KUALA LUMPUR: Oct 6, 2026 – Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Madius Tangau has urged the government to include five key commitments to strengthen health services in Sabah in Budget 2027. He said each commitment must be supported by funding, an implementation timeline and clear performance measures.
“This demand is not for special treatment, but is based on the real and urgent needs of health services in Sabah,” he said when debating the matter in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Five critical proposals were raised for the consideration of the Ministry of Health Malaysia. First, a special anti-congestion plan setting out priorities, allocations and a timeline to reduce overcrowding at hospitals and health clinics in Sabah.
Second, a health service commission is proposed as a body with a specific mandate to plan manpower needs, appointments, career paths and the remuneration framework for health and medical personnel.
Third, multi-year manpower funding to ensure the creation of posts and career paths no longer depends on ad hoc annual approvals, for the sake of service stability.
Fourth, new incentives and UMS quota, covering the return of the Regional Incentive Payment based on a progressive salary, a RM5,000 starting duty bonus and a RM10,000 retention bonus after five years. The proposal also includes efforts to limit the placement period of doctors from Peninsular Malaysia and to provide a reasonable admission quota at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
Fifth, a digital records system (EMR) involving the implementation of an integrated and secure Electronic Medical Records System between health clinics and hospitals to ensure continuity of treatment.
Describing the congestion, Madius shared his father’s experience seeking treatment at a health clinic in Penampang recently. About 200 elderly patients were seen crowding while waiting for their turn around 10 am, with only two doctors on duty in a small room using one table.
More worrying, his father’s medical record file went missing after a blood sample was taken and has still not been found as of Oct 5.
“This issue is not just the loss of a physical file. Patient records contain medical history, medications and important examination results. This situation clearly affects the continuity of treatment, patient safety and the confidentiality of medical information,” he said.
He added that congestion at the clinic also puts pressure on the referral hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
On funding, Madius proposed that part of the savings from subsidy rationalisation that conflicts with the public health agenda be channelled directly to health personnel incentives. He estimated RM5 million is needed for the starting duty bonus for 1,000 officers, while RM10 million is needed for the retention bonus for the same number of recipients.
Madius ended his speech by asking the minister to clarify whether all the commitments would be included in Budget 2027. He reminded the government that improvements to physical facilities must also be followed by a sufficient number of health personnel.
