KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is counting on the deputy prime minister and the other four Sarawakian MPs in the new federal cabinet to air the concerns of the medical fraternity from the state.
He said this includes the proposal by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to have a representative from the medical fraternity appointed as a Senator in the Dewan Negara.
“I hope the voices of these five people in the cabinet will bring up what the doctors here in Sarawak want, including the appointment of a Senator from MMA.
“I’m not the Prime Minister, I am just the Premier. If not, I would give you the Senator post,” he said during the MMA Sarawak’s 50th Anniversary dinner at Imperial Hotel on Sunday (Dec 4) evening.
Abang Johari also acknowledged the contribution made by members of MMA Sarawak Branch and the Society of Private Medical Practitioners Sarawak in fighting the pandemic.
“I welcome the support of healthcare professionals including MMA Sarawak to enhance and improve healthcare services in Sarawak in order to serve the people better and tap its potentials as a future health and wellness hub in the region,” he said.
MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai had earlier called on Abang Johari to support MMA’s call for a Senatorship to be given to the association so there is a representative to bring up ideas for a better healthcare system.
“One of the aims and objectives of MMA is to look after the interests of the medical fraternity and currently I pay a lot of attention on public interest to make sure the public is well and to guide the public on wellness.
“For all these reasons, I’m hoping the Premier will support MMA’s call for a Senator post to be given to MMA for us to bring up problems, to bring up ideas for a better healthcare system that can be implemented in Malaysia.
“We have written to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but we also ask for your (Abang Johari) support to see if you can help us get this Senator post, not a political one, but for the non-governmental organisation (NGO) to have a place under the NGO quota and I’m sure this will help us and the public,” said Dr Muruga.
Also present were the Premier’s wife Datin Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, MMA Sarawak chairman Dr Liew Shan Fap and event’s organising chairman Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira.
