SEPEDA Amal Borneo 2025 Raises Awareness and Funds for Children’s Palliative Care in Sabah

1 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The SEPEDA Amal Borneo 2025 cycling event came to a triumphant close today, with 17 international participants completing a gruelling 600-kilometre journey from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu over six days, raising funds and awareness for children’s palliative care in Malaysia.

Sabah Minister of Community Development and People's Well-being Datuk James Ratib, officiated the closing ceremony organised by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), praising the initiative as a powerful effort in highlighting a critical but often overlooked healthcare need, paediatric palliative care.

“This is the fourth year that SEPEDA Amal Borneo has been held, and this year’s focus on supporting the Malaysian Association of Paediatric Palliative Care (MAPPAC) is particularly meaningful,” said James in his speech. “MAPPAC provides vital support for children with life-limiting chronic illnesses. Their vision of establishing Sabah’s first children’s hospice is something I fully support.”

James highlighted the pressing shortage of paediatric palliative specialists in Malaysia, noting that there are currently only six serving under the Ministry of Health despite an estimated nine million children in need of such care. In Sabah, services are limited to a single facility , the Sabah Women and Children’s Hospital in Kota Kinabalu , where over 100 new paediatric patients were referred to the palliative unit last year alone.

He called on the Ministry of Health to urgently address the lack of trained specialists, increase funding, and offer better incentives for doctors serving in Sabah.

“The demand is rising, but the expertise and infrastructure remain lacking,” he said. “We must act now.”

James also pointed out the challenge of accessibility for children in rural Sabah, many of whom cannot reach urban healthcare services and come from underprivileged backgrounds.

“This is why MAPPAC’s vision for a dedicated children’s hospice in Sabah is not just admirable, it is essential,” he stressed. “With such a facility, children could receive care in a purpose-built environment without repeated hospital trips.”

He urged the Federal Government and Ministry of Health to collaborate with the Sabah State Government in making the hospice a reality, pledging his commitment to champion the cause.

The SEPEDA Amal Borneo participants were lauded for their dedication, having cycled across Sabah’s challenging terrain in support of the cause. The group included individuals from diverse professions, backgrounds, and nationalities.

“I am truly impressed by their perseverance and spirit,” said James. “You have not only raised funds, but you’ve also brought national attention to the importance of paediatric palliative care.”

The event concluded with James officially declaring the ceremony closed, reaffirming his support for children’s healthcare development in the state.