ISKANDAR PUTERI, June 4 — The Johor state government has spent more than RM66 million to strengthen the state’s public health sector over the past four years of its administration.
Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said this allocation was distributed to ensure the welfare and health of approximately four million people in the state continue to be preserved.
He said the state government cannot remain silent and must always prioritise public health issues because they involve the lives of the people.
“If following the old way, the state government would not need to channel more than RM66 million to the Johor State Health Department (JKNJ). However, when it involves the lives of nearly four million Johor citizens, we cannot turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.
“That’s why I have never hesitated to get involved in strengthening the JKNJ, and I will continue to pay attention to the public health sector in this state,” he said.
He said this while officiating the state-level Nurses’ Day Celebration, in Johor at the Sunway Big Box Hotel here today, which was also attended by the Johor health director Dr. Mohtar Pungut.
Onn Hafiz said the state government will also continue to help find solutions to the issue of healthcare workforce shortages, particularly involving nurses and doctors in Johor.
“In Johor, we know there is a shortage of nurses and doctors. We will work together to find the best methods to ensure these vacancies are filled promptly,” he said.
In the same event, Onn Hafiz also announced the allocation of RM500,000 to nurses in the state as a token of appreciation for their services and sacrifices, in addition to RM100,000 to medical assistants in the state.
He also said this move represents the state’s continuous efforts to strengthen appreciation for healthcare workers by increasing allocations to nurses and medical assistants as recognition of their contributions to the healthcare sector.
He added that the allocation to the nurses in the state has shown a continuous increase since 2023, namely RM200,000 in the first year, RM300,000 in the following year and RM400,000 in 2025. — Bernama