What Should the Next Chapter of SEACO Look Like?

That was the key question when university leaders, researchers, health professionals, local agencies and community representatives came together for the SEACO 2.0 Planning Committee Meeting on 13 August 2026.

Did you know?

SEACO is more than a research project. Based in Segamat, Johor, it is a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) that follows communities over time — helping researchers understand changes in health, demographic, social and environmental conditions.

Now, we are looking ahead: What should SEACO become next?

The meeting brought together 11 committee members, representing Monash University Malaysia leadership, multidisciplinary academics, the health sector, local government, women, youth and communities in Segamat.

Among those at the table were Prof. Dato’ Dr. Ir. Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan, Prof. Nafis Alam, Prof. Duncan McDuie-Ra, Prof. Sarah Hawkes and Dr. Mohd Azrizan bin Bakir, alongside representatives from the Segamat District Health Office, Hospital Segamat, Segamat District Office and the local community.

Why does this matter?

Because the future of population health research should be shaped not only by researchers, but also by the people who understand local health needs and the communities we work alongside.

SEACO 2.0 is about doing things better — strengthening partnerships, listening to communities, making better use of longitudinal data, and ensuring that research remains relevant to real population health priorities.

This meeting was just the beginning.

SEACO 2.0: shaped not just for the community, but with the community.