‘Give us the tools and we’ll do the job’

Dr Sim: Sarawak Heart Centre could be among top 10 in Asia-Pacific if state given more funds, autonomy

KUCHING: The Sarawak Heart Centre has the potential to be among the top 10 specialised cardiology hospitals in the AsiaPacific region if the state is given more funds and autonomy, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

He said international publication Newsweek had last year ranked Sarawak Heart Centre, which has provided treatment to 245,000 people in the last 22 years, in the top 100 in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We (Sarawak Heart Centre) are not the biggest (in Malaysia). We are not the oldest – the oldest is in Penang (but) they are not in the top 100. So (this shows) we can do it.

“If the federal government gives us enough money, we could achieve top 10. Give us the opportunity, give us our power back,” he said at the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Batu Kitang branch’s 8th anniversary and Chinese New Year gala dinner here Tuesday.

Dr Sim, who is also Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister, reiterated that Sarawak Heart Centre was also the only public hospital from Malaysia to make the list of top 100.

On another ma er, he called on Sarawakians to continue supporting Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, whose policies have not only enabled Sarawak to increase its revenue but also earned the state more respect and admiration.

On behalf of SUPP, he also thanked voters whose support enabled the party’s candidates to win in the last state election and become elected representatives in the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government.

Meanwhile, Batu Kitang assemblyman and SUPP Batu Kitang chairman Dato Lo Khere Chiang in his address said Sarawak is making steady progress under the capable leadership of Abang Johari.

“We need to have a very stable government. We need every Sarawakian to be united under GPS and, with one voice, demand for our rights and our autonomy on health and education.

“Here, I would like to thank our very own Deputy Premier Dr Sim for actively advocating for more health facilities, more heart centres and, more importantly, for Sarawak’s health autonomy from the federal government,” he said.

If the federal government gives us enough money, we could achieve top 10. Give us the opportunity, give us our power back.

Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian