Dr Sim to bring up issue of shortage of health workers in Sarawak at next week's MA63 technical committee meeting

KUCHING, Feb 21 2026: Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian has said he would bring up the issue of the shortage of health workers when attending a discussion with the Technical Committee of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) next week.

Dr Sim Kui Hian says that MoH forgets that it does not give enough manpower to Sarawak 

He said, among the issues that he will bring up, is on the national health policy that is difficult to implement effectively in Sarawak if it is not supplied with sufficient manpower to implement the national health agenda.

“Sometimes, when the Ministry of Health (MoH) says the national health policy can be extended to the whole of Malaysia but it forgets that it does not give us sufficient manpower, ” he told reporters after distributing bubur lambuk at the Stutong community market at Tabuan  Jaya.

Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, also said that the Bintulu Divisional Health Office recently managed to secure sponsorship from Press Metal Bhd to obtain the country's first four mobile X-ray machines, with a total value of approximately RM2 million.

He said the machines use technology that was originally developed for military use and is now being used to detect the spread of disease outbreaks, especially in rural and remote areas.

“They have the first four mobile x-ray machines in the country, obtained through donations from Press Metal, with a total value of about RM2 million.

“Although they never thought about it, the doctors in the field are so concerned that they are willing to apply for sponsorship themselves to ensure that health services can be delivered properly,” he said.

He explained that the effort led by Bintulu Divisional Health Officer Dr Melvin Chung will make it easier for health workers such as doctors and paramedics to conduct infectious disease screenings without requiring patients and close contacts to travel to the hospital.

“Imagine if there is a tuberculosis outbreak in a longhouse, if all residents are required to attend for an x-ray, they may cough throughout the journey and risk infecting more people.

“Therefore, it is better if the doctor or paramedic brings the x-ray machine directly to the longhouse and quarantines it there,” he added

 

Soon Koh blasts SUPP branches over their "senseless remarks" targetting him on the collapse of shophouses

SIBU, Feb 21 2026: Former state minister Wong Soon Koh has blasted Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) branches for asking him to account for the recent collapse of a row of eight shophouses in Sibu.

Wong Soo Koh: The approval for the building plan of the shophouses was granted by SPA at the time was based on statutory technical assessments and reports. 

He described the  remarks by six branches of SUPP targetting him as senseless. 

 He said he should not be blamed for the collapse of the shophouses in Jalan Pahlawan  in the early hours of Feb 13.

He said it was the State Planning Authority (SPA) which gave the approval for any building development in the state.

He said  any building must first obtain approval from SPA, a statutory body vested with significant powers over land use and urban planning decisions.

“Upon completion, the developer is responsible for maintenance for six months before the property is formally handed over to the municipal council,” he said in response to a “senseless remarks” by six branches of Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) as published in a local Chinese newspaper.

He said he believes the approval granted by SPA at the time was based on statutory technical assessments and reports.

“If Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian believes there were irregularities, he has full access to all records,” Wong, who was the Minister of Housing and Local Government September 2011 to May 2016, said.

 “Why not Dr Sim initiate an internal investigation into SPA instead of allowing Sibu six SUPP branch members to make reckless public accusations?” he asked, referring to Dr Sim as the current Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister.

Wong, who is also Bawang Assan State Legislative Member (SLM), said during his tenure as Minister of Housing and Local Government from 2011 to 2016, no similar collapse occurred at the Pahlawan Road shoplots.

He  noted that building safety is subject to dynamic geological changes and surrounding developments, and that the fragile soil condition along Pahlawan Road has long been public knowledge.

“If every incident is conveniently blamed on a former minister, does that not render the current minister irrelevant and unfit for office?

“The ministry responsible for housing and local government bears constitutional and administrative responsibility for public infrastructure failures.

“Naming the current minister is a normal exercise of democratic accountability,” he said, pointing out  that to drag in a former minister who has long left office as a scapegoat defies logic.

He urged parties to return to rational discourse and handle the matter based on institutional procedures and the rule of law, rather than emotional rhetoric.

He said public affairs must not become election tools, that institutions must be respected and laws must be upheld.

The row of eight shophouses collapsed in the early hours of Feb 13.

However, there were no casualties reported.

 

 

 

 

"Chinese New Year is a festival beyond ethnicity, a shared experience. This is Sarawak I know"

 By Peter John Johan

Every year when Chinese New Year arrives in Sarawak, I am reminded of something powerful: celebration here has never belonged to one race alone. It is a festival beyond ethnicity, a shared experience. This is the Sarawak I know.

“In Sarawak, belonging is not about how you look; it is about who you stand with.”

Growing up, Chinese New Year was never “their” festival. It was ours ( Sarawakians ).

 I remember stepping into homes glowing with red lanterns, the scent of freshly prepared dishes filling the air, elders smiling as children ran about in new clothes.

The reunion dinner was sacred, not just for tradition, but because it represented family, forgiveness, and continuity. Even as a guest, we were never treated as outsiders.

When we tossed yee sang high into the air, shouting “Sarawak for Sarawakians” and wishes for prosperity, it was more than ritual. It was shared optimism for the year ahead.

"It's Everyday Harmony."

What moves me most is how natural unity feels in Sarawak. No one needs to organise “interracial harmony.” Iban families celebrate alongside Chinese neighbours. Malay friends drop by open houses. Christian Chinese begin the season with thanksgiving services. Buddhist families visit temples. Muslim Chinese prepare halal reunion dinners while keeping red lanterns glowing brightly in their homes.

This is not a staged or unity campaign. It is daily life.

I have personally witnessed Muslim Chinese families blending Islamic faith with Chinese cultural heritage with quiet confidence.

They observe religious obligations while honouring ancestral traditions such as Pantang, exchanging ang pow, gathering for reunion dinners, and respecting elders. There is no identity crisis,but only harmony.

Blending Cultures, Breaking Boundaries

Even more striking are children of mixed parentage some with European features, what we casually call “Ang Mo Lang” or “orang putih.” Fair skin, sharp features, yet speaking in local slang, laughing in Foochow & Hokkien or Iban, eagerly celebrating Chinese New Year as if it is written into their bones. Their presence quietly declares that in Sarawak, belonging is not about appearance, it is about who you stand with.

Some Iban families celebrate Chinese New Year because  some have intermarried and their closest friends are Chinese.

 Some simply grew up together. Here in Sarawak, relationships are stronger than racial lines.

One of the most remarkable sights for outsiders during Chinese New Year is seeing young Iban boys playing drums and performing the lion dance with incredible skill.

Their movements are precise, their energy infectious, and what surprises many is hearing them speak fluent Mandarin while keeping perfect rhythm with the drums and cymbals.

 Equally fascinating is how many Sarawakian Indians converse effortlessly in Hokkien, greeting neighbours warmly, joining the laughter, and tasting traditional snacks like bak kwa and pineapple tarts.

“Children from different backgrounds grow up understanding that identity is shaped by belonging and shared experience, not ancestry.”

We shared Celebrations

In Sarawak, Chinese New Year is not just a Chinese festival, it is a communal experience. Children from different backgrounds learn each other’s customs, participate in performances, and grow up understanding that identity is shaped by belonging and shared experience, not ancestry.

 Seeing fair-skinned Ang Mo Kia or orang putih children tossing yee sang alongside Dayak, Malay, Indian, and Chinese friends reminds us that unity is lived naturally, not preached.

These observations illustrate the unique harmony of Sarawak.

 Multiculturalism is not staged. It is practised daily in longhouses, towns, streets, and homes where doors and hearts are open.

 Outsiders or non Sarawakian may be surprised, but for those of us who grow up here, these scenes of cultural blending are ordinary, yet profoundly beautiful.

Here, culture is shared, experienced, and celebrated together. A child’s laughter in Mandarin, an elder nodding over Hokkien phrases, or the beat of a lion dance in a longhouse these moments define the unique spirit of Chinese New Year in Sarawak. Unity is not a slogan. It is practised quietly, joyfully, and sincerely.

During open houses, halal food is thoughtfully prepared. Respect comes naturally. No one feels uncomfortable. We do not just coexist, we participate in each other’s joy.

“Culture does not have to compete, faith does not erase tradition, and differences do not threaten unity.”

As Chinese New Year draws to a close, Hari Raya is just around the corner. I hope that the same spirit of openness, respect, and shared celebration will continue. Just as families of different backgrounds gather for reunion dinners, exchange greetings, and enjoy one another’s company during Chinese New Year, perhaps we can embrace Hari Raya with the same warmth  welcoming neighbours, friends, and communities of all faiths to share in the joy.

“As Chinese New Year ends, Hari Raya reminds us that unity is not seasonal it is a way of life.”

In a world increasingly divided by identity, Sarawak quietly teaches something profound. Every Chinese New Year here is not just a celebration of a new lunar cycle it is a celebration of shared humanity.

And that, to me, is the true prosperity of Sarawak.- Feb 21 2026 

Note: Peter John Jaban is a state’s rights activist: Founder of civil society Saya Anak Sarawak, a founder of Sarawak for Sarawakians, and deputy president of the Global Human Rights Federation (GHRF) of Malaysia.