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new clinics open to serve over 166,000 residents as a key committee faces potential restructuring.
- Malaysia’s Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad indicated support for a proposal to restructure a key committee overseeing the implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
- The proposed changes, suggested by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, would involve greater participation from crucial ministries like Finance and the Economic Planning Unit.
- Two new health clinics-in Serian and Siburan-opened today, poised to serve nearly 166,000 residents in the region.
- Dr. Dzulkefly noted that health-related issues under MA63 frequently require coordination across multiple government agencies.
Sarawak’s push for a more effective implementation of the malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) gained momentum today, as Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad signaled openness to restructuring the Technical Committee under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 Implementation Action Council (MTPMA63). The Minister stated that all proposals from Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr sim Kui Hian “deserved the federal government’s attention.”
A More Collaborative Approach to Health in Sarawak
“In my view, the proposal is very positive and shoudl be considered to improve the process,” Dr. Dzulkefly said,adding that with a dedicated minister in the Prime minister’s department for Sabah and Sarawak (Datuk Mustapha Sakmud),he would raise the matter through appropriate channels. He further noted that the Sarawak state government could also submit the proposals directly to the MA63 main secretariat under the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division (BHESS) in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Dr. Dzulkefly was responding to Dr. Sim’s proposal to revamp the MTPMA63 committee, broadening its scope to include the Finance Ministry, the Economic Planning Unit, the Public Service Department, and other key agencies. he acknowledged the reasonableness of the suggestion,explaining that health issues under MA63 often necessitate input from numerous ministries and agencies before final decisions can be reached.
Challenges to MA63 implementation- The current process can be slow due to the need for coordination between multiple ministries and agencies, hindering timely health initiative implementation.
Dr. Dzulkefly and Dr. Sim jointly chair the Sarawak Joint Action Committee on Health Growth, a platform designed to discuss strategic health-sector issues in Sarawak, aligning with the spirit of the MA63 agreement.
New Clinics to Ease Healthcare Burden
Alongside the discussion of committee restructuring, the opening of two new health clinics marked a meaningful step forward in improving healthcare access for residents of Serian and Siburan. The RM28.7 million Siburan Health Clinic is expected to serve nearly 81,000 people, while the Serian Health Clinic, built at a cost of approximately RM23.9 million, is projected to benefit over 85,000 residents in the Serian district.
“Both clinics opened today are designed as one-stop centres, each capable of handling up to 500 patients daily, helping to reduce congestion at major hospitals,” Dr. Dzulkefly stated during the opening ceremonies.
