Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has expressed support for the proposal to have a representative from the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to be appointed as a senator in the Dewan Negara.

He said he would request Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and the other four federal ministers from Sarawak, namely Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, to bring the proposal to the cabinet.

“It is very fortunate that we have five (federal Cabinet ministers from Sarawak) and I hope these five people in the cabinet would also bring in the voices of the doctors here in Sarawak.

“This also includes (the proposal for a senator from the medical fraternity), which I also support. I support that because for NGOs (non-governmental organisations), sometimes you have a quota – perhaps the medical profession should have a representative in the Dewan Negara.

“However, I’m not the Prime Minister, I’m just the Premier. ‘Kalau tidak, I kasih you senator’ (If I were, I would give you the senator post),” he said in response to an earlier call by MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai during MMA Sarawak’s 50th Anniversary dinner here on Sunday.

In his remarks earlier, Dr Muruga called upon Abang Johari to support MMA’s proposal for a senator post to be given to the medical body in an effort to bring up various issues and ideas for a better healthcare system in Malaysia.

He added that during a recent meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia with the presidents of medical associations from Asean countries, Singapore Medical Association president Dr Tan Yia Swam had mentioned that although Singapore did not have a Senate, she had been invited as an MP to bring up issues on the Singapore’s healthcare.

“Nothing personal for us (MMA). Please take note here, from the (MMA) president to all the office bearers, no one is paid a single sen. It is volunteerism at its best; (it) is volunteerism with the most efficient system, a system that has been placed by all our past presidents, and we are following through.

“Everybody is working only for with love and interest for the public and for the fraternity,” said Dr Muruga, adding that MMA had written to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the matter.