12/09/2025

FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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‘Rural M’sians facing hurdles in accessing healthcare’

Households affected by quakes to receive aid ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor government will provide aid to 62 households in Segamat affected by a recent series of minor earthquakes, with a maximum allocation of RM3,000 per family. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the assistance will be delivered with the support of the federal government through the National Disaster Management Agency. He said according to a report from the Segamat District Disaster Management Committee, a total of 62 homes, two surau and nine government premises were reported to have sustained damage. “After the first tremor on Aug 24, the Segamat district officer mobilised all agencies, village heads and community leaders to conduct an immediate assessment. The damage was further evaluated through a special meeting of the committee. “The state government is aware that the heaviest burden is borne by the families whose homes have been damaged,” he said during the state legislative assembly sitting, in response to eight assemblymen’s questions regarding the disaster. He also said a technical assessment by the Public Works Department and local authorities confirmed all the government buildings remain safe for use. He added that essential facilities, including those operated by Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Petronas, Ranhill SAJ and the Johor Water Regulatory Body were also inspected, confirming that all systems and basic utilities were functioning normally. He said the state government is focusing on several short-term key initiatives, such as activating a 24-hour disaster operations room with security and technical agencies, disseminating public awareness announcements, developing standard operating procedures and implementing a community disaster risk management programme, which would also be extended to schools and communities by the end of October. “Six existing seismology stations in Johor will be upgraded and two additional stations will be constructed, following the RM3 million funding approved by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.” – Bernama Govt urged to fast track total vape ban GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the government to enforce a complete ban on vape and electronic cigarettes without delay, adding that the habit has spiraled into a serious problem among youths. While welcoming Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad’s statement that vape sales would eventually be prohibited, CAP said the ban must not be carried out in stages. “The use of vape among young people is no longer under control. The time to act is not tomorrow, it is today,” said CAP education officer and anti-smoking activist N.V. Subbarow. He added that a phased approach, beginning with open-system products before expanding to all types of vape, would only prolong the damage. CAP also highlighted that six states – Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang have yet to revoke or stop issuing vape sales licences through their local authorities. Subbarow also said vaping products are addictive, contain toxic substances and are being mixed with prohibited drugs, adding that only a complete ban could save future generations.

o Challenges include travel time, long wait lists and critical treatment costs: Expert

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state is aiming to cut daily water use by 20 million litres this year, adding that the effort must begin in schools. After launching the Negalitres for Schools Penang 2.0 programme on Wednesday, he said water management is no longer just about utility supply but also a matter of survival, economic resilience and the well-being of future generations. “Behavioural change, awareness and a culture of water conservation must start in schools. This initiative is therefore timely, as it instils these habits in the next generation while promoting STEM learning and green innovation.“ He also said Penang continues to face water challenges, with more than 80% of its supply drawn from Sungai Muda, adding that despite being the country’s highest domestic water PETALING JAYA: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia associate professor Dr Nanthakumar Loganathan said Malaysians living in rural areas continue to face financial and logistical hurdles in accessing healthcare, underscoring a deep divide between city and village households. He said healthcare spending patterns remain “completely unbalanced” between urban and rural areas, with city dwellers enjoying easier access to specialist hospitals, private clinics, pharmacies and insurance. “Urban households typically spend more on medicines and private services because they can afford insurance and live near pharmacies. “For rural families, government hospitals and clinics remain their main option, as they rely on subsidised care.” He also said while rural households may appear to spend less on healthcare overall, serious illnesses often expose families to sudden, overwhelming costs. “They may need to travel long distances to state hospitals, face lengthy waiting lists and sometimes spend more out-of-pocket for critical treatment,” he said, adding that many must also pay for transport and overnight stays. He said healthcare spending has become a growing source of insecurity among rural households. Although government hospitals provide most services either free or at a minimal charge, the shortage of doctors, specialists and modern equipment in rural facilities forces patients to travel. “This means more income lost, more time spent waiting and sometimes, poorer treatment outcomes compared with urban households.” He also said rural families often view Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Nanthakumar said to ensure healthcare programmes reach rural areas, the government must invest in both digital and physical infrastructure. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

over three years. WWP president Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Chan Ngai Weng said the project targets wastage in schools, especially from prolonged tap use, while building lifelong conservation habits. “With water often wasted through prolonged tap usage in schools, the project aims to shift behaviours and practices towards more sustainable use.“ Schools would be equipped with self-closing taps and water-saving devices at toilets, canteens and ablution areas, alongside workshops and awareness programmes. All equipment, training and maintenance would be provided free, with monitoring extended over 10 years. Chan said “Negalitres” refers to the volume of water saved rather than consumed. The first phase, launched in 2022, saw 100 schools save an estimated 100 million litres annually through more than 4,600 water-saving devices. major hospitals and bring specialists closer to underserved communities. “Healthcare is a basic right. For rural Malaysians, the issue is not whether they want treatment, it is whether they can get it in time, without financial hardship. We must close this gap.” For many villagers in Baram, Sarawak, access to healthcare remains a daily struggle despite the presence of community clinics. Dora Paren from Long Kevok said her village clinic could only handle minor cases. “Yes, in the village we do have a community clinic, so we can get basic treatment. But if it is an emergency or we need more serious care, we have to go to hospitals outside the village, such as in Long Lama or Miri Hospital.” The journey is long, costly and often dangerous, especially during the rainy season when muddy or flooded roads become impassable. “Sometimes, we even have to stay overnight in town if the treatment is not completed,” Dora said, adding that patchy mobile coverage also makes it difficult to call an ambulance during emergencies. She said because of these challenges, villagers remain dependent on the limited services of the local clinic.

user, recent efforts by Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang have shown progress. “Statistics show that domestic water consumption has been reduced from 284 litres per capita per day (LCD) in 2023 to 261 LCD in 2024, the lowest level in 24 years. “The next target is to reach 250 LCD by this year, which is expected to save approximately 19.8 million litres of water per day.“ He added that the programme complements the Penang2030 vision of building a green, climate-friendly and resilient society, while aligning with the 13th Malaysia Plan, that prioritises sustainability and climate change adaptation. “What we do today not only addresses current needs but also contributes to the country’s development planning for the next five years,“ he said, calling the campaign a model for collaboration between government, industry, schools and NGOs. Negalitres 2.0, spearheaded by Water Watch Penang (WWP), will involve 170 schools government hospitals as their only hope. “The mindset of rural families is different from those in cities. They are not interested in private hospitals because such facilities are not available in rural areas and the market is not viable for private players.” Nanthakumar said states such as Sabah, Sarawak and Kelantan are particularly vulnerable due to lower GDP per capita. He added that while the government has rolled out initiatives such as cluster hospitals, Telehealth and e-healthcare services, particularly in East Malaysia, these remain in early stages and require stronger commitment. “Government subsidies such as the RM1 clinic fee and the Flying Doctor service do help, but they are not enough to address rural needs. The government must improve rural transport, connectivity and healthcare infrastructure so that all communities could benefit equally.” He urged the Health Ministry to prioritise rural and remote communities in the next national budget. “To ensure healthcare programmes reach rural areas, the government must invest in both digital and physical infrastructure. Expanding cluster hospitals in smaller towns could also reduce overcrowding in

Penang aims to cut water use via school programme