Technical meeting good start to health autonomy pursuit

KUCHING: The recent technical meeting on Sarawak’s health autonomy held here reflects a deep commitment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

In stating this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the meeting saw the participation of top leaders from the civil service, policy and lawmakers from the federal government and Sarawak.

“Sixty years ago, our forefathers had a series of meetings leading to the formation of Malaysia by Sabah, Sarawak, Singapore and Malaya. After 60 years of ‘marriage’, there are issues over Sarawakian needs and aspirations.

“Thanks goes to the Ministry of Health (MoH) Malaysia for coming to Sarawak, for the beginning of a series of technical meetings on Sarawak’s health autonomy under MA63 (delegation of power),” he said in a Facebook post after the meeting.

The meeting was held at Wisma Bapa Malaysia on Friday (Jan 12), with the federal delegation led by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, described the meeting as the first historical technical meeting.

“With the working subcommittee, we shall be able to report progress to the working committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and eventually the MA63 committee chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Anwar when chairing the MA63 meeting, had stated we need to be ‘adil’ (fair) to the agreement by our forefathers in 1963,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii also said that he had a fruitful discussion with Dr Dzulkefly on several matters including on the devolution of powers over healthcare to Sarawak.

“I am glad that the discussion with the Sarawak government was fruitful as we find ways to partner and work together when it comes to healthcare delivery and services in the state,” he said in a Facebook post.

The former chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Health, Science and Innovation also said he had a chance to chat with Senate President Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who just arrived here.

“This is to get updates on his meeting together with the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat with the Prime Minister on plans to table a Parliamentary Service Act to strengthen the independence of Parliament,” said Dr Yii.

On Jan 12, it was reported that the MoH will look into the request made by the Sarawak government to have administrative control over healthcare matters in the state.

Dr Dzulkefly said he had taken note of the views and recommendations conveyed by Dr Sim.

He said healthcare matters include those related to infrastructure, administration, human resources and staffing.

“We will definitely look into the request and this will be followed by setting up of sub-committees to look into the matter.

“In my opinion, the request is reasonable,” he told reporters after visiting the Petra Jaya Hospital project here.