By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Jan 17: The Sarawak government will build gated community quarters for all civil servants in the State, including staff from the medical department.
In disclosing this, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said it would be equipped with the necessary facilities to organise recreational activities and ensure the safety of the community.
“We are starting in Simunjan and Gedong, and after that, we will have it in all districts.
“This will make it easier for the doctor, medical officers, and district officers to work together and have their own community with a clubhouse within the complex,” he said during the Sarawak Heart Centre’s 20th Anniversary Dinner streamed live by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) on Facebook last night (Jan 16).
Abang Johari said the Ministry of Health (MOH) could rent the quarters to house their staff without worrying about managing the complex as the community will manage it.
He also said most doctors are reluctant to work in rural areas in Sarawak due to the bad condition of the living quarters provided for them and had instructed the Sarawak Secretary to revamp the government quarters.
“There is a need to provide basic and modern accommodations for our civil servants, including federal ones.
“This is what we are going to do to improve our healthcare in the future,” he added. — DayakDaily
