Withdrawl Policy

Kota Kinabalu Journal of Public Health and Community Medicine (KKJPHCM) discourages the withdrawal of submitted manuscripts, as the editorial and peer-review processes require substantial time, effort, and professional resources from editors and reviewers. Authors are expected to submit manuscripts only when they are fully prepared to proceed through the publication process.

Withdrawal Conditions

Manuscript withdrawal is only permitted under valid and reasonable circumstances, including:

  • Discovery of significant errors in the manuscript

  • Ethical concerns affecting the integrity of the study

  • Unintentional duplicate submission

  • Serious authorship disputes or legal issues

  • Research validity concerns identified by the authors

Withdrawal for reasons such as submitting to another journal, dissatisfaction with peer-review comments, or avoiding revision requirements is considered unethical.

Withdrawal Process

Authors who wish to withdraw a manuscript must:

  • Submit a formal written request to the editorial office

  • Clearly state the reason for withdrawal

  • Confirm that all co-authors agree to the withdrawal request

The manuscript will not be considered withdrawn until official confirmation has been issued by the editorial team.

Withdrawal at Different Stages

1. Before Peer Review
Withdrawal is generally permitted upon formal request and editorial confirmation.

2. During Peer Review
Withdrawal requires a strong and valid justification and is subject to editorial approval.

3. After Acceptance
Withdrawal is strongly discouraged and will only be allowed under exceptional circumstances, as substantial editorial and production resources have already been invested.

4. After Publication
Withdrawal is not permitted. In cases of serious ethical issues or major errors, the journal may issue a correction, retraction, or removal according to publication ethics standards.

Ethical Considerations

Withdrawing a manuscript without valid justification, particularly after the peer-review or acceptance stage, is considered a violation of publication ethics and may result in sanctions.

Sanctions

In cases of unethical withdrawal, KKJPHCM may take the following actions:

  • Temporary or permanent restriction on future submissions

  • Notification to the author’s affiliated institution

  • Blacklisting from journal activities where necessary

  • Other actions deemed necessary to protect the integrity and reputation of the journal

Important Note

Authors must not submit the manuscript to another journal until the withdrawal request has been formally approved by KKJPHCM. Any violation of this policy may be treated as duplicate submission or publication misconduct.