Dr Sim (front, eighth left) joins the representatives of the main sponsors, the Bintulu Hospital team, and members of SHF board of trustees. — Photo by Hii Li Yiing
BINTULU (Oct 14): The Sarawak Heart Foundation (SHF) has successfully raised RM2.25 million for the setting up of a cardiac unit in Bintulu Hospital.
The proceeds are meant to cover the procurement of new medical equipment and also for the upgrades of the existing ones.
The fundraising initiative was set up late last year, and the sponsorships came from Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) with RM1.6 million; Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd with RM500,000; and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad with RM150,000.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, also SHF deputy chairman, officiated at the handing-over of the equipment at Bintulu Hospital yesterday.
Among those present were SHF trustees; Petros senior vice-president for human capital, corporate relations and services Ismail Said; Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd general manager Chong Chee Kwang; Bintulu Port Holdings chief executive officer Ruslan Abdul Ghani; and Bintulu Hospital director Dr Suzalinna Sulaiman.
“Bintulu Hospital is the second public hospital in Sarawak to have a ‘cath lab’ (catheterisation laboratory), in February this year, following the upgrading of the radiology laboratory with the funds raised.
“The cath lab makes it possible for cardiac patients in the area to receive treatment without having to be referred to the Sarawak Heart Centre.
“It functions as a mini satellite centre of Sarawak Heart Centre that will increase the heart treatment capacity in the central zone of the state,” said SHF in a statement.
The visiting services kicked off on Feb 24 this year, with two doctors flying in from Sarawak Heart Centre once every two weeks.
“They have treated a total of 145 patients, with 75 of them having undergone Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) as at the end of September 2025,” said the foundation.
SHF is a charity that depends on the support and generosity of the public for funds to help needy heart patients in Sarawak, and also to educate the public on heart disease and prevention.
Its activities include free health screenings, public health exhibitions and health talks throughout Sarawak to increase public awareness of the dangers and tell-tale signs of heart diseases and the importance of healthy and active lifestyles to avoid heart disease.
SHF has been working closely with the Sarawak Heart Centre in providing the best cardiac service care to the public, especially those from the needy groups who cannot afford the high medical expenses.
Apart from raising funds for the upgrading of the equipment and facilities at the heart centre, the SHF also provides grants and sponsorships to hospitals, institutions of higher learning and professionals in the medical field to enable them to carry out research on heart-related diseases.