KUCHING, Oct 20 2026: Sarawak needs about RM17.26 billion if it were to catch up with Peninsular Malaysia's healthcare facilities standard, Deputy Premier Dr Sim kui Hian told the State Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.
He said he had shared the issue with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof and Minister of Health Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad during meetings on Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
"Just for upgrading and rehabilitating hospitals and health clinics in Sarawak, we need $8.98 billion and for the construction of new hospitals and health clinics in Sarawak we need $8.28 billion," he said in his winding up speech.
Dr Sim, who is also the Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, said during annual MA63 meeting in Kota Kinabaru recently, he asked Anwar to allow Sarawak to have special recruitment to fill the 5,654 (18% of total workforce) vacant posts at the Sarawak Health Department, not to mention for the creation of 11,000 post (various categories) in order to be consistent with the Ministry of Health's (MoH) norms and standard of staffing after KKM/JPA audit seven hospitals in Sarawak last year.
He hoped that the federal government and MoH will be fair to the people of Sarawak.
"We are not asking our facilities or human resources to be better than Peninsular Malaysia but just to catch up to them so that we Sarawakians can enjoy the same health facilities and healthcare human resources standards," he said.
Dr Sim said the state Health Department has received RM2.91 billion operating funds and RM552.64 million development funds from MoH as of last month.
He said the funds is allocated for operational expenses, human capital development, minor upgrading and repair on health facilities as well as for hospital and clinic support services including procurement of medical equipment.
On other issue, Dr Sim said the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) has been recognised as top clinical research centre and top research medical specialist, Dr Voon Pei Jye in Malaysia for four consecutive years.
He said recognitions have proven that hospital in Sarawak despite under funding, under staffs, overwork, under paid, the medical personnel were working beyond the call of duty, putting Sarawak not just top in Malaysia but top in Asia Pacific region.
"Imagine if Kuala Lumpur gives us more funding and health autonomy under MA63," he said.
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