Fed govt targets 15,000 nurse vacancies this year; Methodist Pilley Institute Sibu now offers nursing diploma

Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib. Photo credit: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Apr 4: The federal government is accelerating efforts to strengthen the national healthcare system by targeting the filling of 15,000 registered nurse vacancies in public hospitals nationwide this year.

According to a report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Deputy Health Minister Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib said the move aims to tackle an increasingly critical shortage of healthcare professionals, driven by an ageing population and rising cases of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, which require long-term monitoring.

“Registered nurses are truly the backbone of the healthcare system. Their role goes beyond clinical protocols—they connect patients from feeling isolated to feeling cared for,” she said during the launch of the Diploma in Nursing and Nursing Simulation Laboratory at the Methodist Pilley Institute (MPI) today.

Hanifah who is also the Mukah MP added that nurses’ skills in empathy and sensitivity can transform treatment settings into more meaningful healing spaces, enhancing patient care beyond clinical procedures.

She also praised MPI’s initiative to introduce the diploma programme, describing it as timely in meeting growing workforce demand in the healthcare sector.

In the same context, she welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MPI and Rejang Medical Centre and Borneo Medical Centre, which will provide full sponsorships and allowances for students.

“This is an excellent example of how collaboration between educational institutions and the private sector can drive growth while fulfilling corporate social responsibility to strengthen public healthcare,” she said.

The three-year Diploma in Nursing at MPI is now open for registration, with the first intake starting on 27 April 2026.

The programme is open to SPM graduates with at least credit in Bahasa Melayu, Mathematics (Basic/Modern/Additional), and Science (General/Biology/Chemistry/Physics), along with a pass in English and one other subject.

The diploma is globally recognised and fully complies with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) and Malaysian Nursing Board (MNB) accreditation standards.

Also present were Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, MPI Board Chairman Paul Wong Hee Kwong, MPI Deputy Chairman Dr. Peter Tang, President of the Sarawak Annual Chinese Conference Rev. Dr. Lau Hui Ming, and representatives from Rejang and Borneo Medical Centres, Dr. Lau Ngiik Chuong and Dr. John Chew respectively. — DayakDaily