Healthcare concerns in Sandakan

15 October 2025

SANDAKAN: Sandakan Member of Parliament, Vivian Wong Shir Yee, during the 2026 Budget debate, raised concerns on tourism development and the upgrading of the Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan.

Vivian noted that Sandakan, known internationally as the “Gateway to Borneo’s Wildlife”, continues to be held back by poor basic infrastructure despite its global reputation.

“Every day, hundreds of tourists travel to Lankayan Island, Selingan Island, Bakkungan Kecil Island and Berhala Island. Yet, to this day, there is still no safe, well-equipped, and dedicated jetty for their use,” she said.

She urged the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to prioritise the construction of the Sandakan tourism jetty as a key development project.

Vivian also welcomed the government’s establishment of a RM50 million matching grant to attract more international and chartered flights to Malaysia. She expressed hope that part of the fund could be used to realise the proposed direct Sandakan–Singapore route, which would open up new international markets and stimulate various support sectors such as hotels, tour guiding, food and beverage services, and the local handicraft industry.

In addition, she proposed that the existing RM1,000 personal income tax relief for domestic tourism should also include local hotel accommodation expenses, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak, as an incentive for Peninsular Malaysians to travel to East Malaysia.

On healthcare, Vivian expressed concern over the slow progress in the upgrading works of the Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) in Sandakan.

She explained that in 2022, the Ministry of Health had announced plans to elevate HDOK into Sabah’s Major Specialist Hospital, expanding its specialist services from 18 to 49 fields. However, progress remains exceedingly slow.

“To this day, the hospital remains overcrowded and continues to face a shortage of specialist doctors and essential medical equipment. The lack of ophthalmology treatment facilities forces patients from Sandakan to fly to Kota Kinabalu every month for care — a tremendous financial and emotional burden on both patients and their families,” she said.

Vivian also called on the Ministry of Health to provide clarification on the project’s implementation timeline and progress stages.

She emphasised that equity in healthcare is a fundamental measure of a nation’s progress.

“The people of Sabah must not be denied equal access to healthcare simply due to geography. The Federal Government must honour its promise to make HDOK the main medical referral centre for Sabah’s East Coast,” she stressed.