Government Clinics Go Digital
10 - 16 November 2025. Issue 63
Good morning folks.
As we head toward Sabah’s state election on 29 November, the political menagerie is in full ritual. Much is at stake. Nearly 600 candidates are vying for 73 states seats. Even for Sarawakians, the Sabah state election outcome carries real implications. Sabah and Sarawak are jointly pushing for one third of the parliamentary seats in the Federal Government. If Sabah voters choose Malayan parties, that goal may become harder to reach.
But enough politics. There is real work to get on with.
Government clinics across Sarawak are being digitalised to improve efficiency and delivery, yet the challenges of serving a population that is thinly spread across a vast landmass is considerable. Sarawak’s population is not only small, but its growth rate is slowing as well.
We are not accustomed to thinking about economic productivity that does not come from an ever-expanding number of consumers. In A String of Thought, I explore some of the options available to us, while facing the reality of a small population. This week’s infographic compares selected 2020 population census indicators, placing Sarawak alongside Selangor and Johor (two big states) as well as Japan and the Netherlands (two rich countries).
Read A String of Thought here: