Pending rep wants speedy distribution of government funds for healthcare facilities
KUCHING: An elected representative from the opposition wants SUPP to make sure that government funds would be channelled ‘ fast enough’ towards improving basic health facilities, instead of merely highlighting the problem in the newspapers.
Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong made this call in reference to a news report dated Jan 8, where SUPP Youth leaders highlighted various problems affecting the 40-year- old Tanah Puteh Clinic at Jalan Pending such as ceiling leakage, lack of wheelchairs and patients having no privacy during treatment due to lack of space.
“I was shocked to see SUPP, being under the ruling coalition, has come out complaining about these problems. Being a part of the ruling government, their (SUPP’s) role is to solve problems or improve the facilities, not to complain about self-failure to the press.
“It shows that the new generation of SUPP leaders cannot even differentiate the role of the opposition and the ruling coalition.
“I urge SUPP to stop the political stunt. Go back to playing their real role as (part of) the government of the day in making sure that funds are approved and being given out fast enough to solve all these problems,” she told reporters here yesterday.
Yong also pointed out that under the 2017 federal budget, the allocation for public health had been slashed, “from RM1.483 billion in 2016 to RM1.245 billion this year.”
“That is a reduction of about 16 per cent,” she noted.
Adding on, Yong calculated that following the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax ( GST) in 2015, the government had collected about RM30 billion from the people.
“But where has the money gone to? Why is there still lack of funds to improve the poor facilities?” she asked.
SUPP Youth Central publicity secretary Milton Foo, during a visit to Tanah Puteh Clinic last week, highlighted that the facility was in dire need of more space and enhanced facilities to cater for an average of 500 patients daily.
It found the clinic remains crowded and offers no privacy for patients, despite having undergone upgrading works in 2014.
It is learned that it is in need of many items such as 10 new wheelchairs, 30 plastic chairs, a cabinet, a safety storeroom and a proper ventilation system.
Foo had then pledged to help bring up the requests to the relevant authorities as he believed that ‘something could be worked out’ despite the protocol.
“I will go through the requests, and use all the connections I have, probably through ( Local Government Minister and SUPP president) Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian to bring up the clinic’s emergency needs (to the government).
“You must know the way. You need to highlight (the problems) to the right person and you will get the right attention,” Foo was quoted as having said.