By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 11: Sarawak needs RM8.9 billion to address dilapidated clinics and hospitals across the State, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Commenting on the Federal Budget 2027 announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Sim said Sarawak needed to examine the details to determine how much funding was allocated for new projects and how much went towards continuing existing ones.
“The devil is in the details,” he said in a statement today, while congratulating Anwar on what he described as Malaysia’s biggest-ever budget.
On education, Dr Sim thanked the federal government for increasing Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships but noted that Sarawak already offered free tertiary education to eligible students who gained admission to State government-owned universities.
He added that 42 per cent of these students also received monthly pocket money.
In healthcare, Dr Sim described the introduction of specialist dental clinics as a good start, but said Sarawak also needed a regional blood bank and a central laboratory.
On the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), he said Sarawak looked forward to more concrete progress in its implementation. — DayakDaily
