A visibly upset Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad broke into tears when delivering his ministry’s rounding up speech on Budget 2025 debate at the committee level on Tuesday (Nov 16).
While recounting the experience shared by Riduan Rubin (IND-Tenom) and Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) about the lack of accessibility to healthcare for residents in their areas, the Health Minister could not hold back his tears.
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While recounting the experience shared by Riduan Rubin (IND-Tenom) and Dr Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) about the lack of accessibility to healthcare for residents in their areas, the Health Minister could not hold back his tears.
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NewsTranscript
00:00I would like to ask for an explanation from the minister.
00:05Let's put aside all this bureaucracy and simplify the process.
00:12Please speed up the process to pass this plan.
00:16And I would like to ask for a commitment from the government.
00:19Please provide the necessary equipment and tools to operate the dialysis center.
00:32And this morning, I received a call from a family member of a new kidney patient.
00:40He asked for dialysis in Betong.
00:46And I received information from Betong that the slot for dialysis is more than 100% full.
00:54And this family was asked to do dialysis in Kuching.
00:57And the distance from Betong to Kuching is 250 kilometers.
01:01Imagine, he has to travel that far twice a week to do dialysis.
01:07So, the need for a dialysis center is very urgent in Betong.
01:12Therefore, we have received funds to build it.
01:15So, I would like to ask the minister to help speed up the process
01:23so that we can implement an additional dialysis center.
01:31I would also like to ask the minister to build a health clinic
01:36to facilitate the residents of Rayo and Pangi to get emergency treatment
01:42since the clinic is quite far from the nearest area.
01:50There have been three cases in this village.
01:53The first is a case of an individual who was hit by a ball and died
02:02because he could not get immediate treatment.
02:05The second is a case that really hurts me.
02:08It involves a child who fell into a river and was forced to be taken to a clinic in Pekantenom
02:16by only walking.
02:18Unfortunately, the child died on the family's bed because he could not get immediate treatment.
02:25The third is a case of a local resident who was hit by a ball
02:31when he was crossing a river and could not get immediate treatment
02:36because the clinic was too far from the nearest area.
02:40In addition, there was a difficult access to the Pekan connection to get treatment.
02:44For the administration of this dialysis center,
02:47the village of Rayo and Pangi can only be connected to the Kertapi connection.
02:54Therefore, I have taken the initiative to hold a discussion with the Kertapi Negeri office this year
03:03and the Kertapi Negeri office has agreed that the land owned by the Kertapi office
03:11will be leased for the purpose of building the health clinic.
03:15In addition, I also ask that the Kemabong clinic can be added to the construction of new buildings
03:22to accommodate the increase in the population of the residents.
03:26Yes, I will start with my speech.
03:29Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
03:32Greetings to all Malaysians.
03:36In the last few months, I have heard and recorded
03:42the speeches of every respected person.
03:52I am sure that they have expressed their wishes and requests
04:04that each of them has brought their concerns and concerns to the people.
04:22I think I have a complete answer to each of them.
04:32With only 23 minutes left, I am not sure I will be able to finish it
04:40as requested by my friends so that I do not complain.
04:46However, each of us may have heard the speeches of other respected friends
04:53who have told us how their people have given them the facilities
05:16such as dialysis and hemodialysis, which are not only difficult to get,
05:24but also cannot be paid.
05:29With a charge of RM80 for each session that ends with paying RM120,
05:41maybe it can be paid, but with the cost of transportation,
05:51I am afraid that I will not be able to finish the dialysis with my life being paid.
06:12All of this, Dr. Andy Pertua, reminds me that I have a big responsibility as a minister.
06:42I would like to answer the last question.
06:56The government should not charge people with disabilities
07:09if they end up being paid with their lives.
07:14TENOM has made a lot of requests, especially from the clinics that I think
07:29should be seriously considered.
07:41I am reminded of the easier-to-pronounce and rhetorical mantra
07:51raised by the countries that sign any agreement.
07:59The UHC mantra, Universal Health Coverage, reminds me
08:07of the mantra of leaving no one behind.
08:19However, I will say it again, it is easier to be rhetorical by the health ministers
08:25around the world.
08:29However, to ensure universal health coverage,
08:33it means that no one should be left behind
08:39to receive medical treatment without experiencing any financial shock.
08:48That is actually the demand of the UHC,
08:51or Universal Health Coverage.
09:14And every minister has made a promise to fulfill the UHC demand.
09:23That is actually the dream of every government and health ministers
09:32who have raised the UHC agenda.
09:44For more information, visit www.fema.gov