KOTA KINABALU: Safety concerns over aircraft used for rural air services and inadequate allowances for civil servants stationed in remote areas have prompted calls for government action.
Sabah Cuepacs chairman Ajulahin Japin said aviation safety must be a top priority, while better allowances would recognise the sacrifices made by healthcare personnel who depend on air travel to deliver services.
“The government must ensure that every aircraft used to transport healthcare workers is safe, airworthy, maintained according to established standards and subjected to regular inspections.
“If aircraft are ageing, their technical condition, maintenance records and continued operational suitability must be assessed seriously.
“The lives and safety of healthcare workers must not be compromised due to cost considerations or logistical constraints,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He urged the government to make the safety, welfare and recognition of healthcare workers in rural and remote areas a priority in efforts to improve public service policies.
Ajulahin also called for a comprehensive review of the RM30 flight allowance for healthcare personnel, particularly those travelling to remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak.
He said there is a need to re-examine inconsistencies in allowance rates between ministries, as well as the fixed-rate approach adopted under the Public Service Remuneration System.
Sabah and Sarawak’s geographical realities and levels of hardship differ greatly from those in Peninsular Malaysia, he noted.
“Some areas once considered remote in Peninsular Malaysia have since developed into small towns with better infrastructure, basic amenities and road access.
“In contrast, many rural areas in Sabah and Sarawak continue to face challenges similar to those experienced 10 or 20 years ago, including difficult road conditions, long travel distances, limited facilities and dependence on air and boat transportation,” he added.
Ajulahin said allowance rates should not be standardised without considering actual conditions on the ground.
“More reasonable and appropriate rates should be provided to personnel serving in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak.
“This is not a matter of seeking special treatment, but rather one of fairness and recognition of the sacrifices made by healthcare workers who leave their families behind and work under challenging conditions to ensure that people living in remote areas continue to receive healthcare services,” he said.
