MALAYSIA TOURISM, EDUCATION & HEALTH Road-Show 2002

28 - 31 January 2002

Normah Medical Specialist Centre (NMSC), through the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia, was invited to participate in the “Malaysia Tourism, Education & Health Road-Show 2002, which was held from 28-31 January 2002 at the Bumiputra Commercial Centre, Jalan Cator, Bandar Seri Begawan, Negara Brunei Darussalam. The event was organized by AR & AZ Associates (Brunei) in collaboration with Jurusan Acara Sdn Bhd and with the support from the relevant authorities in Brunei Darussalam.

Brunei is situated just 443km north of the equator. It is 5,765 sq.km in land area and is wedged between the Malaysian Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak. It is comprised of four districts - Temburong, Tutong, Belait and Brunei-Muara. The nation riverfront capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is in the Brunei-Muara district. Roughly two-thirds of the population are Malays; the rest are Chinese or members of indigenous tribes.

Brunei has emerged as an active and influential participant in international and regional core groups, including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Association of SouthEast Asian Nations (ASEAN)and Brunei,Indonesia,Malaysia, and Philippines - East Asian Growth Area (BIMP - EAGA). Such involvements have raised awareness of Brunei as one of the world’s most important developing economies.

Brunei Darussalam’s healthcare system ranks amongst the best in Asia. A nominal fee is charged for all residents. The RIPAS Hospital in the capital is equipped with modern medical facilities and a number of private clinics operate within town areas including the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC). There are 16 private medical practitioners clinics in the whole of Brunei.

PROSPECT OF THE EVENT
The prospect of the event in Brunei is good. A lot of the Bruneians are now spending their vacations in Malaysia instead of in USA, Europe and Australia. Likewise in education, among the Bruneians, Malaysia is a new education destination which not only offers quality education but also relatively low fees compared to UK and USA. Every year, there is an increase in the number of Bruneians students studying in Malaysia. An estimate of 250 local Bruneian students acquire their higher education in Malaysia.

Similarly, in terms of health, more and more Bruneians are seeking their medical treatment in Malaysia. Most private medical centres in Malaysia are offering reasonable medical costs to foreigners and this has prompted them to shift their attention to Malaysia.

WHY THE NEED FOR NMSC TO PARTICIPATE

• With a high purchasing power, Negara Brunei Darussalam provides a huge market potential in terms of healthcare to NMSC.
• The closest neighbour, easy accessibility to Malaysia / Kuching coupled with reasonable cost of travel and medical treatment has lured Bruneians to come to Malaysia / Kuching.
• A stable Malay Islamic Monarchy government and similarities in social and cultural backgrounds have created a lot of business potential for Sarawakian companies to explore the opportunities available in Negara Brunei Darussalam.

MOHD AZHAR ABDULLAH
MBA, FACMPE (USA), DIMP, Dip. Med. Asst.
Administrator
Corporate Affairs & External Relations