Editing Sarawak (section)

== Infrastructure ==
Infrastructure development in Sarawak is overseen by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, successor to the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Communications (MIDCom) after it was renamed in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.midt.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=41&menu_id=0&sub_id=12 |publisher=MIDCom |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220144117/http://www.midt.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=webpage&sub=page&id=41&menu_id=0&sub_id=12 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite this ministerial oversight, infrastructure in Sarawak remains relatively underdeveloped compared to [[Peninsular Malaysia]].<ref>{{cite book |title=OECD Investment Policy Reviews OECD Investment Policy Reviews: Malaysia 2013 |date=30 October 2013 |publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD) Publishing |isbn=978-92-64-19458-8 |page=234 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9UPQAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA234 |access-date=17 December 2015 |quote=All the same, there are important variations in the quantity and quality of infrastructure stocks, with infrastructure more developed in peninsular Malaysia than in Sabah and Sarawak.}}</ref>

In 2009, 94% of urban Sarawak was supplied with electricity, but only 67% of rural areas had electricity.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=H. |first1=Borhanazad |last2=S. |first2=Mekhilef |last3=R |first3=Saidur |last4=G. |first4=Boroumandijazi |title=Potential application of renewable energy for rural electrification in Malaysia |journal=Renewable Energy |date=2013 |volume=59 |page=211 |url=http://umexpert.um.edu.my/file/publication/00005361_97156.pdf |access-date=23 November 2015 |doi=10.1016/j.renene.2013.03.039 |bibcode=2013REne...59..210B |archive-date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123025730/http://umexpert.um.edu.my/file/publication/00005361_97156.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, this had increased to 91% by 2014.<ref name="water and electricity">{{cite news |last1=Alexandra |first1=Lorna |last2=Doreen |first2=Ling |title=Infrastructure crucial to state's goals |url=http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/50465/Infrastructure-crucial-to-states-goals/ |access-date=16 December 2015 |publisher=New Sarawak Tribune |date=9 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216165506/http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/50465/Infrastructure-crucial-to-states-goals/ |archive-date=16 December 2015 |quote="In 2014, 82% of houses located in Sarawak rural areas have access to water supply in comparison to 59% in 2009." Fadillah also said that the rural electricity coverage had improved over the last few years with 91% of the households in Sarawak having access to electricity in 2014 compared to 67% in 2009.}}</ref> According to a 2015 article, household internet penetration in Sarawak was lower than Malaysian national average, 41.2% versus 58.6%, with 58.5% of internet use being in urban areas and 29.9% in rural areas. In comparison, mobile telecommunication uptake in Sarawak was comparable to the national average, 93.3% against a national average of 94.2%, and on par with neighbouring Sabah.<ref>{{cite web |title=New technologies play a major role in Sarawak's development plans |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/new-technologies-play-major-role-sarawak%E2%80%99s-development-plans |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217003141/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/new-technologies-play-major-role-sarawak%E2%80%99s-development-plans |archive-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> Mobile telecommunication infrastructure, specifically broadcast towers, are built and managed by Sacofa{{nbsp}}Sdn{{nbsp}}Bhd (Sacofa Private Limited), which enjoys a monopoly in Sarawak after the company was granted a 20-year exclusivity deal on the provision, maintenance and leasing of towers in the state.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mohd |first1=Hafiz Mahpar |title=Cahya Mata Sarawak buys 50% of Sacofa for RM186m |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2015/04/02/cahya-mata-sarawak-buys-50pct-of-sacofa-for-rm186m/?style=biz |access-date=17 December 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

A number of different bodies manage the supply of water depending on their region of responsibility, including the Kuching Water Board (KWB) which manages Kuching water supply, Sibu Water Board (SWB) which manages Sibu water supply, LAKU Management Sdn{{nbsp}}Bhd, which handle water supply in Miri, Bintulu, and Limbang<ref name="Transport and Infrastructure">{{cite web |title=Transport and Infrastructure |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/160/177/ |publisher=Official Website of the Sarawak Government |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907183756/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/160/177/ |archive-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> and the Rural Water Supply Department managing the water supply for the remaining areas.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harun |first1=Jau |title=New department being set up |url=http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/48159/New-department-being-set-up/ |access-date=17 December 2015 |publisher=New Sarawak Tribune |date=8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217041741/http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/48159/New-department-being-set-up/ |archive-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> {{As of|2014}}, 82% of the rural areas have a fresh water supply.<ref name="water and electricity"/>

=== Broadcasting ===

Sarawak launched its radio service on 7 June 1954, which became a part of Radio Malaysia when it joined Malaysia in 1963 and later part of the bigger [[Radio Televisyen Malaysia]] (RTM) in 1969 when the nation's radio and television operations merged.<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204221130/http://www.rtmsarawak.gov.my/org_sejarah.php |url=http://www.rtmsarawak.gov.my/org_sejarah.php |title=RTM Sarawak |archivedate=4 December 2011 |website=rtmsarawak.gov.my}}</ref> It did not have television service until 30 August 1975, when [[TV1 (Malaysian TV network)|RTM TV1]] was made available for East Malaysian viewers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rtmsabah.gov.my/sejarah.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119072720/http://rtmsabah.gov.my/sejarah.htm |title=rtmkk |website=rtmsabah.gov.my |archivedate=19 January 2009}}</ref> RTM has six branches in the state - a main office in capital city Kuching and five other offices in Simanggang, Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang. The main office produces news and shows for RTM's television channels and operates four state radio channels, namely Sarawak FM, Red FM and Wai FM Iban and Bidayuh networks, whereas five other offices operate district radio channels such as Sri Aman FM, Sibu FM, Bintulu FM, Miri FM and Limbang FM. On 7 April 1998, [[NTV7]] was launched by Sarawakian businessman [[Mohd Effendi Norwawi]] under the ownership of Natseven TV Sdn Bhd. Before its acquisition by [[Media Prima|Media Prima Berhad]] in 2005, it had a studio in the state capital. However, Sarawak didn't have its own true TV station until 10 October 2020, when it launched [[TVS (Malaysian TV channel)|TVS]], thus becoming the first region in Malaysia to own its TV station. It is currently available in [[Astro (television)|Astro]], [[Astro NJOI]] and [[MYTV Broadcasting|myFreeview (MYTV Broadcasting)]] and available in 4 languages: Malay, English, Iban and Chinese (Mandarin). Commercial radio channels based in the state include [[Cats FM]] and [[TEA FM]], respectively launched on 8 August 1996 and 1 August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.catsfm.my/about-us|title=About Us|work=Cats FM|access-date=27 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905220804/https://www.catsfm.my/about-us|archive-date=5 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/11/28/tea-fm-serves-up-fresh-local-flavours/1013383|title=Tea FM serves up fresh local flavours|last=Mering|first=Raynore|work=Malay Mail|date=28 November 2015|access-date=27 January 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127033334/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/11/28/tea-fm-serves-up-fresh-local-flavours/1013383|archive-date=27 January 2025|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Transportation ===
[[File:KIA newterminal.jpg|right|thumb|[[Kuching International Airport]] terminal]]
Much like many former British territories, Sarawak uses a [[dual carriageway]] with [[Left- and right-hand traffic|the left-hand traffic rule]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thiessen |first1=Tamara |title=Borneo:Sabah, Brunei, Sarawak |date=2012 |publisher=[[Bradt Travel Guides]] |isbn=978-1-84162-390-0 |page=98 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DCDkRTYwN5AC&pg=PA98 |access-date=26 January 2016 |quote=All major roads are dual carriageways; there are no multi-lane expressways. In Malaysia, you drive on the left-hand side of the road and cars are right-hand drive.}}</ref> As of 2013, Sarawak had a total of {{cvt|32091|km}} of connected roadways, with {{cvt|18003|km}} being paved state routes, {{cvt|8313|km}} of dirt tracks, {{cvt|4352|km}} of gravel roads, and {{cvt|1424|km}} of paved federal highway. The primary route in Sarawak is the [[Pan Borneo Highway]], which runs from Sematan, Sarawak, through Brunei to [[Tawau]], Sabah.<ref name="Oxford transport"/> Despite being a major highway, the condition of the road is poor leading to numerous accidents and fatalities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Repair Pan Borneo Highway now, says Bintulu MP following latest fatal accident |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Community/2013/09/13/Deadly-reminder-after-grim-toll-Repair-Pan-Borneo-Highway-now-says-Bintulu-MP-following-latest-fatal.aspx/ |date=13 September 2013 |last=Then |first=Stephen |newspaper=[[The Star (Malaysia)]] |access-date=23 June 2014 |archive-date=6 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206023625/http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/09/13/deadly-reminder-after-grim-toll-repair-pan-borneo-highway-now-says-bintulu-mp-following-latest-fatal/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> 16 billion ringgit worth of contracts were awarded to a number of local companies in December 2016 to add new vehicle and pedestrian bridges, interchanges and bus shelters to the highway as part of a multi-phase project.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wong |first1=Jack |title=RM16bil Pan Borneo Highway jobs awarded |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2016/12/19/rm16bil-pan-borneo-highway-jobs-awarded/ |newspaper=[[The Star (Malaysia)]] |access-date=28 March 2017 |date=19 December 2016}}</ref>

A [[Sarawak Railway Line|railway line]] existed before [[World War II]], but the last remnants of the line were dismantled in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://searail.malayanrailways.com/Sarawak/Sarawak.htm |title=Sarawak Government Railway |publisher=Asian Railways |access-date=14 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314045219/http://searail.malayanrailways.com/Sarawak/Sarawak.htm |archive-date=14 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A rail project was announced in 2008 to be in line with the transport needs of SCORE, but as yet no construction work has begun despite an anticipated completion date in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarawak's rapid railway ready by 2015 |url=http://www.bt.com.bn/asia_news/2008/10/14/sarawaks_rapid_railway_ready_by_2015 |publisher=The Brunei Time |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314044228/http://www.bt.com.bn/asia_news/2008/10/14/sarawaks_rapid_railway_ready_by_2015 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> In 2017, the Sarawak government proposed a [[light rail]] system ([[Kuching Line]]) connecting Kuching, Samarahan and Serian divisions with anticipated completion in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarawak's LRT to be ready in three years, says CM |url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/379628 |access-date=13 May 2017 |work=Malaysiakini |date=19 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419083219/http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/379628 |archive-date=19 April 2017}}</ref> Currently, buses are the primary mode of public transportation in Sarawak with interstate services connecting the state to Sabah, Brunei, and [[Pontianak, Indonesia|Pontianak]] (Indonesia).<ref name="Transport and Infrastructure"/>

Sarawak is served by a number of airports with [[Kuching International Airport]], located south west of Kuching, being the largest. Flights from Kuching are mainly to [[Kuala Lumpur]] but also to [[Johor Bahru]], [[Penang]], Sabah, Kelantan, Singapore and Pontianak, Indonesia. A second airport at [[Miri Airport|Miri]] serves flights primarily to other Malaysian states as well as services to Singapore. Other smaller airports such as [[Sibu Airport]], [[Bintulu Airport]], [[Mukah Airport]], [[Marudi Airport]], [[Mulu Airport]], and [[Limbang Airport]] provide domestic services within Malaysia. There are also a number of remote airstrips serving rural communities in the state.<ref name="Oxford transport"/> Three airlines serve flights in Sarawak, [[Malaysia Airlines]], [[Air Asia]], and [[MASwings]] all of which use Kuching Airport as their main hub.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airlines flying from Malaysia to Kuching |url=http://www.skyscanner.com.my/flights-to/kch/airlines-that-fly-to-kuching-airport.html |access-date=30 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330112044/http://www.skyscanner.com.my/flights-to/kch/airlines-that-fly-to-kuching-airport.html |archive-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> The state owned [[Hornbill Skyways]] is an aviation company that largely provides private chartered flights and flight services for public servants.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hornbill Skyways – Wings to your destination |url=http://www.hornbillskyways.com/history.php |publisher=Hornbill Skyways |access-date=30 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309152947/http://www.hornbillskyways.com/history.php |archive-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>

[[File:RTG at Bintulu International Container Terminal (BICT).jpg|thumb|left|Bintulu International Container Terminal (BICT) at Bintulu seaport]]
Sarawak has four primary ports located at Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri.<ref name="Transport and Infrastructure"/> The busiest seaport at Bintulu is under the jurisdiction of the Malaysian federal government and mainly handles LNG products and regular cargo. The remaining ports are under the respective state port authorities. The combined throughput of the four primary ports was 61.04{{nbsp}}million freight weight tonnes (FWT) in 2013.<ref name="Oxford transport">{{cite web |title=New land, air and sea transport links will help meet higher demand in Sarawak |date=23 April 2015 |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/new-land-air-and-sea-transport-links-will-help-meet-higher-demand-sarawak |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=17 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217044135/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/new-land-air-and-sea-transport-links-will-help-meet-higher-demand-sarawak |archive-date=17 December 2015}}</ref> Sarawak has 55 navigable river networks with a combined length of {{cvt|3300|km}}. For centuries, the rivers of Sarawak have been a primary means of transport as well as a route for timber and other agricultural goods moving downriver for export at the country's major ports. Sibu port, located {{cvt|113|km}} from the river's mouth, is the main hub along the Rajang River mainly handling timber products. However, the throughput of Sibu port has declined over the years after Tanjung Manis Industrial Port (TIMP) began operating further downriver.<ref name="Oxford transport"/>

=== Healthcare ===
{{see also|List of hospitals in Malaysia}}
[[File:27 August 2011 Sarawak General Hospital.jpg|thumbnail|The [[Sarawak General Hospital]]]]
Health care in provided by three major government hospitals, [[Sarawak General Hospital]], [[Sibu Hospital]], and [[Miri Hospital]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lim |first1=How Pim |title=Sarawak gets 3 more hospitals |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/08/18/sarawak-gets-3-more-hospitals/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=18 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822063031/http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/08/18/sarawak-gets-3-more-hospitals/ |archive-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> as well as numerous district hospitals,<ref name="Sarawak specialists">{{cite news |title=Alternative pathways to overcome the lack of specialists in Sarawak |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2014/11/15/efforts-to-address-shortage-alternative-pathways-to-overcome-the-lack-of-specialists-in-sarawak/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=15 November 2014 |quote=Dr Jerip said there were currently 248 specialists distributed among the major hospitals in the state, comprising the Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital, as well as several divisional hospitals.}}</ref> public health clinics, [[1Malaysia#1Malaysia clinics|1Malaysia clinics]], and rural clinics.<ref name="Oxford healthcare">{{cite web |title=Sarawak makes efforts to boost access to health care |date=23 April 2015 |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/sarawak-makes-efforts-boost-access-health-care |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=19 December 2015 |quote=Sarawak's 221 public health clinics include only seven rural clinics. Services for the poor are also provided at 1Malaysia clinics, where assistant medical officers provide basic health care, but again, these clinics – of which the state has 18 – have historically been located mainly in urban areas.}}</ref> Sarawak Heart Centre was set up in 2011 in [[Kota Samarahan]] to provide cardiology services to patients.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.sarawakheart.org/about-us |publisher=Sarawak Heart Centre |access-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616111553/https://www.sarawakheart.org/about-us |archive-date=16 June 2021}}</ref> Besides government-owned hospitals and clinics, there are several private hospitals in Sarawak<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nigel |first1=Edgar |title=Wednesday, 4 December 2013 Sarawak recognises importance of private hospitals such as Borneo Medical Centre |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/community/2013/12/04/giving-healthcare-a-huge-boost-state-recognises-importance-of-private-hospitals-such-as-borneo-medic/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=4 December 2013}}</ref> such as the Normah Medical Specialists Centre, Timberland Medical Specialists Centre,<ref>{{cite web |title=Quality of Life |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/209/225/ |publisher=The Sarawak Government |access-date=19 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909202618/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/209/225/ |archive-date=9 September 2015}}</ref> and Sibu Specialist Medical Centre. Hospitals in Sarawak typically provide the full gamut of health care options, from triage to palliative care for the terminally ill. In 1994, Sarawak General Hospital Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology & Palliative Care instituted an at-home care, or [[hospice]] care, program for cancer patients. The non profit Sarawak Hospice Society was established in 1998 to promote this program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sarawak Hospice Society |url=http://www.sarawakhospicesociety.org/index.php?page=sarawak-hospice-society |publisher=Sarawak Hospice Society |access-date=19 December 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150126135600/http://www.sarawakhospicesociety.org/index.php?page=sarawak-hospice-society |archive-date=26 January 2015}}</ref>
In comparison to the number of other medical facilities, mental health is only serviced by a single facility, Hospital Sentosa.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=K Saai |title=People still dump mental patients at Hospital Sentosa |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/10/28/%E2%80%98people-still-dump-mental-patients-at-hospital-sentosa%E2%80%99/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151219073010/http://www.theborneopost.com/2010/10/28/%E2%80%98people-still-dump-mental-patients-at-hospital-sentosa%E2%80%99/ |archive-date=19 December 2015}}</ref> This abundance of medical services has made Sarawak a medical tourism destination for visitors from neighbouring Brunei and Indonesia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sarawak wants more participation in private healthcare sector |url=http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/08/01/sarawak-wants-more-participation-in-private-healthcare-sector/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Rakyat Post |date=1 August 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222131807/http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/08/01/sarawak-wants-more-participation-in-private-healthcare-sector/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In comparison to the prevalence of health services in urban regions, much of rural Sarawak is only accessible by river transport, which limits access.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chin |first1=Mui Yoon |title=Access to healthcare a challenge for Sarawak's interior folk |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/features/2012/02/27/access-to-healthcare-a-challenge-for-sarawaks-interior-folk/ |access-date=19 December 2015 |newspaper=The Star (Malaysia) |date=27 February 2012}}</ref> Remote rural areas that are beyond the operating areas of health clinics, about {{cvt|12|km}},<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ariff |first1=K.M |last2=Teng |first2=CL |title=Rural health care in Malaysia |journal=Australian Journal of Rural Health |date=2002 |volume=10 |issue=2 |pages=99–103 |pmid=12047504 |quote=The FDS in Sarawak was launched in 1973 to provide healthcare to communities residing outside the 'extended operational area' limits of the health centre (beyond 12 km). |doi=10.1046/j.1440-1584.2002.00456.x}}</ref> and inaccessible by land or river are serviced by a monthly flying doctor service, which was established in 1973.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Koshy |first1=Rachel |title=Flying doctor service in East Malaysia: Rachel Koshy |journal=European Journal of Public Health |date=1 October 2013 |volume=23 |issue=1 |page=223 |doi=10.1093/eurpub/ckt123.184 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
A village health promoter program, where volunteers are provided with basic medical training, was established in 1981 but difficulty in providing medical supplies to remote villages, as well as a lack of incentive, resulted in a decline of the program.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leng Chee |first1=Heng |last2=Barraclough |first2=Simon |title=Health Care in Malaysia: The Dynamics of Provision, Financing and Access |date=6 March 2007 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-134-11295-1 |page=195 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hANe_y3bPmkC&pg=PA196 |access-date=30 March 2016}}</ref> A variety of traditional medicine practices are still being used by the various communities in Sarawak to supplement modern medical practices but this practice is also declining.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Leng Chee |first1=Heng |last2=Barraclough |first2=Simon |title=Health Care in Malaysia: The Dynamics of Provision, Financing and Access |date=6 March 2007 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-134-11295-1 |page=196 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hANe_y3bPmkC&pg=PA196 |access-date=30 March 2016 |quote=While there were systems of traditional medicine and a traditional pharmacopoenia among the indigenous communities in Sarawak, they have largely fallen into disuse&nbsp;...}}<br />{{*}} {{cite web |last1=Bawin Anggat |first1=Nicholas |title=Traditional Medicines of Borneo at Risk |url=http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/00A35B41-CD50-4B4C-B2E7-906C090C31B7/26990/TraditionalMedicinesofBorneo1.pdf |access-date=30 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330133431/http://health.usf.edu/NR/rdonlyres/00A35B41-CD50-4B4C-B2E7-906C090C31B7/26990/TraditionalMedicinesofBorneo1.pdf |archive-date=30 March 2016}}<br />{{*}} {{cite news |title=Chinese traditional medicine |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/08/chinese-traditional-medicine/ |access-date=30 March 2016 |newspaper=The Borneo Post |date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114061013/http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/08/chinese-traditional-medicine |archive-date=14 November 2012}}</ref> However, since 2004, there has been a resurgence in traditional medicine in Malaysia resulting in the establishment of a traditional medicine division within the Ministry of Health. A 2006 government program to have integrated hospitals led to numerous universities starting programs to teach traditional medicine and major hospitals, including Sarawak General Hospital, providing traditional therapies.<ref>
 {{cite journal |last1=Abuduli |first1=Maihebureti |last2=Ezat |first2=Sharifa |last3=Aljunid |first3=Syed |title=Role of traditional and complementary medicine in universal coverage |journal=Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine |date=2011 |volume=11 |issue=2 |page=1 |url=http://www.mjphm.org.my/mjphm/journals/Volume%2011:2/GUEST%20EDITORIAL.pdf |access-date=30 March 2016 |quote=There are nine integrated public hospitals which are practicing T&CM in Malaysia.&nbsp;... Sarawak General Hospital&nbsp;... These hospitals practice traditional Malay massage, acupuncture, herbal oncology and postnatal massage.}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{main|List of schools in Sarawak|List of universities in Malaysia}}
[[File:Chancellory Universiti Malaysia Sarawak.JPG|thumbnail|[[Universiti Malaysia Sarawak]] (UNIMAS) chancellory building]]

Education in Malaysia falls under the remit of two federal ministries; the [[Ministry of Education (Malaysia)|Malaysian Ministry of Education]] is responsible for primary and secondary education,<ref name="Sarawak education"/> while the [[Ministry of Higher Education (Malaysia)|Ministry of Higher Education]] has oversight over public universities, polytechnic and community colleges.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia - Institutions |url=http://www.mohe.gov.my/en/institutions-2 |publisher=Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406201355/http://www.mohe.gov.my/en/institutions-2 |archive-date=6 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Early childhood education is not directly controlled by the Ministry of Education as it does with primary and secondary education. However, the ministry does oversee the licensing of private kindergartens, the main form of early childhood education, in accordance with the National Pre-School Quality Standard, which was launched in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ooi |first1=May Sim |title=Pre-school education crucial |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/education/2016/02/21/preschool-education-crucial/ |website=The Star Online |publisher=Star Media Group Berhad |access-date=3 April 2017 |date=21 February 2016}}</ref>

Around the time of Federation, overall literacy in Sarawak was quite low. In 1960, the overall literacy rate was 25%, with a heavy slant in the literacy rate towards the Chinese population, 53%, compared with that of indigenous peoples which was substantially lower, only 17%.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Silcock |first1=T.H |title=The Political Economy of Independent Malaya:A case-study in development |date=1963 |publisher=[[University of California Press]] |page=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6Sp8Ix7_8IsC&pg=PA46 |access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref> By 2007, overall literacy in adults aged 15 and over had significantly increased to 92.3% and in 2012, this had climbed to 96%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yussop |first1=Yunus |title=Greater rural wealth with higher literacy rate |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/14/greater-rural-wealth-with-higher-literacy-rate/ |website=Borneo Post Online |publisher=BorneoPost |access-date=3 April 2017 |date=14 May 2012}}</ref>

There were 1480 schools in Sarawak in 2014, of which 1271 were primary, 202 were secondary and 7 were vocational/technical secondary schools.<ref>{{cite web |last1=State Planning Unit |first1=Chief Ministers Department |title=Sarawak Facts & Figures 2015 |url=http://www.jkm.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=publication&sub=publication_show&id=3 |access-date=3 April 2017 |ref=SPU2015 |page=40 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821170029/http://www.jkm.sarawak.gov.my/modules/web/pages.php?mod=publication&sub=publication_show&id=3 |archive-date=21 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Among these are a number of schools that date from the Brooke era, including [[SMK St. Thomas|St. Thomas's School Kuching]] (1848), St Mary's School Kuching (1848), and St Joseph's School Kuching (1882).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Edgar |first1=Ong |title=Can you blame Sarawak and Sabah for feeling left out? |url=http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/Can-you-blame-Sarawak-and-Sabah-for-feeling-left-out |access-date=21 December 2015 |publisher=The Ant Daily |date=10 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615085243/http://www.theantdaily.com/Main/Can-you-blame-Sarawak-and-Sabah-for-feeling-left-out |archive-date=15 June 2015 |quote=The eight schools missing from the incomplete list are St. Thomas's School Kuching (1848), St Mary's School Kuching (1848), St Joseph's School Kuching (1882), St Teresa's School Kuching (1885), St Michael's School Sandakan (1886), St Michael's School Penampang (1888), All Saints' School, Likas (1903) and St Patrick's School Tawau (1917).}}</ref> As well as government schools, there are four international schools: Tunku Putra School, a primary and secondary school offering national and Cambridge curricula, Lodge International School, which is also open to local students and uses both the British National and Cambridge systems, Kidurong International School, which is owned by [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] and offers primary education mainly to children of employees but local children may enter depending on space availability, and Tenby International School, which opened in 2014 and is open to both local and expatriate children.<ref name="Oxford education">{{cite web |title=Sarawak's public and private sectors work together to revamp education |date=23 April 2015 |url=http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/sarawaks-public-and-private-sectors-work-together-revamp-education |publisher=Oxford Business Group |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221141840/http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/sarawaks-public-and-private-sectors-work-together-revamp-education |archive-date=21 December 2015}}</ref> There are also 14 [[Chinese independent high school|Chinese independent secondary schools]] in Sarawak that teach in Chinese rather than English or Malay.<ref>{{cite web |title=砂拉越华文独中通讯录 (Communication directory of Sarawak Chinese independent schools) |url=http://shadongzong.org/secondary-schools/ |access-date=1 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231125149/http://shadongzong.org/secondary-schools/ |archive-date=31 December 2013 |language=zh}}</ref> Previously, only Chinese students were enrolled in these schools, but mobility of the workforce has led to increasing turnover of students as parents move to other areas for employment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Of Chinese schools and their student population |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2016/06/24/of-chinese-schools-and-their-student-population/ |website=Borneo Post Online |access-date=3 April 2017 |date=24 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=How Pim |first1=Lim |title=Bumiputera children in Chinese schools no longer unusual |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/11/11/bumiputera-children-in-chinese-schools-no-longer-unusual/ |access-date=6 June 2023 |publisher=The Borneo Post |date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611051948/https://www.theborneopost.com/2020/11/11/bumiputera-children-in-chinese-schools-no-longer-unusual/ |archive-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> This has led to an increasing number of [[Bumiputera (Malaysia)|Bumiputera]] students being enrolled in Chinese primary and preschools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/node/135077 |title=55,975 bumiputera pupils in Chinese schools |work=Bernama |publisher=The Sun |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626080230/http://www.thesundaily.my/node/135077 |archive-date=26 June 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Sarawak is home to three public universities – [[Universiti Malaysia Sarawak]], [[Universiti Teknologi Mara]] at [[Kota Samarahan]], and [[Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus|Universiti Putra Malaysia]] – as well as the private [[Curtin University, Malaysia]] and [[Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus]]. The latter two are satellite campuses of [[Curtin University]] in [[Perth]] and [[Swinburne University of Technology]] in [[Melbourne]], Australia.<ref name="Sarawak education">{{cite web |title=Education |url=http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/197/215/ |publisher=Official Website of the Sarawak Government |access-date=21 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907185329/http://www.sarawak.gov.my/web/home/article_view/197/215/ |archive-date=7 September 2015}}</ref>

With the establishment of SCORE and the associated potential of 1.6 million more jobs by 2030,<ref name="Oxford education"/> the state government allocated RM1 billion from 2016 to 2020 to a Skills Development Fund for vocational education.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yes |first1=Sarawak |title=The growth of Technical Vocational Education and Training in Sarawak |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/05/23/the-growth-of-technical-vocational-education-and-training-in-sarawak/ |website=The Borneo Post online |access-date=5 April 2017 |date=23 May 2015 |quote=Under the 11th Malaysia Plan from 2016 to 2020, the government has allocated RM1 billion for a Skills Development Fund to enable more students to receive skills and vocational education.}}</ref> In 2015, [[Petronas]] provided vocational scholarships to 150 underprivileged Sarawak students as part of its Vocational Institution Sponsorship and Training Assistance program,<ref>{{cite web |title=150 Petronas scholarships for MRSM students |url=http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/03/08/150-petronas-scholarships-for-mrsm-students/ |website=The Borneo Post online |access-date=5 April 2017 |date=8 March 2015}}</ref> although it had been criticised for under-representing local students in its previous allocations;<ref>{{cite web |title=Petronas under scholarship fire |url=http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2015/06/25/petronas-under-scholarship-fire-supp-chief-national-oil-company-not-giving-sarawakians-enough/ |website=The Star Online |access-date=5 April 2017 |date=25 June 2015}}</ref> the company also provided support to other Sarawak vocational education centres.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newsdesk |title=Petronas continues to support SCaT fair |url=http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/54873/Petronas-continues-to-support-SCaT-Fair/ |website=New Sarawak Tribune |access-date=5 April 2017 |date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406110327/http://www.newsarawaktribune.com/news/54873/Petronas-continues-to-support-SCaT-Fair/ |archive-date=6 April 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>