MIRI – Sarawak PKR will tap into the state’s RM 31 billion financial reserves to build hospitals, specialist centres and clinics statewide if they win in the impending state elections.
State PKR vice-chairman Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng said that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has failed to use the money to benefit the rakyat, testimony of which is the poor state of health facilities in many districts.
He told reporters in Miri today that the Sarawak PKR manifesto gives top priority to the healthcare of the rakyat.
“For decades the ruling state government has failed to use its financial reserves to benefit the rakyat in the real sense.
“There are so many rural and semi-rural districts without even a clinic.
“Those clinics in some districts are in bad shape, without proper treatment facilities, no doctors, and the buildings are deteriorating.
“We PKR promise to tap into the state financial reserves to build at least one hospital in every district.
“We will also construct specialist centres to treat critical illnesses like cancer and others in regional hubs.
“No district will be left out in terms of having good healthcare, and we will give equal attention to rural and urban folks,” said Teo, who is Miri MP and Sarawak Pakatan Harapan deputy chairman.
He said the GPS state government has often delegated Putrajaya to handle health and medical facilities.
“The state government cannot keep saying it is Putrajaya that must give money to build or upgrade health and medical facilities in Sarawak.
“The state must also utilise its financial reserves, otherwise what is the huge amount of reserves for? Who has actually benefited all these years?” he asked.
Teo said the PKR ground teams have found many existing clinics in dilapidated condition with poorly maintained infrastructures.
Sarawak PKR is contesting in 27 of the 82 state constituencies in the 12th state election. Polling is on December 18. – The Vibes, December 9, 2021
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