The Malaysian Health Ministry is in the process of finalizing ex-gratia compensation for the families of healthcare workers who died in a recent Flying Doctor Service (FDS) helicopter crash in Long Lellang, Sarawak. The announcement came from Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad during a visit to Hospital Taiping on Monday.

Dr Dzulkefly explained that the ministry is collaborating with the Public Service Department’s Pension Division and the Finance Ministry to address issues related to ex-gratia payments, retirement benefits, and other entitlements for the bereaved families. He noted that the compensation package involves multiple components and requires detailed calculations, and thus the details are not yet ready for public disclosure.

Regarding the resumption of FDS operations, the minister stated that services will only recommence once the investigation into the crash is completed and relevant decisions are made. “We want to resume as soon as possible. We will not wait once we are able to resume. But until a decision has been made, everything remains dependent on the outcome of the investigation,” he said.

The helicopter crash on September 8 involved a craft operated by Layang Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd, a private charter company based in Kota Kinabalu. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of four medical personnel and the pilot at the Long Lellang STOLport airstrip. The incident has led to the temporary suspension of FDS, which provides scheduled medical visits to more than 14,000 residents in rural and interior areas of Sarawak. Dr Dzulkefly emphasized that these visits are primarily planned consultations rather than emergency medical evacuations.

During the visit to Hospital Taiping, the minister also announced the allocation of over RM1.65 million to upgrade and improve hospital facilities. The funds will be used for renovation and repair work covering areas such as healthcare facilities and restrooms. This allocation marks a significant increase from the RM571,000 allocated last year, which focused on enhancements to the hospital’s Emergency Department and psychiatric wards.

The Health Ministry continues to monitor the situation closely as it works towards both addressing the aftermath of the crash and supporting healthcare infrastructure improvements in affected regions.