Sarawak wants permission to recruit doctors directly, but that change still needs federal agreement. Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian said in Kuching on October 2 that he would seek a meeting with the Health Minister to discuss recruitment policy, funding and postgraduate training opportunities together. The meeting date depends on the minister’s availability. The discussion goes beyond offering higher payments to attract doctors. Dr Sim said opportunities to train as specialists also matter to doctors deciding where to work, and should be part of a longer-term response to Sarawak’s staffing needs. He also wants the discussions to consider employing foreign medical graduates who studied in Malaysia but cannot currently be employed here. That remains a policy proposal. For hospitals and patients, the distinction is important: this is a proposal to change how personnel can be recruited, not an announcement that new doctors have been appointed. No direct-recruitment approval or start date was announced in the October 2 remarks.