By DayakDaily Team
MUKAH, April 30: The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured the public that the government’s proposal to reduce RM5.4 billion in operating expenditure, by cutting overheads that do not have a direct impact on the people, will not compromise basic healthcare delivery or essential services.
In a TVS news, Deputy Health Minister Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib said the cost-optimisation exercise is still in its early stages, with emphasis placed on trimming non-critical operational spending while safeguarding frontline healthcare services.
She noted that the ministry is exploring proactive steps to lower operational costs, including shifting from physical promotional activities to more cost-effective digital platforms and social media.
“Any reduction in funding should be focused on areas that do not have a direct impact on the people. For instance, if it were up to me, I would consider implementing cost-saving measures by reducing expenditure on promotions.
“We could instead leverage social media, information-sharing platforms, and strategic communication through emails and networks,” she said after officiating the Mukah Division Healthy Malaysia National Agenda programme at the Kaul Site, Kala Dana Beach, today.
Previously, the Ministry of Finance proposed the RM5.4 billion reduction targeting the health and higher education sectors as part of efforts to strengthen the nation’s fiscal position.
According to the ministry, the two sectors were identified due to their significant share of the national budget, with the adjustments focusing strictly on non-critical items while ensuring all core allocations under Budget 2026 remain intact.
Addressing broader economic pressures, Hanifah said rising living costs are largely influenced by global geopolitical factors, including fluctuating oil prices that have driven up the cost of essential goods and transportation.
To ease the burden on households, she said the government will continue targeted subsidy assistance while encouraging more prudent use of resources.
She also urged the public to adopt personal cost-management practices, such as home gardening and mindful spending, to help reduce dependence on market-driven price fluctuations. — DayakDaily
