A RM350mil allocation to Sarawak by the Federal Government should, in part, be used to establish a cancer centre in Sibu, says a local party branch chief.
SUPP Dudong branch chairman Wong Ching Yong, in a media statement, said the people in the central region were waiting for a cancer centre to be set up there since Kuching already has a heart centre.
“If Kuching is ultimately chosen, we hope that at least a satellite cancer centre can be built in Sibu to provide a certain level of treatment for patients in the central region,” said Wong, who is also SUPP Central assistant organising secretary.
He said this in response to the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on an allocation of RM350mil by the Federal Government to build various medical facilities in the state such as the Sarawak Cancer Hospital, laboratories and clinics.
Anwar said this at a state Gawai dinner in Kuching.
“We are very grateful to our party president Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian for making this possible,” said Wong.
“As the Prime Minister said, he was impressed by Dr Sim’s enthusiasm and I will also follow up with him regarding the establishment of a cancer centre in Sibu,” he said.
The setting up of a cancer and cardiac centres in Sibu were two of Wong’s promises made during last year’s general election campaign.
He had on multiple occasions raised the urgent need for the two medical centres in the central region.
He said that despite the disappointment of not being elected and not being able to realise these goals as an MP, he had not given up on continuing his efforts for the people.
He had contested in the Lanang parliamentary constituency in GE15 but failed to wrest the seat from incumbent Alice Lau of DAP.
Wong said he hoped the two MPs from the area, Lau and Oscar Ling (Sibu), would also fight to have more medical centres for the people in the region.
