Much noise has been made about doctors supposedly not turning up for permanent postings in Sabah and Sarawak.
First, some perspective: the reported 70 to 76 per cent no-show figures, and even 100 per cent no-shows, are still preliminary, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) has said officers have until October 7 to complete their reporting process. So yes, get the final numbers first.
But even if the eventual figure is lower, the warning sign is obvious. Malaysia has a doctor-retention problem. Not merely a Sabah-and-Sarawak problem.
Between 2023 and 2025 alone, 3,511 medical officers resigned from MOH. The health minister himself acknowledged that doctors can leave for the private sector or take opportunities overseas, and the government cannot simply prevent them from doing so.
