SIBU: In a scathing critique of federal healthcare bureaucracy, Deputy Minister of Education Innovation and Talent Development, Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee, has demanded a radical overhaul of medical funding and delivery in Sarawak, arguing that the state can no longer afford to wait for Putrajaya to address life-threatening medical shortages.
Speaking at the official opening of the newly established cardiac catheterisation laboratory (CathLab) at Rejang Medical Centre (RMC) here on Friday, Dr Annuar underscored a growing willingness by the state government to bypass federal gridlocks to secure critical, life-saving infrastructure for its people.
He stated directly that Sarawak will no longer accept being treated like a “stepchild” (anak tiri), given the massive economic contributions the territory makes to the national coffers through its oil, gas and maritime trade.
The newly commissioned CathLab marks a historic turning point for the healthcare landscape of Sarawak’s central region, which has long suffered from a critical lack of advanced interventional cardiology.
Dr Annuar, who is also Nangka assemblyman, noted bluntly that if the state were to wait for the federal government or the Ministry of Health, a cardiac facility of this calibre would not exist in the region anytime soon.
“Because cardiac emergencies rely heavily on a strict ‘golden hour’ window, the new facility is positioned as a literal lifesaver for communities far beyond Sibu, functioning as a vital hub for the surrounding public healthcare institutions such as Kapit Hospital, Sarikei Hospital, Mukah Hospital and Kanowit Hospital.
“Previously, patients suffering from acute heart attacks faced grim survival odds due to the grueling travel times required to reach public facilities in Kuching. The new lab enables immediate, life-saving primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, a procedure where interventional cardiologists can physically clear blood clots and deploy stents to restore normal blood flow,” he stated.
Frustrated by long waiting lists in public hospitals and systemic funding deficits from the federal government, Dr Annuar proposed a bold policy shift regarding public-private healthcare integration.
He asserted that if the federal government cannot afford to build and equip state-of-the-art public cardiac wings in a timely manner, it should aggressively contract and subsidise treatments through established private facilities instead.
To push this agenda forward, he has urged Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew to raise a formal motion in the Dewan Negara demanding that the federal government directly buy over specialised medical services from private entities like RMC for the benefit of lower-income citizens.
This model of self-reliance is not unprecedented for the region, as Sarawak has already utilised its own state funds to construct its own specialised cancer centre, as well as critical bridges and schools, after federal allocations were cancelled or delayed by Putrajaya.
Beyond physical hardware, the state is actively tackling its acute shortage of medical specialists by implementing aggressive retention strategies.
Pointing to neighbouring Singapore, where a vast contingent of top-tier medical professionals are Malaysian expatriates, Dr Annuar argued that the key to reversing brain drain lies in providing cutting-edge facilities and structural career incentives.
In a highly strategic move to retain specialised talent locally, he signaled that the Sarawak Government is willing to use its unique immigration autonomy to grant Permanent Residency to vital non-Sarawakian medical specialists who commit to practicing in the region.
“Additionally, plans are officially underway to establish a standalone Sarawak Medical School, with a specialised blueprint panel.
“The medical school is envisioned as an ecological magnet that will keep local students within the state while simultaneously drawing in international specialists to teach and elevate the regional healthcare benchmark,” he said.
For Dr Annuar, the upgrade to RMC is both a significant political victory and a deeply personal milestone.
He summarised the realisation of the advanced cardiac centre as a victory grander than sports or politics, stating that while winning a World Cup brings celebration, the presence of this CathLab is far more important because it actively saves the lives of the people.
Among those present were Bukit Assek assemblyman, Joseph Chieng Jin Ek; Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew; Political Secretary to the Premier, Joshua Ting Fu Ying; Sibu Municipal Council Chairman, Councillor Clarence Ting Ing Horh; Sibu Hospital’s Deputy Director, Dr Nizam Ishak; RMC Managing Director, Dr John Tang Ing Ching; and RMC Resident Consultant Cardiologist, Dr Francis Shu Eng Pbeng.
