Sim Kui Hian

Summary

Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian (born 1965) is a cardiologist-turned-politician who has served as Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government since January 2022, representing the Batu Kawah state seat under the SUPP/GPS banner since 2016 [1]. He is the first Sarawakian deputy premier of Chinese descent in more than a decade and leads SUPP as its president [1]. His public role is defined by sustained advocacy for Sarawak's health and administrative autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, alongside portfolio responsibilities covering public health infrastructure, local government, and housing [2].

Biography

Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian (born 18 August 1965) is a Malaysian politician and cardiologist who has served as Deputy Premier of Sarawak and President of the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP) [1]. He has represented the Batu Kawah state seat in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since his first electoral victory in 2016 [1]. Since January 2022 he has also served as Sarawak's Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, and is noted as Sarawak's first deputy premier of Chinese descent in more than a decade, following George Chan Hong Nam who stepped down in 2011 [1]. He is one of the founding Vice Chairmen of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition [1]. Born in Sarawak, Dr Sim received his primary education at Chung Hua Primary School No. 4 and secondary education at St. Joseph's Secondary School, Kuching, before completing his Higher School Certificate at St. Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria, Australia [1]. He graduated with an MBBS from Monash University's Alfred Medical School and completed his cardiology fellowship at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne [1]. He returned to Malaysia in 1998 after spending 17 years in Australia to help establish a cardiology unit at Sarawak General Hospital, which later became the Sarawak Heart Centre [1]. His father, the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Sim Kheng Hong, served as Sarawak's Deputy Chief Minister from 1974 to 1991 [1]. Dr Sim served as Sarawak's Senator from April 2014 to April 2017, and as Minister of Local Government from May 2016 before being elevated to Deputy Premier following the 2021 state election [1].

Known for

Dr Sim is known as one of Sarawak's most persistent advocates for greater state autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), particularly in the areas of health and education administration [1]. He brings a background as a practising cardiologist and internationally published researcher to his political role, having previously headed the Sarawak Heart Centre before entering politics [1]. He leads SUPP as its president and serves as the principal Chinese-community representative within the GPS coalition government.

Political positions

Dr Sim is a consistent proponent of restoring Sarawak's constitutional rights as originally outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the Inter-Governmental Committee Report, and the Cobbold Commission Report, with a particular focus on health and education autonomy [1]. He has repeatedly called on the federal government to devolve administrative control over health services to Sarawak, arguing that 'the existing health system is no longer working well' after 60 years of Malaysia's formation [3]. He has advocated for Sarawak to have autonomous authority over healthcare workforce recruitment and deployment, and for a Sarawak Cancer Centre to be funded and built in the state [4]. On affordable housing, he championed a RM10,000 housing deposit scheme for B40 and M40 households in Batu Kawah from January 2022 [5]. He supports Sarawak's distinct multicultural identity and has defended the state's existing autonomy on matters such as liquor licensing from federal policy changes [6]. In June 2026, he framed the forthcoming state election as a matter of Sarawak's continued progress toward health autonomy, education autonomy and full MA63 implementation [7].

Education

1. Early 1970s–1980sReceived primary education at Chung Hua Primary School No. 4 and secondary education at St. Joseph's Secondary School, Kuching.⛓
2. Late 1970s–Early 1980sCompleted Higher School Certificate at St. Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria, Australia.⛓
3. 1980sGraduated with an MBBS from Monash University's Alfred Medical School and completed his cardiology fellowship at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.⛓

Before politics

1. 1996–2015Active in international cardiology: participated as faculty or speaker in more than 200 professional meetings across the US, Europe and Asia-Pacific; made over 200 scientific abstract presentations; published over 50 scientific papers; served as principal investigator in over 125 clinical trials.⛓
2. 1998Returned to Malaysia from Australia after 17 years to help establish a cardiology unit at Sarawak General Hospital.⛓
3. 2001The Cardiology Department of Sarawak General Hospital was set up, co-founded by Dr Sim, later evolving into the Sarawak Heart Centre.⛓

Political career

1. 2011Contested the Batu Kawah state seat in the 10th Sarawak State Election — his maiden contest for public office — but lost.⛓
2. April 2014–April 2017Served as a Senator in the Parliament of Malaysia.⛓
3. May 2016Won the Batu Kawah state seat in the 11th Sarawak State Election with a majority of 2,085 votes, defeating DAP's Christina Chiew. Appointed Minister of Local Government Sarawak under Chief Minister Adenan Satem's cabinet.⛓
4. January 2017Continued as Minister of Local Government and Housing Sarawak under incoming Chief Minister Abang Johari's first cabinet.⛓
5. May 2018Contested the Stampin parliamentary seat in GE14 under the Barisan Nasional/SUPP ticket, obtaining 18,839 votes (28.4%), but lost to DAP's Chong Chieng Jen by a majority of 14,221 votes.⛓
6. December 2021Retained the Batu Kawah state seat in the 12th Sarawak State Election with 7,827 votes and a majority of 5,393, representing 69.77% of votes cast.⛓
7. January 2022Appointed Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, becoming Sarawak's first deputy premier of Chinese descent in more than a decade.⛓
8. January 2024Co-chaired the first technical meeting on Sarawak's health autonomy under MA63 with federal Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad at Wisma Bapa Malaysia, Kuching.⛓

Election history

• 2026Batu Kawah (Sarawak State)Pending⛓
• 2021Batu Kawah (Sarawak State)Won69.77%⛓
• 2018Stampin (Parliament)Lost28.4%⛓
• 2016Batu Kawah (Sarawak State)Won54.12%⛓
• 2011Batu Kawah (Sarawak State)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentAs Deputy Premier and Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, Dr Sim represents the GPS state government's position that Sarawak's health, housing and local governance must be aligned with MA63 rights. He has co-chaired technical meetings with the federal Health Ministry and publicly stated that Sarawak's existing health system requires structural reform through devolved authority.⛓
• OppositionSarawak DAP secretary Violet Yong challenged Dr Sim's characterisation of DAP as 'divisive', reminding him that SUPP had aligned with Perikatan Nasional and PAS in 2020, arguing this showed SUPP's willingness to work with parties whose agendas she said ran counter to Sarawak's multicultural values.⛓
• ExpertUniversiti Putra Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Jayum Jawan said ahead of the 2021 Batu Kawah contest that as the incumbent and former state cabinet minister, Dr Sim appeared to have the edge over his challenger, noting that both candidates were influential leaders in the Chinese community.⛓
• VerifiedFactsDr Sim won Batu Kawah in 2016 with 54.12% of votes and increased his share to 69.77% in 2021, both confirmed by multiple news sources. He was appointed Deputy Premier on 4 January 2022, confirmed by Wikidata and news reports. He lost the Stampin parliamentary seat in GE14 (2018) with 28.4% of votes.⛓