Pertubuhan Integriti dan Antirasuah Malaysia (INTRAS) has called for a comprehensive review of the Flying Doctor Service (FDS) following the Sept 8 helicopter crash near Long Lellang, Ulu Baram, Sarawak, which claimed the lives of a pilot and four Ministry of Health personnel.
INTRAS president Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Husin, a former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy commissioner, said the tragedy should prompt scrutiny of aircraft safety, maintenance standards, contractual oversight and governance surrounding the service.
He stressed that no conclusion should be drawn at this stage on whether the crash was caused by a technical failure, negligence, weather conditions, human factors or other circumstances, saying the cause must be established through the official investigation.
“The question is not merely who was at fault, but what happened, why it happened, whether it could have been prevented and whether the same risks remain in other flights,” he said in a commentary submitted to BusinessToday.
INTRAS said it supported the continuation of the FDS because of its critical role in providing healthcare to remote communities in Sarawak, where road access remains limited.
The service has operated in the state since 1973 and functions as an important healthcare lifeline for rural populations.
However, Fauzi argued that continuing the service should not mean allowing potential safety concerns to go unresolved.
He called for any aircraft facing unresolved safety questions to be temporarily taken out of service until comprehensive inspections are completed.
INTRAS also urged the authorities to examine the status of other helicopters of the same type or operated under the same service provider, including maintenance records, inspection schedules and any previous technical complaints.
Among the issues it said should be reviewed are the aircraft’s maintenance history, parts replacement, pilot reports, weather conditions, operating procedures and the condition of landing facilities.
The organisation also raised questions over the governance of the service, noting that the Health Ministry does not own the helicopters but procures the aviation service through a leasing arrangement that includes maintenance.
Fauzi said this made contractual oversight particularly important.
He argued that the government should assess whether the operator had complied fully with aviation safety and maintenance requirements under the contract and whether oversight mechanisms were sufficiently robust.
“Contracts cannot be viewed only in terms of price. Aviation contracts carrying doctors, nurses and healthcare workers must place safety as the highest priority,” he said.
INTRAS said that if investigations eventually identify weaknesses in maintenance, procedures, training or oversight, the relevant contracts and operating procedures should be reviewed accordingly.
It also cautioned against speculation and scapegoating before investigators establish the cause of the crash.
To ensure continuity of medical access for rural communities while safety reviews are carried out, INTRAS suggested the government consider temporary or supplementary support from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) and the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).
Fauzi said the proposal did not mean that either agency should permanently take over the FDS, but that their aviation assets could potentially provide contingency support when commercial aircraft are undergoing inspection, maintenance or safety reviews.
He cited previous medical evacuation and emergency operations involving JBPM helicopters in Sarawak as an indication that such inter-agency cooperation could be explored, subject to aircraft availability, operational suitability and aviation approvals.
INTRAS said the Long Lellang incident should result in broader improvements rather than being treated solely as an isolated aviation accident.
It called for reviews of maintenance records, operating procedures, aircraft still in service, the qualifications of service providers and the government’s monitoring mechanisms.
The organisation said interim safety measures should not necessarily wait for the final accident report if reasonable risks are identified during preliminary assessments.
“FDS must continue, but the risks must be stopped,” Fauzi said.
He added that the objective should be to preserve access to healthcare for remote communities while ensuring doctors, nurses, pilots and other personnel are not exposed to avoidable risks.
INTRAS said the tragedy should ultimately become a catalyst for stronger safety standards, better oversight and greater accountability in the operation of essential public services.
