Bintulu: DAP Sarawak Bintulu Branch Chairman Chiew Chan Yew has called on the Sarawak Government to move toward a stronger and more autonomous future by developing healthcare infrastructure owned by Sarawakians themselves, saying the proposed “Sarawak Clinic” initiative is a crucial step to strengthen the state’s healthcare system.
Chiew expressed disappointment over what he described as “absurd statements” from the Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), criticising the party for opposing efforts to improve Sarawak’s healthcare sector.
“Even when Sarawak intends to build a more solid healthcare foundation, SUPP chooses to oppose it. Such a stance not only lacks political responsibility but also completely ignores the long-standing medical difficulties faced by the people,” he said in a statement.
He urged SUPP Bintulu Youth Chief to reflect carefully before issuing public statements, adding that Sarawak’s healthcare challenges are well-documented and demand constructive solutions rather than political rhetoric.
Chiew noted that Sarawak has long grappled with chronic issues such as overcrowded hospitals, long waiting times, a shortage of specialists, and outdated medical equipment.
“These are real, daily pressures borne by the people. The proposal to establish Sarawak Clinics has a very simple objective – to make basic healthcare more accessible, so that the public does not need to crowd hospitals for every minor illness, allowing major hospitals to focus on critical and emergency cases,” he said.
He stressed that Sarawak, with annual revenues of up to RM14 billion, should demonstrate its strength through tangible action that benefits the people, not through repeated political slogans.
“SUPP’s recent objections to Sarawak’s healthcare development are entirely non-constructive. They mislead the public and irrationally provoke division,” he said.
Chiew also highlighted that Sarawak is not lacking in resources or political influence, pointing out that SUPP holds several key positions within the state government, while Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) controls 11 federal ministerial and deputy ministerial posts, including one Deputy Prime Minister and the current Deputy Minister of Health, Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
Despite this, he said, the ruling coalition has failed to produce effective solutions to Sarawak’s long-standing grassroots medical issues.
“Instead of addressing real problems, they choose to attack the opposition for proposing practical solutions,” Chiew remarked. “Such an attitude is irresponsible.”
Explaining the “Sarawak Clinic” concept, Chiew said it would empower the state government to plan community healthcare more flexibly, recruit Sarawakian medical professionals from abroad to return home, and collaborate with local private clinics – filling critical service gaps more quickly and at lower cost.
“The opposition is presenting a direction, a viable solution, and a pathway to improve people’s lives. If GPS and SUPP continue to oppose for the sake of opposing, they are effectively giving up the opportunity to strengthen Sarawak’s healthcare foundation,” he said.
Chiew concluded by urging the Sarawak Government and GPS to depoliticise the healthcare issue and focus on the people’s needs.
“What the people need is affordable, accessible, timely and effective medical services — not slogans, and not endless political quarrels.
“As the opposition, we will continue to provide checks and balances, but Sarawak must start taking real action. Establishing Sarawak’s own medical infrastructure is not a bad thing – it is a step forward,” he said.
