Nearly 600 doctors appeal to leave Sabah, Sarawak postings
Published on: Fri, Jul 25, 2025
By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting maldistribution studies to scrutinise the placement of medical officers at health facilities nationwide, said its Deputy Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni. For example, he said the MOH had offered 650 permanent positions in Sabah and Sarawak, but nearly 600 medical officers submitted appeal letters to be released from their postings in both states. "Only seven medical officers clicked on the permanent positions.. So, how can we help and uphold the rights of the people of Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan? Should we place all medical officers in the Klang Valley or urban areas only? "We must consider the human rights of all Malaysians appropriately. Nonetheless, we are working on ways to increase the number of permanent positions for deserving medical officers,' he said. He said this when winding up the debate on the motion for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statement at the Dewan Rakyat here on Thursday. Meanwhile, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the Gig Workers Bill 2025, scheduled to be tabled during this sitting, specifically emphasises four main components - the definition of gig workers, income, dispute resolution mechanism and social security. He said the bill introduces a structured dispute resolution mechanism as an official channel for gig workers to present any issues or unfairness regarding their services, thus allowing the complaints to be addressed systematically. "The dispute resolution process can be done through several stages, namely through internal mechanisms, conciliation proceedings, and, if unresolved, it can be brought before the gig worker tribunal,' he said when winding up the debate on the report for the ministry. Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah, meanwhile, said the ministry is ready to study the feasibility of regulating e-hailing fares based on the findings and recommendations of the Klang Valley Land Public Transport Strategic Plan (PSPALK), which is expected to be finalised at the end of this year. He also said that the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) and Bank Negara Malaysia are carrying out a short-term one-off study with e-hailing licence holders, which will be completed in September, to identify daily insurance solutions or any form of insurance that is more flexible and affordable for drivers. "For p-hailing services, meanwhile, no specific insurance protection plan has been created for the segment, but the Transport Ministry is coordinating efforts with the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (Piam) and Bank Negara to draft and establish a special insurance protection code for p-hailing activities,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
23 minutes ago
- Sinar Daily
Government mulls raising tobacco tax
The proposal aligns with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform, particularly given the long-standing moratorium on tobacco tax hikes. 07 Aug 2025 03:44pm An economist reportedly suggested raising the rate to between 60 and 75 per cent. - Photo edited via Canva PUTRAJAYA - The government is considering a proposal to raise the tobacco tax rate, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday. Anwar, who is also the Finance Minister, said the proposal aligns with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform, particularly given the long-standing moratorium on tobacco tax hikes. Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.60 per cent of retail prices. The country has no formal mechanism for periodic adjustments or revaluation of the rate, which was last increased in September 2014. "I'm enthusiastic. I don't smoke, and I'm anti-smoking,' he said in response to questions on whether the government may revise the tax in Budget 2026, to be tabled in October. Anwar was speaking after attending a Budget 2026 engagement session here today. An economist reportedly suggested raising the rate to between 60 and 75 per cent Last week, when announcing the 13th Malaysia Plan, Anwar said the government would broaden its "pro-health' tax beyond sugary products to also cover tobacco, vapes and alcohol. He said the expanded tax framework aims not only to increase revenue, but more critically, to encourage behavioural change and curb the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs, commonly associated with unhealthy lifestyles, include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Anwar said healthcare remains a key government priority, noting that the public system is under growing strain from medical inflation, the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and an ageing population. According to the parliamentary calendar, Budget 2026 is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 10. - BERNAMA
Free Malaysia Today
27 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt considering raising tobacco tax
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the proposal to increase the tobacco tax was in line with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform. (Bernama pic) PUTRAJAYA : The government is considering a proposal to increase the tobacco tax, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the proposal aligns with the government's commitment to public health and fiscal reform, particularly given the long-standing moratorium on tobacco tax hikes. Malaysia's tobacco tax currently accounts for 58.6% of retail prices. The country has no formal mechanism for periodic adjustments or revaluation of the rate, which was last increased in September 2014. 'I agree with the spirit of that proposal. I myself not only do not smoke, but also fully support anti-smoking campaigns,' he said in response to questions on whether the government may revise the tax in Budget 2026. According to the parliamentary calendar, Budget 2026 is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 10. Anwar was speaking after attending a Budget 2026 engagement session here today. Last week, when announcing the 13th Malaysia Plan, Anwar said the government would broaden its 'pro-health' tax beyond sugary products to also cover tobacco, vapes and alcohol. He said the expanded tax framework aims not only to increase revenue, but more critically, to encourage behavioural change and curb the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). NCDs, commonly associated with unhealthy lifestyles, include heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. Anwar said healthcare remains a key government priority, noting that the public system is under growing strain from medical inflation, the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and an ageing population.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
MOH expedites permanent posts for 4,352 medical officers
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) is expediting the permanent appointment of 4,352 medical officers under Grade UD10, as part of efforts to strengthen Malaysia's public healthcare system and address long-standing staffing shortages in government facilities. This major recruitment drive follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's 'Announcement of Appreciation for the People of Malaysia' on July 23, which included the creation of thousands of permanent posts to improve public services and relieve pressure on frontline workers. In response, the MOH has moved swiftly, engaging with key central agencies — the Public Services Commission (SPA), Public Service Department (JPA) and Ministry of Finance (MoF) — to ensure the smooth and timely rollout of the appointments. As the appointments involve multiple cohorts of contract medical officers, the process will be carried out in phases. The ministry said this phased approach is necessary to ensure fairness, while safeguarding officers' seniority and overall welfare. SPA has already begun issuing offer letters, with all expected to be distributed by 18 August 2025. The new officers are scheduled to report for duty at MOH health facilities nationwide starting October 2, 2025. The MOH also expressed appreciation to SPA, JPA, and MoF for their strong cooperation in keeping the process on track. 'The ministry remains committed to ensuring the entire appointment process runs smoothly,' it said in a statement. 'This effort aligns with MOH's broader strategy to reinforce the national healthcare system by filling critical positions in a planned, balanced and service-oriented manner.'
