Chua honoured for SGH cardiac role

KUCHING: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian paid tribute to the late Datuk Chua Jui Meng, who was instrumental in establishing the cardiac service at Sarawak General Hospital.

In a Facebook post, Dr Sim reminisced about Chua’s persistent advocacy for the funding of SGH’s cardiac service.

“I am blessed with the opportunity to be the first head of the cardiology service 23 years ago.

“Thank you very much, Datuk Chua, for having faith in me and supporting us all the way in setting up the cardiac services at SGH in 2000,” he said.

Dr Sim further recalled that Chua had approved the implementation of Cardiac MRI at Sarawak General Hospital in 2003, a first for the region.

He also mentioned that the Yayasan Sarawak chairman at the time, Pehin Sri Adenan Satem, had approved funding for Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee to undergo six months of training in Berlin, Germany. This training made Annuar the first cardiologist in the region trained in cardiac MRI.

On Dec 3, Chua, the country’s longest-serving health minister, passed away at the age of 80. He served from 1995 to 2004.