KUCHING, Nov 27 2025: A health services is a matter of human rights for the people of Sarawak and as such the state government has proposed the setting up of a feasibility study group to be led by University Technology Sarawak (UTS), Dr Annuar Rapaee told the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.
Dr Annuar Rapaee: “Why do we need this feasibility study?
The Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development said UTS has been assigned to lead conducting the research to be completed within six months on the requirements for the state government to set up a medical faculty at state-owned higher institutions.
“It is very important for us to do the feasibility study. It is one of the requirements for us whether to be given a licence to operate the medical school.
“Why do we need this feasibility study?
“Firstly, it is to assess the demands of the undergraduates medical school, and I don’t think this is any issue at the moment.
“Secondly, it is to evaluate the capacity of the institutions in terms of human power and infrastructures,” Dr Annuar said.
He said it is also to determine and evaluate whether in terms of the regulations and the procedure from the Higher Education Ministry as well as the Malaysian Medical Council and Malaysian Qualifications Agency.
“It is also to determine the financial capabilities. This is very important in terms of the capital costs as well as the recurrent costs, and to propose the financing plan,” he said.
He also said it is to make sure there is a properly assessment on the risks involved which might happen and how to mitigate the risks.
He said the feasibility study will also recommend a roadmap in terms of the implementation,higher education and the student intakes.
On the special medical scheme at the Medical Faculty of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas),Dr Annuar said the state government is making all efforts to ensure that more Sarawakian students will become doctors.
“That is why, through the Sarawak Foundation, the special scheme was set up since 2018.
Since then 290 medical students have benefited from the scheme,” he said.
He said the state government has spent a staggering amount of about RM110 million on these medical students since 2018.
He added that Sarawak has a shortage of 1,871 medical officers and 246 specialists.
He said the state is also having a shortage of 2,300 nurses.
Speaking to reporters later, he said the state government is determined on establishing its own state-owned medical school.
He said the feasibility study group led by UTS is required for the state’s licence application and has already been approved at the UTS Senate level.
“The Senate has approved the feasibility study group to look into all the requirements needed for the licence.
“They asked to be given six months,” he said at a press conference, adding that the study will start in January and to submit both an interim and full report by June 2026.
He said Sarawak can no longer rely solely on federal intake systems, noting that competition for medical seats is high and limits opportunities for local students.
“The question of whether we should have a medical school is no longer a question. We have to have our own,” he said.
He added that a state-owned medical school will help retain Sarawakian graduates who are more likely to serve locally, especially as 54 per cent of doctors posted to Sarawak this year did not report for duty.
“Hopefully, our own Sarawak students will study in our own medical school and later serve our people,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment