Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sabah urged the federal government to urgently review the revised Bayaran Insentif Wilayah (BIW) framework under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), warning that the changes could worsen doctor shortages and undermine healthcare equity in the state.
Its Sabah branch chairman, Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang said while remuneration reforms may be aimed at modernising the public service, the reduction in BIW, particularly for newly appointed medical officers, would have serious and foreseeable consequences for Sabah’s healthcare system.
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“BIW is not merely an allowance in the ordinary sense. It is a policy instrument designed to partially offset predictable disparities, including the financial and social costs of serving in regions where geography, logistics and resource constraints shape daily clinical work,” he said in a statement, Sunday.
Dr Brandon stressed that such challenges were not limited to remote interior areas, but were present across much of Sabah’s healthcare ecosystem, including staffing shortages, heavy service loads, travel demands, higher living costs and limited professional development opportunities compared to major urban centres.
He warned that a fixed and reduced BIW could send a damaging signal to young doctors.
“When young doctors perceive that the system is less willing to recognise the genuine burdens of service in East Malaysia, the impact is not theoretical.
“It translates into reduced willingness to accept postings, weaker retention and increased reliance on short-term stopgap measures that are costly and disruptive for patients,” he said.
Dr Brandon added that doctors serving in Sabah often do so at significant personal cost, including relocation expenses, separation from family support networks, limited infrastructure and high workloads in facilities where demand frequently outpaces capacity.
Earlier, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) said the Ministry is already facing challenges with officers failing to report for duty in Sabah and Sarawak.
“The revised BIW has reduced allowances for newly appointed medical officers in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan by more than 60 per cent — from RM960 to RM360 monthly in some cases. This change is not just a number.
“It is a reflection of how we value the contributions of our doctors serving in these regions — regardless of whether they are posted to urban areas or rural districts.
“The reality is that these states face consistent structural challenges: higher cost of living, logistical limitations, stretched manpower and fewer training or advancement opportunities.
“These are challenges not limited to remote areas — they are embedded in the broader ecosystem of care across Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” said its President Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu.
