By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Oct 1: Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian has called on members of Parliament (MPs) from Sarawak to help fight for health autonomy together with the Sarawak government.
He said people are often unaware that Sarawak does not have autonomy over health matters and the responsibility lies in the Federal government, thus MPs should speak up in Parliament.
“MPs should work together with us (the Sarawak government), ‘jangan tengok saja’ (don’t just look).
“Otherwise, I fight so hard and they ‘tengok saja’. When I fight a bit more, they say it’s State responsibility.
“But, as caring leaders for Sarawak, let us fight together. Don’t wait for me and ‘tengok saja’,” said Dr Sim after launching the World Heart Day 2022 event at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus here today.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, emphasised that with health autonomy returned, Sarawak can have better planning and management for its people.
Unlike the states in Peninsular Malaysia with higher population density, he said Sarawak has vast lands and a small population, but medical services are similarly required in every corner of the State.
“So, if they (the Federal government) fail their duties, then they might as well give it (the health autonomy) back to us, and we manage it ourselves.
“If they give us back our autonomy and money, I think we will manage and coordinate it better,” he added. — Dayakdaily
