Kota Kinabalu: Kukusan Assemblywoman Datuk Rina Jainal said Sabah deserves its fair share of dedicated specialists to meet its healthcare needs instead of being used as a training ground for junior doctors and trainees.
“We do not want Sabah to be merely a training ground for fresh graduates and trainees. We need healthcare services that receive proper attention,” she said when debating the government’s policy speech.
“What steps is the government taking to ensure healthcare services in Sabah are balanced with the needs of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak?” she said.
“Our grassroots welfare visits and initiatives have received numerous complaints and feedback from patients, including specialist shortages at Tawau Hospital.
“Experienced officers are being transferred to Peninsular Malaysia, leaving us understaffed in many sectors,” she said.
Additionally, she hopes Tawau Hospital will receive allocation to acquire more dialysis machines and for the rising number of heart patients to be addressed.
“Heart patients need regular check-ups in Kota Kinabalu because Tawau lacks specialists
“As a representative, I receive many welfare requests to help cover travel expenses for patients seeking treatment in Kota Kinabalu. “This clearly shows that many Tawau patients are burdened by the need for repeated travel.
“How can we attract specialist talent to work in Tawau Hospital? Has the government taken note of this? Are there government incentives to encourage specialists to work in Tawau?” she said. On tourism matters, she said, while nearby Semporna thrives with tourists, Tawau gets left behind.
“Visitors head straight to the islands in Semporna without stopping in Tawau,” she said.
She said efforts need to be taken to turn Tawau Airport into a tourism information hub, create travel packages featuring Tawau food and culture and develop the famous Chester Night Market into a must-visit food destination.
“Transit packages featuring our food, cultural villages and nature spots could make Tawau a must-visit destination.
“Imagine tourists trying our famous Mi Tauhu and grilled squid before heading to the islands. We are missing out on so much potential,” she said.
She also voiced concern over the increase in cases of snatch thefts, break-ins and drug-related crimes.
“Residents are noticing more crime, even in broad daylight. Snatch thefts, break-ins, drug problems,” she said, calling for crime hotspot mapping and strengthened enforcement in problem areas.
While Rina welcomes the long-delayed upgrade of Jalan Utara Tawau-Kalabakan, she is tired of empty promises.
“Projects keep getting stuck in red tape. As Sabah’s third-largest town, Tawau deserves real action, not just talk,” she said.
Tawau has everything it needs to succeed, from great food and natural beauty to hard-working people. But without proper healthcare, tourism development and safety measures, it risks being left behind.
“Tawau deserves the same attention as any major town,” she said.
