Kuching: Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong Wui Wui has issued a strong call for Sarawak’s Minister for Public Health, Dr Sim Kui Hian, to re-evaluate his priorities, urging him to address the persistent healthcare neglect in rural areas rather than spending millions of ringgit on frequent overseas “study trips”.
Violet Yong criticised Dr Sim’s overseas travels in 2024 and 2025, which included visits to Switzerland, Washington DC, London, Shanghai, and Perth, all under the pretext of “health benchmarking”.
She questioned the tangible outcomes of these trips, noting a lack of corresponding attention to the deteriorating state of healthcare facilities in remote regions such as Baram, Belaga, and Kapit.
“I observed that over the years, none of his official Facebook updates have ever highlighted the dire conditions of these rural health facilities or shown any serious effort to address the hardships faced by the rural rakyat.
“Let me remind the Minister: he is not a bystander in this matter. Public health in Sarawak falls under his ministerial charge. If rural health issues are not his responsibility, then why is he travelling the world under the banner of healthcare improvement?” Violet Yong stated in a statement.
She emphasised that communities in the interior parts of Sarawak have been suffering for years from clinics that are severely understaffed, under-equipped, and dangerously inaccessible.
“These facilities face persistent shortages of medicine, lack emergency support, and are cut off from digital systems, yet little has been done to change the status quo.
“Dr Sim must stop hiding behind the excuse that healthcare is a federal matter. What has he done as the State Minister for Public Health to improve these conditions?
“Has he ever visited these rural clinics to see the situation for himself? What initiatives has he brought to the Sarawak Cabinet to address rural healthcare needs?” she asked.
Violet Yong also demanded to know whether Dr Sim has ever tabled a comprehensive rural healthcare blueprint or presented firm demands to the Federal Health Ministry on behalf of Sarawak’s interior population over the past nine years.
“Sarawakians deserve answers. We do not need more selfies or photos of his overseas trips.
“If the health of our people truly matters to Dr Sim, he must start proving it with action and not airline miles,” Violet Yong said.
