Medical associations in Sabah and Sarawak urge government to restore regional incentive allowances
PETALING JAYA: Medical professionals in East Malaysia are raising concerns over proposed reductions to regional incentive payments, warning that the cuts could severely impact healthcare delivery and worsen existing doctor shortages in Sabah and Sarawak.
The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) branches in both states have issued strongly worded statements calling on federal authorities to reconsider changes to the Regional Incentive Allowance (Bayaran Insentif Wilayah or BIW) under the newly implemented Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).
Sarawak MMA: Make Reforms Progressive, Not Retrogressive
Dr Ong Eng-Joe, Chairman of MMA Sarawak Branch, expressed full support for the national MMA’s position against cutting the BIW for government doctors serving in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
In a statement released, today, Dr Ong (pic) emphasised that any new remuneration system should enhance rather than diminish existing benefits for doctors working in East Malaysia.
“A new scheme like the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA) should be progressive and not retrogressive by increasing the BIW and not decreasing it,” he stated, referencing concerns previously raised by MMA President Datuk Dr Thirunavukarasu Rajoo on 19th December 2025.
Beyond the BIW cuts, MMA Sarawak also highlighted another critical issue affecting medical recruitment in the region: the absence of transfer allowances for contract doctors relocating to East Malaysia.
Dr Ong pointed out that transferring from Peninsular Malaysia to East Malaysia involves significantly higher costs compared to moves within the peninsula, including flight tickets and forwarding agent fees that can amount to thousands of ringgit.
“Young doctors at the lower end of the pay scale (with possibly loans to repay, parents/younger siblings to be supported financially) would be imposed an additional financial burden if they were to finance their own transfer costs,” he explained.
The association warned that without adequate transfer allowances, fewer doctors from Peninsular Malaysia would accept postings to East Malaysia, further exacerbating existing healthcare workforce shortages.
Dr Ong appealed to federal authorities to align these policies with the principles of the Madani Government by providing and increasing crucial allowances for medical professionals serving in the region.
Sabah MMA: BIW Cuts Risk Deepening Healthcare Inequity
Dr Brandon Patrick Senagang (pic), Chairman of MMA Sabah Branch, delivered an equally forceful statement on the same day, describing the BIW revision as a threat to healthcare equity and workforce sustainability in Sabah.
The Sabah branch emphasised that the BIW is not simply a standard allowance but rather a critical policy tool designed to offset the genuine challenges of medical practice in regions where geography, logistics and resource constraints significantly affect daily clinical operations.
“BIW is not merely an ‘allowance’ in the ordinary sense. It is a policy instrument designed to partially offset predictable disparities: the financial and social costs of serving in regions where geography, logistics, and resource constraints materially shape daily clinical work,” Dr Senagang stated.
The association noted that in Sabah, these challenges extend well beyond remote interior locations, permeating the entire healthcare system with issues including staffing gaps, heavy service loads, travel demands, elevated living costs, and limited professional development opportunities compared to major urban centres.
Dr Senagang warned that reducing the BIW, particularly for newly appointed medical officers, sends a harmful message that could discourage young doctors from accepting East Malaysian postings.
“When young doctors perceive that the system is less willing to recognise the genuine burdens of service in East Malaysia, the consequence is rarely theoretical — it translates into reduced willingness to accept postings, weaker retention, and increased reliance on short-term stopgaps that are costly for the system and disruptive for patients,” he explained.
The statement emphasized that doctors serving in Sabah often make significant personal sacrifices, including leaving family support networks, managing substantial relocation expenses, adapting to limited infrastructure, and maintaining high workloads in settings where demand frequently exceeds capacity.
Call for Policy Review
MMA Sabah specifically called on the Public Service Department (JPA) and Ministry of Finance (MOF) to review the revised BIW structure and implement a fair, progressive mechanism that accurately reflects the realities of medical service in East Malaysia.
“This is not a call for special treatment. It is a call for equitable policy design: one that recognises that equal outcomes in healthcare require unequal burdens to be acknowledged and responsibly addressed,” Dr Senagang emphasized.
He concluded by noting that protecting incentives supporting medical staffing in Sabah ultimately means protecting the health of Sabahans themselves.
Both medical associations have aligned their positions with the broader concerns raised by the national MMA leadership, presenting a united front on the need to maintain and strengthen financial incentives for doctors willing to serve in East Malaysia’s challenging healthcare environment.
The statements come at a time when Malaysia’s healthcare system continues to grapple with workforce distribution challenges, with rural and remote areas struggling to attract and retain qualified medical professionals.
