Why warm welcomes can't stop Malaysia's doctor exodus from Borneo

Why warm welcomes can't stop Malaysia's doctor exodus from Borneo Over a third of doctors offered permanent posts in Sabah and Sarawak are no-shows, driven away by isolation, costs and career doubts Published: 10:00am, 11 Oct 2026 On Facebook, public hospitals in Malaysia's Bornean states have been rolling out "Selamat Datang" [welcome] banner posts to embrace medical staff reporting for duty. Tawau Hospital on Sabah's east coast recently published a group photograph welcoming newly arrived medical officers. Kinabatangan Hospital posted similar banners hailing arrivals across various departments, while in neighbouring Sarawak, Kapit Hospital accompanied its greeting with a portrait of a newly arrived doctor. But behind the warm online welcomes lies a dilemma for Malaysia's healthcare system: more than a third of doctors offered permanent posts in Sabah and Sarawak have failed to report for duty. The no-shows highlight the difficulty of persuading medical professionals to relocate to the country's Bornean states. Doctors cite family separation, uncertain career prospects and difficult working conditions as major hurdles – with many questioning whether to stay even after heeding the call. 0.8x 0.9x 1.0x 1.1x 1.2x 1.5x 1.75x 00:00 / 00:00 AI-generated voice