by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 28: Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing has called for politicians to prioritise public welfare over self-promotion when addressing healthcare improvements in Sibu.
In a Facebook post today, Tiong emphasised the importance of respecting and recognising the hard work of healthcare staff, urging leaders to focus on meaningful solutions rather than engaging in publicity stunts.
He further expressed his gratitude to Health Minister Datuk Seri Haji Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad for his hands-on approach in resolving the shortage of medical officers at Sibu Hospital.
He highlighted Dr Dzulkefly’s recent visit, during which the Health Minister personally assessed the hospital’s shortcomings and identified areas for improvement.
“I have raised the shortcomings of Sibu Hospital and health clinics multiple times in Cabinet meetings, and I am also grateful for the feedback provided by the Deputy Speaker and Lanang MP Alice Lau, which facilitated the success of the work visit.
“The improvement project for Sibu Hospital will begin as soon as the necessary procedures are completed. This is the result of everyone’s collective efforts, so I urge all parties, or any political group, not to politicise this issue or claim credit for it, as this would diminish the true collaborative effort and potentially hijack the fruits of others’ labour,” he said.
“I hope that everyone will view this work visit by the Health Minister positively and show respect for all the staff who have dedicated their time and energy during the process, rather than undermining their efforts to ‘claim credit’ or turning the Sibu Hospital optimisation project into a personal show.
“Politicians, in particular, should realise the role they play in improving the welfare of the people. They should help the public communicate their needs and issues to the government, seek solutions, and not use public concerns to increase their own visibility or engage in cheap publicity by taking photos for self-promotion,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Tiong, who also serves as the Bintulu Member of Parliament and Dudong State Assemblyman, said he is engaging with the private sector to procure or lease more advanced equipment for the Sibu hospital, ensuring that the hospital has the necessary tools to offer better healthcare services to the public.
He also noted that besides the RM9.1 million allocation, under the 13th Malaysia Plan, a new hospital building will be constructed at Sibu Hospital, increasing the number of beds by 340.
Additionally, given the inadequate capacity of the Jalan Oya Health Clinic, a new Jalan Oya Health Clinic is planned for construction. – DayakDaily
