By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 24: With no progress on the long-delayed relocation and reconstruction of the Jalan Oya Polyclinic, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Dudong Branch chairman Wong Ching Yong has called out the two Democratic Action Party (DAP) MPs representing Sibu, holding them responsible and criticizing them for not doing enough to push the project forward.
In a statement, he pointed out that public healthcare facilities, including government hospitals and clinics, are under the jurisdiction of the federal government, and it is the duty of MPs to represent the people of Sibu at that level.
Wong said under the current federal government, DAP holds the largest number of parliamentary seats, and as the only two MPs representing Sibu, Oscar Ling (Sibu) and Alice Lau (Lanang) should and can do more.
While he did note that Ling had raised the matter in Parliament during the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) by highlighting that the polyclinic was deemed unsafe by the Public Works Department (JKR), he questioned if Ling had followed up with the Health Ministry (MOH) outside of Parliament.
“Oscar himself said relocation cannot be delayed, yet the application to rent shoplots at Jalan Wawasan for temporary use has still not been approved. The question is, apart from raising the issue in Parliament, has he ever pressed the Health Ministry outside Parliament to act immediately?” Wong questioned.
He also stressed that Oscar, who has over a decade’s worth of experience serving as an MP, should know that raising issues in Parliament alone is not enough and that he could have followed up on the matter with the relevant ministries.
“Parliament is an important platform for MPs to voice concerns, but it should not be the only channel. Otherwise, it would mean MPs only work during parliamentary sittings, while continuing to draw high salaries all year round,” he said.
At the same time, Wong also referred to the stalled new Teku clinic project, which was approved years ago.
“Even Oscar himself admitted that the Sarawak government has already identified and approved the land. Yet the federal Health Ministry has not even initiated the land acquisition process. Why is he, as part of the largest party in the Madani government, powerless to move the project forward?”
He stressed that repeated delays in projects, whether it is the heart and cancer centre, the relocation of Jalan Oya Polyclinic, or new clinic construction, could expose the federal government’s shortcomings in public healthcare management.
“This also highlights the urgency for Sarawak to secure autonomy in healthcare. I therefore call on Sarawakians to unite behind the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government to push through the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) to achieve this goal,” he said. — DayakDaily
