KUCHING (Oct 13): Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian has called on the public to revive essential hygiene practices from the Covid-19 pandemic, such as regular handwashing and wearing face masks when unwell, to help curb the spread of infectious diseases.
He made the call following his conversation with Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Kuching Branch Youth chairman Nicholas Wung Duk Ying concerning the recent death of a four-year-old child in Samarahan, believed to be linked to an Influenza A infection.
"During Covid-19, everyone washed their hands and used hand sanitisers, but now nobody bothers. The same goes for wearing face masks. That's why we must bring back these good habits," he said.
He was speaking at the 'Together for Health: A Community Health Carnival', organised by SUPP Kuching Branch in collaboration with Timberland Medical Centre and the Jalan Rock / Bampfylde Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), at the SUPP headquarters yesterday.
Shifting to national issues, Dr Sim also criticised the recently tabled national budget, describing the RM6.5 billion allocation for the Ministry of Health under Budget 2026 as insufficient to meet the country's actual healthcare needs, particularly in Sarawak.
He emphasised that the federal government should increase public health expenditure to five per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as recommended in the Health White Paper presented in Parliament last year.
"At present, only about 2.5 per cent of our GDP is spent on public health. To reach five per cent, we would need an additional RM18 billion. That's why I said RM46 billion is not enough," he stressed.
Also present were Political Secretary to the Premier Kho Teck Wan, Timberland Medical Centre medical director Dr Adibah Ali, and other distinguished guests.