Health Ministry to announce number affected by Sarawak Flying Doctor Service suspension

Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab said the matter would be announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad. — Bernama pic

First Published: Sunday, 13 Sep 2026 9:23 AM MYT

IPOH, Sept 13 — The number of residents affected in terms of access to follow-up medical services following the temporary suspension of Flying Doctor Service (FDS) operations in Sarawak will be announced in the near future.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab said the matter would be announced by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said statistics on the affected residents had been compiled and would be submitted to the Health Minister for further action.

“In the near future, we will release (the figure),” he told reporters after attending the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) 2026 dinner here last night, which was also attended by MMA president Dr L. Sivanaesan.

On Thursday, Dr Dzulkefly was reported to have said that all FDS operations in Sarawak had been temporarily suspended following an accident involving a helicopter used for the service in Long Lellang.

Dr Dzulkefly said the suspension was to allow an investigation and a review of the safety and operational mechanisms to be carried out by the relevant authorities.

The accident last Tuesday claimed the lives of all five people aboard a BO-105 helicopter operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace after it crashed near the end of the Long Lellang STOLport runway at about 3.40 pm.

Those killed were medical officer Dr Ainul Baraah Kamaruddin, 33; medical assistant Alexson Adit Henry, 31; two nurses, Debra Moset, 40, and Jessie Paya Jok, 44; and pilot Captain Zainol Afiq Bee Sham, 30. — Bernama