SIBU，9 June: Sarawak should have a heart centre within a three-hour travel radius for all residents, similar to the standard already in place in Malaya.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state deserves the same level of healthcare access as other parts of the country.
“I always argue with them. They tell me, ‘Dr Sim, why do you want a heart centre in Sibu or Miri? Negeri Sembilan doesn’t even have one. Malacca doesn’t have one.’ But I say, it’s not about the number, it’s about accessibility.
“In the Peninsula, people can reach a heart centre within three hours. Why not the same for Sarawak?
“From Miri to Kuching, can you reach a heart centre in three hours? You can’t. We are all Malaysians, we deserve equal treatment,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the installation of the 11th board members and the 20th anniversary dinner of the Sibu Division Chinese Community Leaders Association here last night (Jun 8).
Dr Sim highlighted that over 70 per cent of Sarawak’s hospitals are in poor condition and when the state proposed building a cancer centre, the federal government initially said there were no funds, until Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg offered RM1 billion to kickstart the project.
“After that offer, then things started moving. But I recently found out that the Northern Cancer Hospital in the Peninsula was fully funded by the federal government. Why the double standard? For Sarawak, suddenly there’s no money,” he said.
He stressed that the state is not expecting charity but for the means to deliver proper healthcare.
“When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim came to Kuching during Raya celebration recently and saw me on stage, he said, ‘Dr Sim, please proceed with the cancer centre.’
“He understands these are critical issues, heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. We can’t let people die just because of delayed treatment,” he stressed.
While acknowledging that Sarawak now has more financial resources than before, Dr Sim said the state still needs significantly more funding for roads, clinics, and hospitals.
“All we’re asking for is to be on par with the Peninsula,” he said.
Dr Sim also noted that Sarawak’s Heart Centre is the only one among the ten under the Ministry of Health that has been ranked in the Top 100 across the Asia Pacific region for two consecutive years, proof, he said, that the state can match national and international standards when given the chance.
On research, Dr Sim who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said Sarawak has become a leader in first-in-human clinical trials.
“Before last year, Malaysia had never conducted such trials. Last year there were six, five were in Sarawak. This year, all four are in Sarawak.
“We have the expertise, we have the doctors but we don’t have the facilities. It’s like having Formula One drivers, but no Formula One cars,” he said.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the state deserves the same level of healthcare access as other parts of the country.
“I always argue with them. They tell me, ‘Dr Sim, why do you want a heart centre in Sibu or Miri? Negeri Sembilan doesn’t even have one. Malacca doesn’t have one.’ But I say, it’s not about the number, it’s about accessibility.
“In the Peninsula, people can reach a heart centre within three hours. Why not the same for Sarawak?
“From Miri to Kuching, can you reach a heart centre in three hours? You can’t. We are all Malaysians, we deserve equal treatment,” he said.
He said this in his speech at the installation of the 11th board members and the 20th anniversary dinner of the Sibu Division Chinese Community Leaders Association here last night (Jun 8).
Dr Sim highlighted that over 70 per cent of Sarawak’s hospitals are in poor condition and when the state proposed building a cancer centre, the federal government initially said there were no funds, until Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg offered RM1 billion to kickstart the project.
“After that offer, then things started moving. But I recently found out that the Northern Cancer Hospital in the Peninsula was fully funded by the federal government. Why the double standard? For Sarawak, suddenly there’s no money,” he said.
He stressed that the state is not expecting charity but for the means to deliver proper healthcare.
“When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim came to Kuching during Raya celebration recently and saw me on stage, he said, ‘Dr Sim, please proceed with the cancer centre.’
“He understands these are critical issues, heart disease and cancer are the top two causes of death. We can’t let people die just because of delayed treatment,” he stressed.
While acknowledging that Sarawak now has more financial resources than before, Dr Sim said the state still needs significantly more funding for roads, clinics, and hospitals.
“All we’re asking for is to be on par with the Peninsula,” he said.
Dr Sim also noted that Sarawak’s Heart Centre is the only one among the ten under the Ministry of Health that has been ranked in the Top 100 across the Asia Pacific region for two consecutive years, proof, he said, that the state can match national and international standards when given the chance.
On research, Dr Sim who is also the Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said Sarawak has become a leader in first-in-human clinical trials.
“Before last year, Malaysia had never conducted such trials. Last year there were six, five were in Sarawak. This year, all four are in Sarawak.
“We have the expertise, we have the doctors but we don’t have the facilities. It’s like having Formula One drivers, but no Formula One cars,” he said.