KUALA LUMPUR: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has dismissed claims that the Singaporean government is hiring Malaysian health officials – a concern raised by Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) during the 2026 Budget debate at the policy level.
Dzulkefly said that recruitment of Malaysian healthcare workers is actually being done by Singaporean private employers.
“In reality, these recruitment exercises are managed by private employment agencies based in Singapore, not by the Singaporean government itself,” the minister told parliament today.
He added that the ministry is also studying the implementation of bilateral agreements with key destination countries for Malaysian healthcare workers, including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Australia to safeguard its talent pool and prevent brain drain.
“These agreements aim to better regulate the migration of healthcare personnel, in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.
“The code provides guidance for member states in managing the cross-border recruitment of healthcare workers ethically, ensuring minimal impact on the source countries, which are often developing nations, while also safeguarding the welfare of migrating healthcare professionals,” he said.
ENDS
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