Kuala Lumpur (Jan 23) — The Malaysian Dental Association (MDA) has raised concerns that revisions to the Regional Incentive Payment (BIW) under the new public service salary framework could weaken dental healthcare delivery in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, with Sabahans among those most affected.
The updated BIW structure, implemented on Dec 1, 2024, replaced the long-standing percentage-based allowance with a fixed monthly payment. While the association acknowledged improvements in basic salaries under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA), it described the flat-rate BIW as regressive and misaligned with the realities faced by officers serving in Borneo.
According to MDA, the lower incentive reduces the attractiveness of postings in Sabah and other Bornean regions, particularly for younger dental officers at the start of their careers. This could make it harder to fill vacancies and retain staff, especially in rural and remote districts, directly affecting access to dental care for local communities.
Under the revised system, officers newly appointed or transferred to Borneo after the cut-off date receive a significantly lower BIW than colleagues who remain under the previous percentage-based scheme. MDA noted that this creates an unequal incentive arrangement for officers of the same grade and workload, potentially undermining morale.
The association also highlighted the situation of contract dental officers who previously served in Peninsular Malaysia and are now being permanently absorbed into service in Sabah and Sarawak. Classified as new appointments, these officers receive BIW payments as low as RM360 per month, effectively negating the benefits of higher base pay.
MDA pointed out that the revised allowance does not reflect the higher cost of living in Borneo compared with the Peninsula. Dental officers in Sabah often contend with infrastructure challenges such as limited transport access, frequent water supply disruptions and unstable electricity, particularly in remote areas. The reduced BIW, the association said, understates the hardships faced by those who relocate to serve Bornean communities.
Concerns were also raised that the new BIW level is no longer comparable with the cost-of-living allowance received by civil servants in Peninsular Malaysia, calling into question its adequacy in offsetting higher prices in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
To address these issues, MDA urged the federal government, including the Public Service Department and the Ministry of Finance, to review the flat-rate approach. It proposed either reinstating the percentage-based calculation or introducing a more competitive fixed rate that is reviewed regularly to keep pace with rising living costs.
For Sabahans, the association warned that unresolved workforce challenges could disrupt dental services and compromise care quality, particularly in underserved rural areas. MDA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Health Ministry to protect the welfare of dental officers and ensure continued access to reliable and quality oral healthcare across Borneo.