KUCHING: The education and health sectors are both critical success factors for Sarawak to develop and move forward.
Political analyst Professor Dr Neilson Ilan Mersat said if both education and health autonomy are to be returned to Sarawak, it will be easier for the state to come up with a long term plan for the development of education and health in the state.
“We have been talking about the lack of facilities and not enough doctors in hospitals and teachers in school for a very long time.
“It is high time to address the two issues once and for all.
“Therefore, development in both areas is a right and both state and federal government have the obligation to develop the two sectors,” he told New Sarawak Tribune, today.
Neilson was commenting on the returned autonomy in education and health to Sarawak as mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Fadillah said this is part of the move to further strengthen Sarawak’s rights as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and details on the matter are being worked out.
In terms of the health sector, Neilson said that there should be new hospitals, clinics and to train more Sarawak-born doctors as the doctor-patient ratio is very high in the state.
Meanwhile, in education, dilapidated schools should be improved and focus on technical education should be made.
“Build more science lab for rural schools. Produce more teachers from Sarawak as they know the environment in the state better and with their local knowledge, they should be able to serve better,” he said.
According to Neilson, the state’s autonomy in education and health should be addressing the two aforementioned issues.
“Otherwise, what is the purpose of autonomy if we are back to square one?
“These are the two areas that we have been short-changed and we hope that this Unity Government will be working closely with the state government on both areas,” he said.
