By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 14: Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has hit back at the opposition over accusations that the health clinic in his constituency is being neglected.
In a statement, Yap said that recent remarks by Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Michael Kong and Violet Yong—the special assistant to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen and Pending assemblywoman, respectively—were ‘misleading’.
The statement added that the opposition’s words ignored the substantial, continuous investments channelled to improve the clinic’s facilities through the Sarawak government’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocations, despite healthcare being under the purview of the federal government.
It said that between 2023 and 2025, more than RM1.6 million has been allocated to the Kota Sentosa health clinic under the RTP, covering multiple phases of improvements to infrastructure and patient facilities as follows:
- Construction of car park at the clinic (RM250,000)
- Construction of a second-phase car park (RM250,000); a new car park facing the main road (RM50,000), upgrading of facilities and building amenities (RM300,000), and a new medical laboratory building (RM500,000)
- Construction of a sheltered car park for the staff of the clinic (RM250,000)
In addition to infrastructure works, MRP allocations and community support funding amounting to over RM85,000 have further enhanced comfort and service efficiency at the clinic, including:
- Purchase of 10 units of three-seater link benches (RM3,000) and two hot and cold-water dispensers (RM4,600) for patient use
- Medical boiler equipment (RM4,800) for the dental unit in the clinic
- Air coolers and counter upgrades (RM35,000)
- Renovation of the pharmacy walk-in counter (RM12,000)
- Various community-based health and wellness programmes, such as KOSPEN (Healthy Community Country Builder), staff welfare activities, and community engagement events
“To suggest that the clinic’s current condition is due to ‘prolonged neglect’ based on a few old but usable chairs is factually incorrect and unfair to all the dedicated healthcare officers and staff who have, despite limited federal resources, worked tirelessly to maintain and upgrade the clinic step by step,” he said.
He added that instead of lecturing him, Kong and Yong should question what Chong has contributed to the Kota Sentosa health clinic within his capacity as the member of Parliament (MP) for Stampin.
“Has he given any funding, secured funding from the federal government, initiated upgrades, or implemented programmes to improve patient comfort and facilities?” he questioned.
Yap then said this further proves that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government focuses on delivering for the people rather than playing politics. — DayakDaily
