Chua – highly experienced

Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek is regarded as a highly experienced leader at both Federal and state levels.

The 60-year-old no-nonsense minister is known for being outspoken and his hands-on work at the Health Ministry.

Dr Chua has made several positive changes to the Health Ministry since he assumed the Cabinet post.

One of the changes he made when assuming the post in 2004, was to direct all district-level hospital directors and health officers to do clinical work.

Other changes he instituted were:

CUTTING down the waiting time at government hospitals from some three hours to 90 minutes;

SEPARATE counters to serve patients with chronic diseases, the disabled and senior citizens;

EXTENDING operating hours of selected health clinics;

RAISING the salary of clinical specialists by RM1,900;

EXTENDING housemanship training from one year to two years beginning this year to ensure housemen receive adequate training and clinical experience, and are competent to practise;

IMPLEMENT the harm reduction programme, consisting of methadone maintenance therapy and the needle and syringe exchange programme, carried out to curb HIV infection among injecting drug users; and

GETTING pig farmers to sign a loyalty pledge to not use illegal substances, including beta agonist, on their livestock.

He also worked on moves to cut down red tape when poor Malaysians applied for financial help through the ministry’s Medical Aid Fund.

Dr Chua is also a strong proponent for Malaysians to healthy living. He promoted the campaign that focused healthy eating, exercise and physical activity, no smoking, coping with stress and giving up alcohol.

He took it a step further by zooming in on fast food last year, when he called for measures such as banning fast-food companies from sponsoring television shows for children or advertising on children’s programmes, and requiring the operators to display nutritional contents on visible areas such as wrappers and displays.

Dr Chua set up his medical practice in 1977 after serving as a medical officer at the Batu Pahat Hospital.

He sold the clinic in 1990 to pursue a full-time career in politics.

He has been Labis MP since March 2004 and an MCA vice-president since April 2005.

Dr Chua has been Johor MCA state liaison committee chairman since May 2003 and Batu Pahat MCA division chairman since 1986.

He is married to Datin Seri Wong Sek Hin.