GEORGE TOWN, Feb. 26 -- The National Poison Centre (NPC) has detected a worrying rise in poisoning cases involving unregistered rat poison products between 2023 and 2025, with young children being the most vulnerable group.

NPC's Drug and Poison Information Service UF14 pharmacist Asdariah Misnan said more than 40 per cent of rat poison cases recorded over the past three years involved illegal or unregistered products.

"According to data analysed by the NPC, 42 out of 94 cases in 2023 involved illegal products," she said in a statement today.

The number of cases involving unregistered rat poison rose to 61 out of 143 in 2024 and 51 out of 118 in 2025.

She said the situation worsened at the end of last year. Between October and Decembe...