Quick Facts
Biography
Y.B. Senator Datuk Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian (Chinese: 沈桂贤; pinyin: Shěn Guìxián; sometimes spelled Kui-Hian Sim; born 18 August 1965) is a cardiologist and a minister in the Cabinet of Sarawak, Malaysia. He has been serving as the Minister of Local Government and Housing Sarawak and an elected member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly for the constituency of N.14 Batu Kawah since 2016; and a Dewan Negara Senator at the Parliament of Malaysia since May 2014. He has also been serving as the President of the Sarawak United Peoples' Party (SUPP), a Sarawak-based key component party of the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition, since September 2014.
While acknowledging that Sarawak is part of the Federation of Malaysia, Dr. Sim is one of the most vocal and consistent proponents for more Sarawakian autonomous power and rights, based on the unique contexts of the federation's formation as originally outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963, Inter-Governmental Committee Report and recommendations, and the Report of the Cobbold Commission.
Background
The son of the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Sim Kheng Hong (the Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak from 1974 to 1991), Dr. Sim was no stranger to Sarawakian politics since his childhood. He received his primary education at Chung Hua Primary School No.4 and his secondary education in St. Joseph's Secondary School, Kuching. After that, he furthered his studies at St. Bede's College in Mentone, Victoria, Australia. He subsequently graduated with an MBBS from Monash University's Alfred Medical School and completed his cardiology fellowship at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.
Nonetheless, his father's personal values and passion in public service had rubbed-off on his character, and a chance to serve his homeland came when Dr. Sim found out that the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) was attempting to set up a cardiology unit. He soon left his practice and returned in 1998, after spending 17 years in Australia. In 2001, the Cardiology Department of SGH was set up. The department had progressively evolved into a cardiology centre (SGH Heart Centre) with its own standalone facilities in Kota Samarahan and a recognised training centre for cardiothoracic surgeons. He climbed the public service ranks from grade JUSA C (at age 37) to JUSA A (age 43) between 2003 and 2009, and after transitioning the leadership at the heart centre, Dr. Sim went on to active politics. His maiden contest for public office was in the 2011 Sarawak Elections which he lost. Five years later, he contested and won in the 2016 Sarawak Elections.
Dr. Sim is married to Datin Associate Professor Enn Ong. They have two sons, Enson and Simson.
Currently, Dr. Sim still makes weekly visits to the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) Heart Centre as a visiting senior consultant cardiologist. Having spent over 10 years as the inaugural head at the SGH Department of Cardiology (the third public cardiac centre by the Ministry of Health Malaysia) and subsequently as the inaugural head of its Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Dr. Sim is today the advisor at SGH CRC. He is also a board member of Clinical Research Malaysia (CRM), as well as an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Medicine & Health Science, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).
He is also a member in the Expert Writing Panel for Clinical Practise Guidelines on Management in cardiovascular disease in Malaysia; a task force member of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) on radiation protection in cardiology; and a member of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Expert Panel on Radiological Protection of Patients.
He is still active in professional conferences and research. Between 1996 and 2015, he has participated as either a faculty member or speaker for more than 200 professional meetings in the US, Europe and Asian-Pacific; made over 200 scientific abstract presentations; over 50 scientific publications (including NEJM); and over 125 clinical trials as a principle investigator.
Other professional positions he holds include: the immediate past president, Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology (APSC); international governor steering committee (Asia Pacific region) of the American College of Cardiology; board member of World Heart Federation; executive committee member of the Asian Society of Cardiac Imaging (ASCI); council member and past president of the National Heart Association of Malaysia (NHAM); and the past secretary general of the Asian Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology (APSIC). His research interests include cardiac CT, cardiac MRI, metabolic syndrome and ACS biomarkers in the multi-ethic Asian community. He is a principal investigator/steering committee member in more than 100 multicentre clinical studies in Malaysia.
Professional Credentials
- Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP - Cardiology)
- Fellow of American College of Cardiology (FACC)
- Fellow of Society of Cardiovascular Angiography & Intervention, USA (FSCAI)
- Fellow of Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand (FCSANZ)
- Fellow of European Society of Cardiology (FESC)
- Fellow of Asian Pacific Society of Interventional Cardiology (FAPSIC)
- Fellow of ASEAN College of Cardiology (FAsCC)
- Fellow of National Heart Association of Malaysia (FNHAM)
- Fellow of American Heart Association (FAHA)
- Fellow of College of Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology (FCAPSC)
- Fellow of Academy of Medicine Malaysia (FAMM)
Federal & State Honours
- Panglima Jasa Negara (P.J.N.) conferred by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agung in 2014
Contact
Ministry of Local Government Sarawak - including links to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Sarawak (DID); Sewerage Services Department Sarawak; and city and municipal councils: http://www.mlg.sarawak.gov.my/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Sim.Kui.Hian
Twitter : https://twitter.com/simkuihian