Health news in Long Lellang
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FDS Sarawak suspended, number of affected villagers to be announced soon
The government will soon announce how many people in Sarawak's interior are affected after scheduled flights under the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) were suspended. Health Director-General Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab said only emergency and MEDEVAC flights are running for now. The suspension follows a BO-105 helicopter crash at Long Lellang that killed five people.
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SUPP seeks MoH review of Flying Doctor Service after Long Lellang crash
SUPP has urged the Ministry of Health to review the Flying Doctor Service after a helicopter crash in Long Lellang killed a pilot and four MoH personnel. The party said the tragedy highlights Sarawak's continued reliance on air transport for interior healthcare and renewed its call for healthcare autonomy under MA63.
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Flying Doctor Service still needed in Sarawak interior, says paediatrician
A consultant paediatrician has defended Sarawak's Flying Doctor Service against calls to replace it with permanent clinics, saying scattered villages like Pa Tik beyond Bario have no road access. He recalled treating a Penan couple with severe malaria there after a 45-minute jungle walk, and said the service remains vital after 50 years.
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Health Ministry suspends Sarawak Flying Doctor Service after fatal helicopter crash
The Health Ministry has temporarily suspended all Flying Doctor Service operations in Sarawak to allow a full investigation after a BO-105 helicopter crashed near the Long Lellang STOL airport in Ulu Baram on Sept 8, killing all five on board. Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad reversed the ministry's position from a day earlier, saying Medevac services will continue with help from the Fire and Rescue Department and possible military assets. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau is still determining the cause.
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Aide: Dzulkefly proposed raising FDS allowance to at least RM60
An aide to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad says the minister proposed raising the Air Health Service Incentive from RM30 to at least RM60 back in November 2025, before last week's fatal Flying Doctor Service helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak. The allowance, unchanged since 1978, is being reviewed with the Finance Ministry and Public Service Department. The MOH later said the Sarawak FDS service would be suspended pending safety and operational reviews, with Medevac continuing for emergencies.
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Health Minister: Flying Doctor Service to continue after fatal Sarawak crash
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Flying Doctor Services (FDS) will continue despite a helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Sarawak, that killed a pilot and four ministry personnel. He stated there is no need to suspend the service, which is vital for rural healthcare access. The ministry confirmed the personnel were on routine FDS duties.
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FDS remains crucial for Sarawak's remote areas after fatal helicopter crash
The Flying Doctor Service remains vital for delivering healthcare to Sarawak's remote communities due to difficult terrain. This follows a helicopter crash near Long Lellang, Baram, on Sept 8 that killed all five people on board. A former senior fire official highlighted the ongoing risks and challenges of such air operations.