There is something about Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian which Sarawakians truly appreciate. The minister is never tired of opening his mouth to appeal for more money for the health sector in Sarawak.

Over the weekend, Dr Sim has done it again.

After the 2025 Budget was tabled, the minister publicly voiced concern that the allocated RM46.5 billion for healthcare was still insufficient to meet the mounting challenges facing Malaysia—particularly in light of an ageing population and soaring medical costs.

Dr Sim specifically highlighted that in Sarawak, RM17 billion is needed to upgrade dilapidated hospitals and clinics, many of which are in deplorable condition and in urgent need of repair.

Then, he took his appeal up another notch by suggesting that Putrajaya consider the Sarawak government’s proposed formula for the special grant to East Malaysian territories under the next budget.

While Dr Sim welcomed the RM600 million special grant for Sarawak under the 2026 budget, he also pointed out that this was only an interim amount until the grant’s formula was finalized.

I think that Sarawakians genuinely appreciate Dr Sim’s tireless advocacy for more funding for the state’s health sector because it reflects both his sincerity and his deep-rooted sense of duty.

Unlike some politicians who stay silent or merely echo federal decisions, Dr Sim has consistently and fearlessly spoken up about Sarawak’s chronic underfunding in healthcare.

Whether it’s for building new hospitals, upgrading rural clinics, or addressing the shortage of medical staff, he never hesitates to push the federal government for a fairer share.

His constant appeals are not seen as complaints but as a reflection of his commitment to improving the welfare of Sarawakians.

I was fortunate to have met Dr Sim on several occasions over the past years and to hear him speak about his ‘health vision’ for Sarawak.

To me, he seems to know what Sarawak needs in the health sector as far ahead as into the next three decades.

A cardiologist himself, Dr Sim would also speak with pride about the good work done by his fellow heart surgeons at the Sarawak Heart Center which he helped set up in Kota Samarahan in 2011.

Only recently, he has expressed his disappointment that only 293 out of 542 appointed medical officers failed to report for duty in Sarawak on October 1.

I believe Dr Sim is aware why many medical personnel are not keen to work in Sarawak and he has been working hard to help ensure that postings in East Malaysia are made more attractive for doctors and other medical staff.

To many, Dr Sim’s persistence in requesting for more federal funds proves that he walks the talk. His open, sometimes blunt, calls for more health allocations show that he prioritises the people over political convenience. Most importantly, his appeals are valid—Sarawak needs the funds.

Sarawakians see in Dr Sim a minister who truly fights for them—someone who refuses to accept the excuse that “there’s no money” when lives and health are at stake.

That kind of dedication, sincerity and courage to speak truth to power is precisely why he continues to command respect and admiration across Sarawak.

From public feedback, indeed many Sarawakians see Dr Sim as the right man to oversee public health because of his strong professional background and credibility in medicine.

His technical expertise and years of service in the health sector mean he understands the system inside out—from hospital management to rural healthcare delivery.

People feel reassured knowing a minister with real medical knowledge, not just political credentials, is in charge of shaping health policies that directly affect lives.

I think that more importantly, Dr Sim’s Sarawak-centric vision truly resonates deeply with the people.

He has always stressed on the ‘Sarawak First’ slogan and how he has made it his top mission to serve Sarawak and his fellow Sarawakians first.

Dr Sim has also consistently championed the devolution of health powers to the state, arguing that Sarawak knows its local needs best—especially when it comes to rural and indigenous healthcare.

The public sees him as someone fighting not just for policies, but for autonomy and fairness in healthcare delivery.

His track record as a capable administrator, coupled with his deep sense of service to Sarawakians, makes him, in many eyes, the ideal leader to steer public health into a more responsive, people-first era.

I’m sure many readers are happy to join me in praying for Dr Sim Kui Hian to receive abundant blessings from the One Above and wishing him all the best in his mission to provide the best healthcare for Sarawak and its people.

(Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change Sarawak, MoCS. He can be reached at [email protected].)