PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has unveiled three key proposals aimed at strengthening public healthcare services in the Ayer Kuning state constituency, should the party's candidate be elected as state assemblyperson.
Speaking at a press conference outside the Klinik Desa Air Kuning on Monday, PSM candidate Bawani KS said the party’s proposals would focus on expanding access to essential healthcare services and protecting the interests of lower-income households.
Among the key initiatives is the promotion of the Ministry of Health’s Skim Peduli Kesihatan untuk B40 (Peka B40), which offers free health screenings for anaemia, diabetes and kidney complications to government aid recipients aged 40 and above.
PSM also intends to boost awareness and participation in the Social Security Scheme for Housewives (SKSSR), a welfare initiative under the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), aimed at providing protection for full-time homemakers.
In addition, the party will push for a state-level moratorium on land approvals for new private hospitals.
“Land matters fall under the state government’s jurisdiction, and even though hospital approvals come from the federal level, a moratorium can still be enforced at state level,” Sinar Harian cited Bawani saying.
“If this proposal is adopted, we can reduce the construction of private hospitals and instead increase the number of specialists in government hospitals. This would significantly improve access to comprehensive healthcare for the public.”
Also present at the press event were PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj and deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.
Bawani, a local from Ayer Kuning and currently chairperson of PSM Perak, emphasised that healthcare infrastructure in the area remains insufficient, and called for the placement of at least one doctor in every village clinic.
She also stressed that PSM’s healthcare proposals would be submitted regardless of the party’s success in the Ayer Kuning by-election.
“The issue of inadequate public health facilities and services has been a long-standing fight for PSM, and one that we remain committed to,” she added. - April 21, 2025
