PSM: MySalam only benefits private insurer, not rakyat
SEMENYIH POLLS | The Pakatan Harapan government’s implementation of the MySalam health insurance scheme only benefits a single private insurance company, instead of the rakyat, claimed former Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar today.
MySalam, which is targeted at the B40 household income group, was announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng last November during the tabling of the 2019 federal budget...
SEMENYIH POLLS | The Pakatan Harapan government’s implementation of the MySalam health insurance scheme only benefits a single private insurance company, instead of the rakyat, claimed former Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar today.
MySalam, which is targeted at the B40 household income group, was announced by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng last November during the tabling of the 2019 federal budget.
It is wholly funded by Great Eastern Life Malaysia with an RM2 billion contribution, while Great Eastern Takaful Bhd is the insurer for the scheme.
It was reported that in exchange for the Singapore-based insurer's contribution, Great Eastern had been exempted from a Bank Negara requirement for foreign insurance firms in Malaysia to have at least 30 percent owned by local investors.
“For Great Eastern, now they don’t have to sell a 30-percent stake to the local arms (Lembaga-lembaga di Malaysia).
"At the same time, they also have gained RM2 billion worth of business in five years,” Jeyakumar claimed.
The PSM central committee member was speaking at a press conference in Kampung Sungai Sireh, Semenyih today.
Jeyakumar (photo) also noted that, as the insurer for the scheme, Great Eastern would now have access to the B40 population database.
“Besides, you (Great Eastern) also obtained the data of 40 percent of the population, which is about three million families’ information.
"Who gave this to them? Is this a donation for them? Or is this a scandal?” Jeyakumar said.
He questioned the Harapan government’s decision to introduce the scheme, saying: “Why did the government implement this kind of policy without even consulting the stakeholders?
“If you think that you need not consult PSM as we are a political party, it’s okay, but what about the Malaysian Medical Association? ”
He further claimed that the Pakatan Harapan government was “arrogant” and unwilling to discuss the issue.
"They are protecting the big private company, instead of caring about the people’s interests," said Jeyakumar.
He called for Semenyih voters to choose PSM candidate Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul in the upcoming by-election in order to protest Harapan's policy decision.
“Therefore, we urge the Semenyih voters to send a message to Harapan, by reducing the vote share of Harapan. Please vote for Nik (Aziz) to show the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, Nik Aziz, who was also present at the press conference, pointed out that there was an urgent need to upgrade the local healthcare infrastructure.
He noted that there were only eight doctors at Semenyih’s government health clinic to serve all the local residents. He also called for local clinics to be upgraded into hospitals in his election manifesto.
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