PETALING JAYA: Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad is not worried about losing votes in next year’s Amanah elections following the ban on smoking in open-air eateries set to come into force next year.
The National Amanah Leadership Committee strategic director said he would not change his stand even though the move was “not popular”.
“A friend told me that I won’t get their votes at next year’s party elections ... it’s okay. I’d rather lose than compromise on people’s health,“ he said during the winding-up session of the Amanah National Convention 2018 in Ipoh today.
Dzulkefly, who is also Kuala Selangor MP, said his aim was also to improve health services in the country.
“Statistics show that we now have one doctor for every 630 people, but for a government that prioritises the economy, it should be one doctor for every 430 people.
“With a ratio of just 1.9 beds for every 1,000 people, we are still far from fulfilling the necessary number of health facilities, number of hospitals and so on,“ he said. – Bernama
Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
