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Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Health
- Borneo Post
Dr Sim: Sarawak's healthcare system receives over RM3 bln boost from Health Ministry as of April 30
Dr Sim speaking with reporters in this file photo. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (May 27): Sarawak has received a boost to its healthcare system this year with RM2.81 billion in operating funds and RM500.59 million in development funds from the federal Health Ministry as of April 30, said Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. He said these allocations are being used to strengthen service delivery across the state's healthcare network, including funding for personnel, facility repairs, minor upgrades and medical equipment procurement. The Deputy Premier said Sarawak currently has 26,978 government healthcare personnel, including 1,907 on contract, out of 30,410 approved positions. 'This underscores the state's commitment to ensuring adequate human resources for its hospitals and clinics,' he said in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today. In terms of infrastructure, he said two key hospital projects were nearing completion, namely the Petra Jaya Hospital at 87.97 per cent completion as of April 25, and the new Lawas Hospital (91.12 per cent). Meanwhile, the Serian and Siburan health clinics, both Type 3 facilities, began operations in April, expanding access to primary healthcare services in their respective areas. Dr Sim also revealed that RM17.26 billion was required to comprehensively upgrade and redevelop health facilities across Sarawak. 'Of this, RM9.25 billion is earmarked for hospital facilities and RM8.01 billion for health clinics. However, 76 per cent or 206 out of 271 of health clinics in Sarawak are considered to be in poor physical condition. An assessment by the State Health Department in 2023 estimated that RM3.1 billion would be needed to redevelop these dilapidated clinics.' To address this pressing need, Dr Sim said the federal government has approved RM50 million for six critical repair and redevelopment projects. All six are currently in the pre-implementation phase, with tender processes for four of the facilities expected to begin once JKR Sarawak completes their design work. 'Under the Rintis project initiative, two new clinics — the Nanga Atoi and Nanga Ngungun health clinics — have been approved at a total cost of RM12.8 million. 'The Nanga Atoi health clinic is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, while the tender for the Nanga Ngungun health clinic is now under evaluation,' he said. For the year 2025, he said a total of RM48.8 million has been allocated for the upgrading, renovation, and repair of clinics across Sarawak. This includes RM40 million under the Bitara Madani initiative, RM7.5 million under the BP201 budget for rural clinics, and RM1.3 million under the BP09 budget for staff quarters. He also said that to further enhance specialist care in the state, the Health Ministry has approved RM14.5 million each for the establishment of Invasive Cardiac Laboratories (ICLs) at Miri and Sibu Hospitals. 'An additional RM12.5 million has also been allocated to replace the existing ICL at the Sarawak Heart Centre, enabling continued excellence in cardiac care,' he said. On cancer care, Dr Sim updated that the Sarawak Cancer Centre project remains in the pre-implementation stage. 'JKR Malaysia, the appointed implementing agency, is currently finalising the cost estimation for the planned 310-bed facility, which is expected to serve as a regional hub for cancer treatment and care once completed,' he said. development Dr Sim Kui Hian DUN sitting healthcare
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Capitalising on data centre boom
MALAYSIA has become one of Southeast Asia's most actively pursued locations for digital infrastructure in the past two years, attracting an estimated RM278 billion in digital investments between 2021 and 2024. About RM184.7 billion of this has gone into cloud infrastructure and data centre projects, making Malaysia one of the top locations in the world for hyperscale facilities and cloud computing services. The charge is led by several American tech giants, such as Microsoft, where a US$2.2 billion (RM9.25 billion) investment was announced to construct three data centres in Malaysia by the second quarter of 2025. In addition, Google is investing US$2 billion to build its first data centre and cloud facility here, which is expected to generate 26,500 jobs and US$3.2 billion in economic activity by 2030. All indicators suggest that Malaysia's digital economy is expanding to unprecedented levels. However, the important question is whether Malaysia is reaping the benefits of this infrastructure or are we just contributing land and electricity to someone else's digital empire? Beyond the hype Data centres serve as the internet's invisible foundation. All AI queries, cloud documents, messages and searches go through their servers. Attracting them may seem like a huge victory, and in some respects, it is. They express confidence among investors in Malaysia's connectivity, energy supply and political stability. However, data centres by themselves are not major employers. Typically, a hyperscale facility may generate between 100 and 200 permanent positions, mostly in technical maintenance, security and facility management. Instead, construction, electrical work, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) installation and supply chain services account for the majority of job growth. Microsoft projects that nearly 37,000 jobs will be supported by the investment, which will also create US$10.9 billion in downstream value over a four-year period. The true economic concern, however, is whether this value can be retained in Malaysia rather than be diverted abroad through deals, earnings and data repatriation. Digital infrastructure We are constructing the digital economy's hardware but are we also building its ownership and capabilities? This is a silent worry as Malaysia presents itself as a digital hub. Foreign corporations will profit from the majority of the data handled in these centres, which will service clients worldwide and are subjected to foreign regulations. Without meaningful stakes in the software, platforms or intellectual property layered on top of that infrastructure, Malaysia risks becoming the industrial park of the digital world: essential but easily replaceable. The idea of digital sovereignty becomes crucial at this point. We must have a national policy that guarantees that: Malaysian law regulates the data created and kept here; Cloud computing capabilities are available to researchers and local businesses; Schools prepare students for the skills of the future with cloud-native technology; And critically, rather than merely hosting foreign IT giants, we are also developing homegrown ones. Environmental cost There is also a quieter cost – energy and water. Data centres are notoriously resource-intensive. The industry is putting a burden on power systems throughout the world as each factory uses energy that frequently exceeds 100MW. Electricity rates in Malaysia are anticipated to increase by 14.2% in July 2025. Some businesses are already looking into solar and other options but it is crucial that the ecosystem as a whole follow suit to pursue a sustainable economy. Constructing more than server rooms Malaysia's data centre boom can be revolutionary only if it is a component of a larger and strategic digital industrial policy. Here is how we can become a digital leader instead of just being a data landlord: Ensure local involvement in high-skilled operations like data analytics, AI services and cybersecurity. Take advantage of tax breaks for R&D, startup incubation and local cloud services in addition to construction. Include goals for renewable energy in all digital infrastructure projects to meet global ESG standards. Increase collaborations between academia and businesses by integrating instructors and students into cloud and data science settings. While policymakers should be optimistic about the billions pouring into Malaysia's data centre industry, it is also one that raises questions worth considering. Who is the data owner? Who truly benefits from this expansion? And who is shaping the policies that will govern our digital future? Malaysia is in a unique position to take the lead in Southeast Asia's digital revolution. However, including more vision, value and sovereignty into our digital strategy will be the key to leadership, not adding more servers. If we do not explore these questions now, we may discover a decade from now that we have built the highways to the cloud but left our people stuck on the ground. Galvin Lee Kuan Sian is a lecturer and programme coordinator for the Diploma in Business programme at the School of Diploma and Professional Studies, Taylor's College.
