By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Jan 7: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has urged for a high-level Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) committee meeting on healthcare to involve key federal decision makers, so that plans can be finalised and a roadmap for Sarawak can be laid out instead of issues being footballed around.
Speaking to the press after officiating the handover of medical supplies under PETRONAS Uplifting Lives programme at Batu Kawa Health Clinic today, Dr Sim said the current system often sees health-related matters bounced between different federal agencies, delaying concrete action.
“High-level means getting the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning Unit, Public Service Department (JPA) Malaysia, and all relevant ministries and departments to come in. Because at our MA63 committee meetings, these ministers are often not present.
“Sometimes when you talk about health issues, they say it is under JPA. Then you ask further, they refer to the Economic Planning Unit or Ministry of Finance. It’s like being footballed around.
“That’s why I spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof… let’s bring them all in, sit on one table, so decisions can be made and actions taken during the meeting,” he said.
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, stressed that Sarawak faces a shortage of 4,000 healthcare professionals, making long-term planning critical.
He proposed a structured roadmap spanning 10 years, starting with smaller annual targets and progressively addressing workforce needs in areas like nursing, physiotherapy, and other medical specialties.
“Perhaps a five year plan, then we can begin meeting the health sector needs. The roadmap ensures continuity even after I am no longer the minister in charge. Planning must start now,” he said.
The Deputy Premier reaffirmed Sarawak’s commitment to reclaiming healthcare autonomy under MA63, citing the Sarawak Cancer Centre project as an example of initiatives that could have progressed faster if authority had been devolved to the State.
Dr Sim said he would follow up with Fadillah to convene the meeting, noting that previous discussions were delayed by national priorities such as Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship.
“The federal government is not indifferent, but with responsibility for 13 states, Sarawak is not always the top priority. By taking back control, we can start implementing changes sooner.
“MA63 should serve as a clear, actionable roadmap, not repeated discussions without results. In previous meetings, ministers often deferred issues to other departments. We keep having meetings but end up discussing others. This cannot keep being bounced around,” he lamented.
Dr Sim emphasised that Sarawak will not allow MA63 implementation to stall due to prolonged negotiations, calling for phased and decisive action to benefit the State and its people. — DayakDaily
