Top Chinese medical university to open campus in Sarawak

MIRI: Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has welcomed a decision by Fudan University, one of the top medical universities in China, to set up a campus here in Miri.

He said the university, ranked among the world's top 30, will teach both Western and Eastern medicine using Sarawak's rich biodiversity as a resource.

"We all have the plants and these plants that we have are the sources of eastern medicine," he said at a Chinese New Year's dinner organised by the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Miri-Sibuti parliamentary liaison committee last night (Jan 31).

He said when he was an assistant minister many years ago, he was asked by the then Chief Minister, the late Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, to take care of the Penans.

He said the Penan community knows certain plants used to treat snake bites.

"They are not doctors but they know which plants to apply on the snake bite," he said.

Earlier, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said a top officer from Fudan University is in Miri to look at the progress of setting up the Sarawak campus.

He said medical graduates from Fudan University are recognised by the Malaysian Medical Council.

He highlighted the importance of having Fudan University setting up its Sarawak campus as over the last five years the number of medical doctors has decreased, not only in Sarawak, but also throughout Malaysia.

He said reports indicate a 50 per cent decline in the number of doctors registering and coming to Malaysia.

Fudan University will be located in Kenyalang Smart City, a key component of the Greater Miri Development Plan, which has been approved by the State Planning Authority.

The smart city is situated next to the Curtin University campus and Desa Senadin.

The development will also include the Miri Convention Centre, a museum, and a Performing Arts Centre.

Other commercial, resort, and development components will be largely driven by the private sector.