Kuala Lumpur: Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol has sounded the alarm over deteriorating conditions at rural government facilities, revealing that public servantt including police officers in Bau are forced to use their own money to equip and maintain their offices.
Speaking during the Budget 2026 debate in the Dewan Rakyat, Mordi described the situation at the Bau District Police Headquarters (IPD Bau) as a reflection of long-neglected rural infrastructure needs.
He said his recent visit to the police complex exposed a startling reality: many office items, including air conditioners, furniture, and televisions, were personally purchased by officers.
“I was shocked to see a label on an air conditioner that read ‘Government Property’ and another that read ‘Personal Property’. Officers are buying air conditioners, sofas, desks, and even office chairs with their own money,” he said.
Mordi stressed that the issue went beyond staff comfort, highlighting that inadequate facilities hinder the ability of officers to perform their duties effectively.
“This is not merely about workplace comfort, but about the obstacles officers face in carrying out their responsibilities,” he said.
“Frontline agencies such as the police, fire department, and hospitals must be provided with proper infrastructure so they can serve the public with dignity and integrity.”
He called on the government to increase constituency allocations so that Members of Parliament could assist in upgrading basic government facilities in their areas.
Additionally, he urged both the Home Affairs Ministry and the Health Ministry to conduct on-site assessments of rural government buildings to ensure they meet minimum standards.
Ambulance Shortages Risking Lives in Bau and Lundu
Turning to healthcare, the Mas Gading MP expressed grave concern over the shortage of ambulances and overcrowded facilities at Hospital Bau and Hospital Lundu, which together serve more than 100,000 residents across the Bau and Lundu districts.
According to Mordi, Hospital Bau currently operates with only three ambulances, two of which are borrowed temporarily from other hospitals, while the third is under repair. The hospital requires at least five operational units to meet the district’s emergency response needs.
He cited a recent tragedy in Kampung Stenggang, where a woman involved in a road accident died after waiting more than an hour for an ambulance to arrive.
“The victim was still conscious and able to speak while lying on the road. Sadly, she passed away that night. It’s heartbreaking to think that if the ambulance had arrived earlier, her life might have been saved,” he said.
Mordi said both Hospital Bau and Hospital Lundu were operating beyond capacity. Hospital Bau, built more than three decades ago, has long exceeded its optimal service limits, while Hospital Lundu constructed in the 1960s is in urgent need of replacement.
He revealed that the new Bau Hospital project, initially proposed as a six-storey facility, was later revised to four storeys to suit the site’s capacity.
However, it has been deferred from the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to the 14th Malaysia Plan (RMK14), delaying much-needed improvements.
“The postponement of the Bau Hospital project is deeply disappointing,” he said. “Both hospitals face not only structural limitations but also shortages of medical and non-medical equipment that compromise service quality.”
Ensuring Rural Fairness in Budget 2026
Concluding his remarks, Mordi emphasised that rural fairness must be at the heart of national development, stressing that prosperity and basic services should not be concentrated only in urban areas.
“Development must not be confined to the cities. Essential services like government offices and hospitals in rural constituencies deserve equal priority,” he said.
