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