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Focus Malaysia
08-08-2025
- Health
- Focus Malaysia
Public healthcare under pressure: 'Budget 2026 must boost workforce, upgrade facilities'
MCA has called for a significant increase in Budget 2026 allocations for the Ministry of Health beyond the RM45.3 bil allocated in Budget 2025, saying the additional funding must prioritise workforce sustainability, employee remuneration and facility upgrades. Its deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said this in response to Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad's statement on Thursday (Aug 7) that over 2,000 experienced doctors and nurses with more than five years of service had resigned from the MOH between 2022 and 2024. This highlighted a critical challenge for our healthcare system which is to retain talent amid growing demands. 'This wave of departures comes as public hospitals and clinics are increasingly stretched due to a rising cost of living and an ageing population that depends heavily on government healthcare services,' said Dr Mah. 'With private medical costs and insurance premiums becoming unaffordable for many, more Malaysians are seeking treatment in public facilities. Unfortunately, the healthcare workforce is shrinking, and infrastructure is under mounting pressure.' Dr Mah further recommended the following measures: Upgrade public medical facilities Many hospitals and clinics are overcrowded, under-equipped, and in disrepair with one even affected by water supply disruption. Budget 2026 must allocate funds to repair and modernise infrastructure and digital systems, especially in high-demand areas. Enhance remuneration and incentives To retain skilled professionals, the government must raise emoluments, locum and hardship allowances, as well as specialist incentives, in line with the workload and inflation. Expand healthcare workforce intake Increase the intake of doctors, dentists, and nurses to alleviate staff shortages and promote healthier work-life balance, reducing burnout and overwork. Provide scholarships for nurses Extend financial aid for nurses to pursue further training and post-basic qualifications, supporting career advancement besides improving care quality and professionalism. Support working mothers with on-site daycare Introduce subsidised affordable daycare centres in hospitals and clinics to support medical personnel with young children, allowing them to continue working without compromising family responsibilities. Curb workplace bullying Implement and enforce clear, zero-tolerance policies against bullying by senior staff. Protect whistleblowers and ensure safe reporting channels across all healthcare facilities. Address mental health of healthcare workers Introduce confidential mental health programmes to support frontline staff experiencing stress, burnout, and psychological strain. 'While recent government initiatives such as reducing working hours and offering permanent appointments are steps in the right direction, deeper structural reforms are needed,' Dr Mah stressed. 'MCA urges MOH and the Ministry of Finance to work closely together in shaping a Budget 2026 that reflects the strategic importance of public healthcare.' ‒ Aug 8, 2025 Main image: The Star
Barnama
21-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Poised To Become Major Healthcare Hub, Says MBSB IB
BUSINESS KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is poised to become a major healthcare hub, driven by quality care, advancing technologies, and the growth of the hospitality sector, said MBSB Investment Bank Bhd (MBSB IB). In a note today, the bank said that the healthcare sector is undergoing a transition due to evolving national healthcare needs. 'Malaysia is progressing from a developing to a high-income nation, and its healthcare system is grappling with the complexities that accompany this shift. "The epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases, coupled with an ageing population, reflects a maturing society that now faces diseases of affluence and lifestyle," it said. MBSB IB noted that challenges are no longer merely about basic access, which has largely been achieved in Peninsular Malaysia, but now concern quality, efficiency, equity, and sustainability amid rising costs and demand. Malaysia is not rigidly adhering to a single ideological model – whether fully public or private – but is instead adopting a pragmatic, dual-tier system with increasing public-private partnerships, it said. The bank said strong government support forms the backbone of the sector. 'The government's continued heavy subsidisation of public healthcare and its active pursuit of universal health coverage through various initiatives, such as PeKaB40, Skim Perubatan Madani, and the National Health Fund, demonstrate a firm commitment to ensuring that healthcare remains a right for all citizens, not merely a privilege. 'This is reflected in the Budget 2025's allocation of RM45.3 billion for the domestic healthcare sector. The willingness to address high out-of-pocket expenses also highlights a focus on financial risk protection for the population,' it said.
Daily Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Ho Hup defaults on RM45.3 million loan
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: The Crowne Plaza project as seen on June 9, 2025, next to the Sedco HQ and Wawasan Plaza. Kota Kinabalu: The listed company developing the city's Crowne Plaza project has been in the real estate development news lately for the wrong reason. In 2017, the InterContinental Hotels Group signed a management agreement with Golden Wave for the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Sabah, East Malaysia. Advertisement Golden Wave, the receiver and manager, is inviting interested parties, through an advertisement dated July 10, 2025, with financial capacity and relevant experience to register their interest in reviving the Crown Kota Kinabalu Project at Jalan Wawasan KK Sentral. The 367-room Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu Waterfront, slated to open in 2021, was to be part of a mixed-use development at a waterfront location in downtown Kota Kinabalu. Ten minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, the hotel is within walking distance to major office buildings, shopping centres and tourist attractions. Four years later, however post-Covid, the hotel project has yet to be completed. In April 2025, Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd slipped into Practice Note 17 (PN17) status and in June 2025, it defaulted on revolving credit facilities from AmBank Islamic Berhad amounting to RM45.3 million. The default was due to the company being unable to meet principal and interest instalments due to cash flow difficulties. Last year, Ho Hup Construction Company Bhd said its 52 per cent-owned unit, Golden Wave Sdn Bhd (GWSB), obtained an interim restraining order from the High Court in Kota Kinabalu, shielding it from legal actions by its creditors. GWSB is 70 per cent owned by Ho Hup's property development division, Ho Hup Ventures (KK) Sdn Bhd (HHVKK), which is in turn 75 per cent owned by Ho Hup. The Sabah Development Bank Bhd (SDB) has taken legal action against Ho Hup and HHVKK over a loan facility granted to GWSB. In a filing made last September, Ho Hup said that it is being sued in its capacity as a corporate guarantor for GWSB, while Ho Hup Ventures is being sued by SDB as a shareholder of GWSB. At that time, Ho Hup noted that SDB had withdrawn all claims and suits against GWSB after the latter filed for judicial management. In January this year, the Pro Tem Committee of The Crown (PTCTC) met with Mayor Dato' Sri Dr Sabin Samitah and City Hall officials as the land is under DBKK, on issues which may hinder completion of the project to safeguard the interests of buyers. RKN & Co (RKN) was appointed as Receiver and Manager for the developer GWSB. In a filing with the stock exchange recently, the company said it had received a notice of demand and termination dated May 29, 2025, from the bank over the outstanding amount. Ho Hup said the total outstanding under the facilities represents 13.37 per cent of the group's net assets of RM338.48 million, based on audited financial statements for the year ended Dec 31, 2023, and 31.97 per cent of net assets of RM141.60 million, based on its latest announced financials. Ho Hup acknowledged that the default could lead to legal action by AmBank Islamic. To address this, it plans to begin discussions with the bank on a settlement proposal. It has also appointed an independent financial adviser to engage with creditors on a debt restructuring proposal to regularise its financial position. On April 18, Ho Hup announced its classification as a PN17 issuer after wholly owned Bukit Jalil Development Sdn Bhd defaulted on RM112.69 million in loan facilities for which Ho Hup is the guarantor. The company has been in the red since 2021. For the financial period ended March 31, 2025, it posted a net loss of RM27.2 million on a revenue of RM2.29 million. There are no comparative figures as the group changed its financial year-end from Dec 31, 2024, to June 30, 2025. As of end-March 2025, its current borrowings stood at RM366.3 million, with non-current borrowings at RM71.9 million. Current assets amounted to RM667.2 million, while non-current assets totalled RM185.9 million.
