Keningau, Sabah 2 September, 2025 - An advocate for health equity and cross-sector collaboration, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (Alliance Bank or The Bank) partnered with Sabah State Treasury Department (JBNS), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC), to advance the Global Surgery Initiative (GSI), a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative that aims to provide access to safe and affordable surgical and anaesthesia care in underserved areas in Malaysia.
Since 2019, MOH led the national Global Surgery agenda, gradually implementing a framework through partnerships between district hospitals and specialist centres. In 2023, the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists (MSA), with support from MOH and SJMC, successfully brought together healthcare professionals from the private sector to collaborate with the public health system. This partnership aimed to address the demand for critical medical procedures at Hospital Sri Aman II, Sarawak, marking the first-of-its-kind public-private partnership CSR initiative.
This year, the GSI mission extended to Keningau, Sabah, with Alliance Bank’s support enabling a dedicated SJMC team to be mobilised. The mission, carried out over two days on 7 and 8 July 2025, successfully completed 13 surgical procedures at Hospital Keningau. SJMC’s team, comprising three surgeons, one anaesthesiologist, and three nurses, worked hand in hand with the dedicated surgeons, medical officers, and nurses of Hospital Keningau to deliver life-changing care.
Expressing the motivation behind this collaboration, Alliance Bank Group Chief Executive Officer, Kellee Kam said, “We are honoured to play a role in advancing the Global Surgery Initiative, a cause that aligns with our belief in inclusive growth and equitable access to essential services. As the Bank For Life, we recognise the significant positive impact GSI has on the local community which inspired us to be part of this.”
Meanwhile, Sabah State Treasurer, Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun applauded Alliance Bank’s involvement in this initiative and said, “Corporate participation in community investments is essential in advancing national wellbeing and sustainable development. I strongly encourage more organisations to show their support towards GSI. Through meaningful collaboration between the public and private sectors, the benefits of progress are equitably shared across all segments of society.”
The medical and surgical team from SJMC comprised of Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician; Dr Haritharan Thamutaram, Consultant General and Hepatobiliary Surgeon; Dr Liew Ngoh Chin, Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon; Dr Pok Eng Hong, Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon; as well as a dedicated nursing team led by Angie Ng Pei Shee, Operating Theatre Services Administrator, and staff nurses Chin Li Thung and Muhammad Nazrul.
“SJMC is proud to once again be a part of this meaningful initiative and play an active role in extending vital surgical access to communities that need it most. We are deeply grateful to our partners for their commitment and collaboration, and to the dedicated team at Hospital Keningau for facilitating and coordinating this mission. As we celebrate 40 Years of Transforming Care, this initiative demonstrates our hospital’s commitment to serving the community where we are and beyond,” said Bryan Lin, Chief Executive Officer at SJMC.
Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Consultant Anaesthesiologist and Critical Care Physician at SJMC, who has been actively involved in the GSI since its inaugural mission in Sarawak, shared: “Being part of this initiative has been rewarding. It’s humbling to work with such dedicated colleagues to deliver care to those in need. I hope this initiative continues to grow, reaching more communities and making quality healthcare especially surgical and anaesthesia care accessible to all.”
Among the beneficiaries was *Rizwan, a 30-year-old former lorry driver from Keningau, had been on dialysis since his diagnosis of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in 2024. He finally underwent a catheter insertion surgery to transition to Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD). As a father of two young children, the prospect of better health brings renewed hope as he no longer has to undergo dialysis in a hospital as it can be done in his own home. He commented, “I hope I can return to work, spend more time at home, and be with my children. A million thanks to the doctors.”
*Lina, a 43-year-old from Nabawan, endured months of debilitating abdominal pain radiating to her back and shoulder blade before being diagnosed with cholelithiasis (gallstones) in March 2025. Her surgery was delayed due to complications and initially scheduled for September. Thanks to the GSI mission, the procedure was brought forward. She said, “I feel relieved and happy, and I hope the pain doesn’t return. I am thankful for the successful operation. May the doctors be blessed in their future surgeries, and I hope there will be more programmes like this to help others in need.”
This mission reflects the power of collaboration between the public sector, private healthcare providers, and the business community. With initiatives like GSI, Alliance Bank remains committed to creating long-term impact in the communities it serves, in line with its sustainability goals.
Note: *Patient names have been changed to protect their identities.
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