KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has appointed a group of government backbencher MPs, called the Friends of Ministry (FOM), to connect policymakers to ordinary citizens.
FOM is currently dominated by lawmakers from Sabah and Sarawak that comprise 11 of 19 MPs appointed so far.
“FOM was created as a bridge between people’s voices on the ground and policymakers at the federal level,” Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad posted on his Facebook page last Monday.
“Government Members of Parliament in this group will act as MOH’s strategic partners in voicing out issues, suggesting solutions, and ensuring that implementation of the country’s health policies is truly based on the needs of the people.
“In an increasingly challenging health landscape with the burden of non-communicable diseases, pressure on facilities, and the need for reforms of financing and service delivery, the role of parliamentarians is very important as representatives of the people.”
The list of 19 FOM members, as provided by the MOH to CodeBlue, are as follows:
- Prabakaran M. Parameswaran (PH-Batu), Kuala Lumpur
- Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah), Negeri Sembilan
- Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (PH-Sungai Petani), Kedah
- Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru), Penang
- Mohd Shahar Abdullah (BN-Paya Besar), Pahang
- Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong), Pahang
- Onn Abu Bakar (PH-Batu Pahat), Johor
- Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai), Johor
- Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), Sarawak
- Oscar Ling Chai Yew (PH-Sibu), Sarawak
- Chiew Choon Man (PH-Miri), Sarawak
- Richard Riot (GPS-Serian), Sarawak
- Anyi Ngau (GPS-Baram), Sarawak
- Shahelmey Yahya (BN-Putatan), Sabah
- Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy (BN-Kalabakan), Sabah
- Lo Sui Fui (GRS-Tawau), Sabah
- Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud), Sabah
- Riduan Rubin (Independent-Tenom), Sabah
- Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran), Sabah
Sabah (6) and Sarawak (5) comprise over half of the 19 MPs in FOM, followed by Johor (2), Pahang (2), and one each from Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, and Penang.
There are no members so far from Kelantan, Melaka, Perak, Perlis, Selangor, or Terengganu.
“MOH welcomes more MPs to join FOM,” the MOH told CodeBlue, when asked if additional lawmakers could request to be part of the group.
If the MOH restricts FOM to government backbenchers, Terengganu and Perlis will be unrepresented as MPs from both states are all with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
Kelantan also does not have a single government backbencher. Jeli MP Zahari Kechik and Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim – who previously declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – are officially listed on Parliament’s website as Opposition MPs.
