacing it from July 2026—marking the first flavour refresh in Singapore since 1980, with orange available while stocks last. Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging and standardised designs, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Conservation & Health of Ecosystems: A Brunei-linked bioacoustics project is building “soundscape baselines” to better track forest biodiversity changes, using continuous recordings managed with local teams. Brunei Leadership & Continuity: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet in a major reshuffle, with the move widely seen as preparing for the next generation. Regional Wellness Retail: Holland & Barrett is returning to Singapore via Guardian partner DFI, bringing vitamins and supplements focused on preventive wellness after earlier outlet closures. Public Health Funding (Regional): The Philippines signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to strengthen pandemic preparedness, with implementation led by the health and agriculture departments.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging, including plain packaging and pictorial health warnings, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Brunei Governance: Brunei’s Sultan has reshuffled the cabinet, naming Prince Abdul Mateen as Foreign Minister and appointing Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet, with the changes framed as leadership continuity for the next generation. Ocean & Health Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 was launched with a “blue economy” focus, bringing together agencies and partners to support marine conservation, sustainable fisheries and community livelihoods. Conservation Monitoring: A new bioacoustics approach is building acoustic baselines for intact forests, including pilot work in Brunei, to better detect biodiversity changes that satellites can miss. Regional Food Safety: Brunei is part of APFRAS, which met in Seoul to push for stronger, more harmonised food safety rules across the Pacific region. Pandemic Preparedness: The Philippines signed a World Bank grant to strengthen pandemic detection and response, with implementation involving the health and agriculture sectors.

Bioacoustics for Conservation: A new Soundscape Baselines Project is building “acoustic reference points” for intact forests, including pilot sites in Brunei, to spot ecological change that satellites and simple visuals can miss. Tobacco Control in the Region: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Brunei Leadership & Health Context: Brunei’s Sultan has named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the cabinet in a major reshuffle, with the move framed as leadership continuity amid the sultan’s recent health issues. Pandemic Preparedness Funding: The Philippines has signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to strengthen pandemic detection and response, with implementation involving the health and agriculture sectors. Regional Food Safety Push: APFRAS (including Brunei) held its summit in Seoul to improve food safety regulation and move toward broader regulatory harmonisation across the Pacific-Asia region. Sleep & Wellness Marketing: Simmons’ Beautyrest campaign is rolling out across Brunei and the region, reframing sleep as a way to “bring on the day.”

Brunei Health & Policy: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced a major cabinet reshuffle, naming Prince Abdul Mateen as Foreign Minister and appointing Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet, as the kingdom moves to strengthen leadership continuity amid the sultan’s recent health issues. Brunei Governance & Health Systems: The reshuffle also includes broader portfolio changes, with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism restructured into the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry—an update that could shape how health-linked sectors like food and resources are managed. Regional Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging, including plain packaging and stronger health warnings, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Food Safety & Public Health Trade: APFRAS (including Brunei) pushed for more cohesive food safety regulation across the Asia-Pacific, targeting better harmonisation to support safer trade. Cross-border Care: Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism push into East Kalimantan, holding cardiac-focused sessions with local partners to strengthen healthcare links in Borneo. Ocean & Wellness Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched with a blue economy focus, highlighting marine ecosystem health as tied to food security, livelihoods, and long-term resilience.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules to curb youth smoking by moving toward plain packaging and stronger pictorial health warnings for cigarettes and vapes, aiming to make products less appealing to children and teenagers. Regional Health Systems: The Philippines signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to boost pandemic preparedness, with the project led by the health and agriculture departments (including animal health) through 2028. Medical Tourism (Borneo links): Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism outreach to East Kalimantan, holding cardiac case discussions and heart-health awareness with local partners. Food Safety Cooperation: APFRAS (including Brunei) met in Seoul to push for more cohesive food safety rules and greater regulatory harmonisation across the Pacific-Asia region. Wellness Retail (Brunei audience): Sleep-focused brand Beautyrest launched a regional campaign across Brunei and neighbours, reframing sleep as the start of daytime life rather than just bedtime. Ocean & Health Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicked off with a blue-economy theme, highlighting marine ecosystem health for food security, livelihoods and future resilience.

Public Health Funding (Philippines): The Philippines signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to boost pandemic preparedness, with the project run by the Department of Health and Agriculture (including animal health) until end-March 2028. Tobacco Control (Indonesia): Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape plain packaging and stronger health warnings to reduce appeal to children and teens. Regional Health Systems (Korea–Philippines): South Korea reaffirmed support for peace and inclusive development in BARMM, highlighting cooperation to strengthen governance and healthcare systems. Brunei Leadership (Cabinet reshuffle): Brunei named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet, a move widely seen as leadership succession planning. Medical Tourism (Brunei–Indonesia): Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism outreach to East Kalimantan, holding cardiac case sessions with local partners. Food Safety (APAC): APFRAS pushed for food safety regulation harmonisation across Pacific Rim countries, aiming to make trade and standards more consistent.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules to curb youth smoking by moving toward plain packaging and stronger health warnings for cigarettes and vapes. Brunei Leadership: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the cabinet in a major reshuffle aimed at leadership continuity. Regional Health Funding: The Philippines signed an $18.85m World Bank grant to strengthen pandemic preparedness, with the project led by the health and agriculture departments. Food Safety & Trade: APFRAS (including Brunei) is pushing for broader food safety regulatory harmonisation across the Pacific-Asia region to support safer trade. Blue Economy & Health Links: Brunei launched Ocean Week 2026, spotlighting marine conservation and blue economy opportunities tied to food security and livelihoods. Medical Tourism: Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism outreach to East Kalimantan with cardiac health sessions and partner hospital ties. Wellness Retail: Holland & Barrett is returning to Singapore via Guardian stores, expanding access to vitamins and sleep/women’s health products across Asia including Brunei.

Tobacco Control: Indonesia is drafting rules to curb youth appeal of cigarettes and vapes, including standardised “plain packaging” and stronger pictorial health warnings, as the Health Ministry targets smoking initiation among children and teenagers. Regional Health Security: The Philippines and the World Bank signed an $18.85m grant to boost pandemic preparedness, with the project jointly run by the Health and Agriculture departments and extending to end-March 2028. Brunei Leadership & Health Access: Brunei’s Sultan has reshuffled the Cabinet, naming Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and Prince Abdul Malik to a new government role, as the country positions for leadership continuity. Medical Tourism: Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism outreach into East Kalimantan, holding cardiac-focused sessions with local hospital partners. Ocean & Wellness Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched with a month-long programme on blue economy, marine conservation, and community livelihoods—key for food security and long-term health. Wellness Retail: A regional campaign from Beautyrest is rolling out across Brunei, reframing sleep as a way to “bring on the day,” while Holland & Barrett returns to Asia via Guardian stores (not Brunei-specific in the report).

Pandemic Preparedness: The Philippines and the World Bank signed an $18.85m grant to boost defenses against future pandemics, with the project jointly run by the Health and Agriculture departments (and animal health units) until end-March 2028. Tobacco Control: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape packaging and health warnings, including plain packaging standards, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Brunei Leadership & Continuity: Brunei’s Sultan named Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and appointed Prince Abdul Malik to the cabinet in a major reshuffle, while the Crown Prince remains senior at the Prime Minister’s Office. Ocean & Health Links: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched with a blue-economy focus, highlighting how healthy marine ecosystems support food security, livelihoods, and future resilience. Medical Tourism: Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded its medical tourism outreach into East Kalimantan, holding cardiac-focused sessions with local partners. Food Safety Cooperation: APFRAS re-elected South Korea as chair and pushed for stronger food safety regulation harmonisation across the Pacific-Asia region.

Pandemic Preparedness Funding: The Philippines and the World Bank signed an $18.85m grant to boost defenses against future pandemics, with the project run by the Health and Agriculture departments (and animal health units) until end-March 2028. Tobacco Control Push: Indonesia’s Health Ministry is drafting rules for cigarette and vape plain packaging and stronger health warnings, aiming to reduce appeal to children and teens. Brunei Leadership & Continuity: Brunei’s Sultan announced a major cabinet reshuffle, naming Prince Abdul Mateen as foreign minister and Prince Abdul Malik to the Cabinet, as the country prepares for next-generation leadership. Ocean & Public Health Link: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 launched with a blue-economy theme, spotlighting marine conservation, food security, livelihoods and climate resilience. Regional Medical Tourism: Gleneagles Jerudong Park Medical Centre expanded medical tourism outreach into East Kalimantan, holding heart-health and cardiac case sessions with local partners. Food Safety Cooperation: APFRAS re-elected South Korea as chair and focused on improving food safety regulations and moving toward broader regulatory harmonisation across the region. Sleep & Wellness Marketing: Simmons’ Beautyrest campaign reframes sleep as the start of daytime life, rolling out across Brunei and other Southeast Asian markets.

Agri-Storage Financing: Pakistan’s finance minister says the government will back private, innovative funding to cut post-harvest losses, launching a PKR 7.1bn Agri-Storage Portfolio Financing Facility led by InfraZamin Pakistan. The plan uses a 50% principal credit guarantee to de-risk investors, with no sovereign guarantees, and targets up to 300,000 metric tons of added storage capacity for wheat, grains, fruits and vegetables over two years. Local Partnerships: The facility will be offered through PBICL, Faysal Bank and Bank of Punjab to corporate and SME customers, funding upgrades and new agri warehousing, silos and cold storage. Ocean Health & Livelihoods: Ocean Week Brunei 2026 kicks off with a blue economy focus, linking marine ecosystem health to food security, jobs, conservation and future industries. Medical Tourism Link: Gleneagles JPMC expands its medical tourism outreach into East Kalimantan with cardiac case discussions and heart-health awareness sessions. Food Safety Cooperation: APFRAS re-elected South Korea as chair and pushed for stronger food safety regulation harmonisation across the Pacific-Asia region. Wellness & Sleep Messaging: A regional Beautyrest campaign reframes sleep as the start of daytime life, rolling out across Brunei and other APAC markets.