Alliance Bank Enters Into Partnership To Advance Global Surgery Initiative

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has partnered with the Sabah Treasury Department, the Health Ministry (MOH) and Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) to advance the Global Surgery Initiative (GSI), a corporate social responsibility initiative providing access to safe and affordable surgical care in underserved areas of Malaysia.

Alliance Bank, in a statement, said that since 2019, MOH has led the national Global Surgery agenda, implementing a framework through partnerships between district hospitals and specialist centres.

In 2023, the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists, with the support of MOH and SJMC, brought together private healthcare professionals to collaborate with the public system.

This partnership initially addressed critical medical procedures at Hospital Sri Aman II in Sarawak, marking the first public-private partnership CSR initiative of its kind.

In 2025, the mission expanded to Keningau, Sabah, and with Alliance Bank's support, the SJMC team was able to complete 13 surgical procedures on July 7-8 at Hospital Keningau.

The SJMC team, consisting of three surgeons, one anaesthesiologist, and three nurses, worked alongside Hospital Keningau staff to deliver life-changing care.

"We are honoured to play a role in advancing the Global Surgery Initiative, a cause that aligns with our belief in inclusive growth and equitable access to essential services. As the Bank For Life, we recognise the significant positive impact GSI has on local communities,” said Alliance Bank Group Chief Officer Kellee Kam.

Sabah Treasurer Datuk Mary Angela Sipaun commended Alliance Bank's participation, emphasising that corporate involvement in community investments plays a crucial role in enhancing national wellbeing and sustainable development

“This will also encourage more organisations to back the Global Surgery Initiative, as this public-private collaboration ensures equitable distribution of progress benefits across all societal segments,” she said.

The medical team from SJMC included Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam (Consultant Anaesthesiologist), Dr. Haritharan Thamutaram (Consultant General and Hepatobiliary Surgeon), Dr. Liew Ngoh Chin (Consultant General and Vascular Surgeon), and Dr. Pok Eng Hong (Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon).

The nursing team was led by Angie Ng Pei Shee (Operating Theatre Service Administrator), along with staff nurses Chin Li Thung and Muhammad Nazrul.

Dr Gunalan, who has been actively participating in GSI since its first mission in Sarawak, emphasises the rewarding nature of the initiative while expressing humility in working alongside dedicated colleagues to provide essential care.

He advocates for the continued expansion of the programme to reach additional communities and ensure quality healthcare accessibility for all populations.

According to SJMC CEO Bryan Lin, the medical centre takes pride in participating in the initiative, describing it as a meaningful initiative that extends crucial surgical access to communities with the greatest needs.

“We expressed deep gratitude to our partners for their dedication and to the Hospital Keningau team for their coordination efforts,” he said, adding that as SJMC marks its 40th anniversary of Transforming Care, the initiative highlights their commitment to serving communities beyond their immediate service area.

Among the beneficiaries was Rizwan, a 30-year-old former lorry driver from Keningau who had been on dialysis since his diagnosis of end-stage renal failure in 2024. He underwent catheter insertion surgery to transition to Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, allowing him to receive treatment at home rather than at a hospital. As a father of two young children, this brings renewed hope for his health.

Lina, a 43-year-old from Nabawan, had endured months of debilitating abdominal pain before being diagnosed with gallstones in March 2025. Her surgery had been delayed due to complications and was initially scheduled for September.

"I feel relieved and happy, and hope the pain doesn't return. I'm thankful for the successful operation. May the doctors be blessed in their future surgeries, and I hope there will be more programmes like this to help others in need," she said.

This mission demonstrates the power of collaboration between the public sector, private healthcare providers, and the business community.

With initiatives like GSI, Alliance Bank remains committed to creating long-term impact in the communities it serves, in line with its sustainability goals.

-- BERNAMA