KUCHING: Kota Sentosa state assemblyman, Wilfred Yap Sau Sin, has dismissed allegations of neglect at Kota Sentosa Health Clinic, stressing that the facility has received continuous upgrades through state-funded initiatives over the past years.
He said the claims made by Michael Kong, special assistant to Stampin Member of Parliament, Chong Chieng Jen, and Pending state assemblywoman, Violet Yong, was misleading.
They disregarded the substantial investments channelled through the Sarawak Government’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) and Minor Rural Project (MRP) allocations.
“Despite the legal fact that health is a federal government’s fiscal responsibility and duty. As such Members of Parliament have a duty and responsibility to ensure that issues on health services are properly and promptly resolved.
“Nevertheless, as the state assemblyman for Kota Sentosa and a member of the clinic’s advisory panel appointed in 2022, I have consistently prioritised upgrading healthcare facilities for the benefit of our community.
“Between 2023 and 2025, more than RM1.6 million has been allocated to Kota Sentosa Health Clinic under the state’s RTP covering multiple phases of improvements to infrastructure and patient facilities,” he said in a statement today.
Yap said the 2023 RTP allocation covered the construction of the clinic’s car park, costing RM250,000.
“While the 2025 RTP allocation included a second-phase car park (RM250,000), a new car park facing the main road (RM50,000), upgrades to facilities and building amenities (RM300,000), as well as the construction of a new medical laboratory building (RM500,000),” he said.
He added that the 2026 RTP allocation would go towards building a sheltered car park for the clinic’s staff at a cost of RM250,000.
Apart from infrastructure improvements, Yap said over RM85,000 in MRP and community support funding had been channelled to enhance patient comfort and service efficiency.
“These contributions included the purchase of three-seater link benches and hot-and-cold water dispensers, medical boiler equipment for the dental unit, air coolers and counter upgrades, the renovation of the pharmacy walk-in counter, and support for various community-based health and wellness programmes,” he said.
He stressed that all these initiatives demonstrate the continuous commitment of the Sarawak Government and his service centre to ensure that Kota Sentosa Health Clinic remains functional, comfortable and able to serve patients with dignity.
“To suggest that the clinic’s current condition is due to ‘prolonged neglect’ based on a few old but usable chairs is factually incorrect and unfair to all the dedicated healthcare officers and staff who have, despite limited federal resources, work tirelessly to maintain and upgrade the clinic step by step.
“Before lecturing on ‘responsibility’ and ‘commitment’, perhaps Michael Kong and YB Violet raising the issue should ask themselves, what concrete contributions has YB Chong Chieng Jen made in his capacity as Member of Parliament for Stampin to the Kota Sentosa Health Clinic?
“Has he given any funding, secured funding from federal government, initiated upgrades, or implemented programmes to improve patient comfort and facilities?
“While my service centre has delivered more than RM1.6 million in RTP allocations and various MRP initiatives, there is no record of any comparable action from him,” he said.
Yap added that good governance is measured by action and results, not rhetoric or social media posts.
“The GPS government focuses on delivering for the people, improving clinics, and enhancing access to healthcare – not playing politics,” he said.
He also said that he will continue working closely with the clinic’s management and the Sarawak Health Department to ensure the community receives quality healthcare services.
Earlier today, Yap visited the clinic and handed over two hot-and-cold water dispensers and 10 three-seater benches for patients and visitors.
