Latest news with #PartiWarisan
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Express
Sabah doctor shortage is serious: Warisan
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: 'There's a silent collapse happening in the system,' Dr Koh (left) said, referring to rising resignation rates, a growing population, and what appears to be insufficient Federal response to staffing needs. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's healthcare system is crippled by a severe doctor shortage, ageing facilities and geographic isolation. According to Health Ministry data as of April 2025, Sabah – home to 3.742 million – has only one doctor for every 795 people, nearly double the Health Ministry's target ratio of 1:400 and more than three times below the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of 1:225. Of the 9,356 doctors Sabah needs to meet the Health Ministry's minimum ratio, only 4,708 are currently serving in the State. And of these, just 2,522 are permanent medical officers. Advertisement Dr Istefan Koh, health advisor to Parti Warisan and a former doctor, said the data pointed to a worrying trend. 'There's a silent collapse happening in the system,' he said, referring to rising resignation rates, a growing population, and what appears to be insufficient Federal response to staffing needs. He noted that only 28pc of current medical officers in Sabah are local-born, further exacerbating the state's reliance on federal deployments that are often unpredictable or delayed. The turnover rate among medical officers in Sabah was 46pc in 2024, and had already reached 10.3pc by April this year, with most leaving due to contract expiration, transfers, or burnout. Koh said such instability places a heavier burden on the doctors who remain. In one instance, he claimed that a hospital in Semporna saw six out of 21 doctors leave within a month earlier this year. 'Imagine the weight they are carrying,' he said. 'Doctors are saying they want to quit – it's getting very bad in Sabah. What else can we do but wait for reinforcements?' He added that while the population continues to grow, medical staffing has not increased proportionally. In 2023, the ratio stood at 1:680, and it has since worsened. The data also highlights infrastructure constraints. Sabah has 24 hospitals, the majority over 50 years old, many serving remote areas. Distances between facilities can exceed 550km, with some patients travelling up to six hours one way just to access basic care. Nearly half of Sabahans live in rural or island areas, with many living in poverty, making access to specialist care even more difficult. Koh also pointed to facilities like the newly built Hospital Beluran, which remains underutilised due to staffing constraints, and Tawau Hospital, which he said has enough beds but not enough personnel to provide full services. He urged federal health authorities to accelerate promised reforms and provide immediate manpower support, particularly for rural Sabah.
The Star
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Warisan rep slams ‘recycled promises' ahead of Sabah polls
KOTA KINABALU: A proposal to limit the Sabah Chief Minister's term to two terms is nothing new and is now being recycled by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) as a political gimmick ahead of the state election, says Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong. Wong, who is from Parti Warisan, said the idea had already been put forward in 2021 when Pakatan Harapan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the current Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, which included a two-term cap for the Chief Minister's post. 'But during their five-year administration, despite having a two-thirds majority in the state assembly, they didn't do anything to implement this proposal. 'Now that the election is approaching, suddenly they're bringing it up again as if it's a fresh promise. Isn't this misleading the people?' he said. He was responding to a recent statement by GRS deputy secretary-general Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is also the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, that the proposal would be included in GRS' election manifesto. Wong questioned why the GRS-led state government failed to pursue the constitutional amendment earlier if they were truly committed to reform. 'They had the numbers. Why didn't they do it then? Why only now?' he asked. He also criticised Armizan, who is the Papar MP, for using what he called 'sweet slogans' that do not translate into actual improvements in people's lives. 'On paper, their words may sound good, but is our life today really better? The government isn't the one who gets to answer that — the people are the ones living the reality,' he said. He said that despite Sabah's natural resources and strategic location, the state remained one of the poorest, still grappling with poor infrastructure, power and water cuts, bad roads and inadequate basic services. Wong urged Sabahans to take inspiration from Sarawak in electing local leaders who are genuinely focused on their people's welfare. 'This time, let's give the mandate to a local party, Parti Warisan, to take up the responsibility. Warisan is inclusive, diverse and independent of peninsula-based political agendas,' he said. Hajiji, who will be leading GRS into the upcoming state election for a second term, had recently told party members that the next term would be his last.
Daily Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Warisan firm in not forming alliances
Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025 By: Ibrahim Tabir Text Size: Azis said Warisan is also working towards securing enough seats to form the state government in the coming 17th State Election (PRN17). KUNAK: Parti Warisan reiterated its firm stance to continue operating independently without forming alliances with any other party in the coming state election (PRN). Its Information Chief, Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, said the party is currently focusing on defending the seats it won in the last election, including the Kunak state seat, following the defection of the elected representative. Advertisement He added that Warisan is also working towards securing enough seats to form the state government in the coming 17th State Election (PRN17). 'We must have the mindset to win, to believe in ourselves and show that same belief to the people. Given the current situation, we're confident that Warisan can go beyond the 37-seat mark required by the constitution to form the state government,' he told the media after attending a casual Sembang Santai session with the Kunak community at SJKC Pai Sheng Hall last Saturday. In the same development, Parti Warisan Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Yusof Apdal expressed optimism that the Kunak state seat would continue to be held by Warisan by fielding the best candidate in the state election. A total of 500 new members from five branches in Kunak submitted their membership forms to Warisan at the event. * 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
The Star
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Yusof Apdal ready to contest in state election if selected
KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohammad Yusof Apdal said he is prepared to contest a state seat in his home base of Lahad Datu in the upcoming election. The Lahad Datu MP, however, said it is up to Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal to decide if he can contest for the party, which sits in opposition at the state level. "It is up to the president, there are four state seats in the Lahad Datu parliamentary constituency," said Yusof when asked by reporters after his ministry's Kupi Kupi Bah Kita with the media. Yusof, who is Shafie's younger brother, is speculated to be a possible candidate for one of the four seats in Lahad Datu, which is seen as a Warisan stronghold, having won all the seats in the 2020 snap elections. Two Warisan assemblymen—Datuk Norazlinah Arif (Kunak) and Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama)—have defected to other parties. Earlier, Yusof urged the media to continue helping the ministry create awareness and understanding among the people about the ministry's role. He said various activities by his ministry aimed at creating awareness in science and innovation were still not well known among the people, especially in Sabah. "That is why we have held various programmes such as the National Science Week 2025 in Sabah. "We want Sabah children at the school level to know, understand, and become interested in the field of science, which is an important choice for the future of this country," Yusof added. He said his ministry is also proposing the establishment of a National Science Centre in Kota Kinabalu, with the state government assisting in identifying a site for the facility. He said his ministry's efforts help create a better understanding of the importance of science to the community in Sabah. He noted that many students are not interested in science subjects because they may not see a future in the field. "As such, we have the necessary programmes with scientists on tour to help students gain more interest in sciences and see the potential of its future in their career plans," he added.
Borneo Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Hire experts, not loyalists - Warisan
Azis Jamman KOTA KINABALU (July 9): Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman has hit back at State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun's recent statement that Sabah is 'not ready' to directly participate in bidding for oil blocks, calling it an excuse that exposes the real problem with how the state's resources have been managed. 'With due respect, Datuk Seri, your statement that Sabah is 'not ready' reveals more about how our resources have been handled so far: distributing concessions to cronies and sub-contractors, letting others do the work, while the government merely collects 'percent-percent',' Azis said in a statement on Tuesday. Azis argued that if the state genuinely lacks technical expertise, there should be no excuse not to recruit the right people. 'If we claim we lack expertise, why not recruit and appoint true experts? Find and hire qualified professionals, not political loyalists whose only skill is 'samun dan jilat',' he said, adding that Sabah must start somewhere if it ever hopes to gain experience. 'Every million always starts with number one. Waiting forever keeps Sabah permanently at the margins of its own wealth,' he stressed. Addressing concerns over funding, Azis pointed out that the state government had previously issued almost RM1 billion in SUKUK to settle legacy debts, including buying vessels worth hundreds of millions, the whereabouts of which, he claimed, remain unknown. 'So don't tell us it's impossible to raise funds for SMJ Energy to participate upstream and downstream in Sabah's resource-rich waters,' he said, adding that smart partnerships with credible investors could also be pursued, but with Sabah retaining control over management and its natural resources. Azis also questioned how much experience Petronas contractors had when they first ventured into upstream and downstream operations. 'If those companies were 'ready' back then, why can't Sabah — or SMJ Energy — also be ready now?' he asked. Taking aim at Masidi's oft-cited mantra of 'kerja diam-diam tapi hasil ada' (quiet work, but results are there), Azis countered that the reality on the ground tells a different story. 'It's ironic to hear about 'kerja diam-diam tapi hasil ada' when in reality, Sabah's oil wealth still leaves our shores, and our people see so little,' he said. For Azis, the real issue is not Sabah's readiness but whether its leaders are truly prepared to prioritize the people's interest over political convenience and the sub-contracting of opportunities to cronies. 'True leadership doesn't wait for perfect conditions. True leadership means starting now — building expertise, controlling our resources, and ensuring Sabah finally benefits directly from the wealth beneath our own soil and sea,' he said.
