KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia » Lawmakers in Malaysia may soon be required to undergo annual health checks after 11 elected politicians died of wide-ranging illnesses in less than three years, a news report said Sunday.

The deaths have triggered a string of special elections to fill the vacancies and prompted Malaysians to accuse politicians of neglecting their health. Two state lawmakers have died in the past month alone, one from diabetes complications and another from a heart attack.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said he will soon make a recommendation to the Cabinet for mandatory health examinations involving members of Parliament and state legislatures, according to The Star newspaper.

"If the examinations show that they are unhealthy, we will ensure they get the appropriate treatment immediately," Liow told The Star.

Ministry officials familiar with the plan could not immediately be reached Sunday. Other lawmakers who have died since 2008 national elections succumbed from health problems such as cancer, a stroke and a lung infection.

Special elections to replace the lawmakers have cost taxpayers millions of ringgit (dollars) because of security and other expenses. Political parties also devote a lot of time and resources to intense campaigns ahead of the elections, which many Malaysians say distracts the government from more crucial issues.