Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had acknowledged the ministry’s appeal to prevent the RM3.04 billion in cuts proposed by the Treasury secretary-general from being implemented as originally planned.

He said any assessment regarding budget reductions must take into account essential services and the ministry’s human resources, Bernama reported.

Dzulkefly said he had instructed his ministry’s secretary-general to immediately submit a counter-proposal to the Treasury.

This included identifying non-essential areas where cuts could potentially be made, provided they do not involve core services or human resource requirements.

He gave an assurance that the spending cuts would not affect critical development projects or the continuity of healthcare facility construction under the ministry.

Dzulkefly visited the site of the Menjalara health clinic project in Kuala Lumpur today, accompanied by federal territories minister and Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh.

He said the project was expected to begin in 2028 at a total cost of RM85.9 million, aiming for completion by January 2032. It will serve 256,000 residents in Segambut, Batu and Damansara.