Robotic-assisted surgery is among the latest advancements transforming modern surgical practice, state executive councillor Jason H’ng Mooi Lye said at the SSMART 2026 Surgical Symposium on Advanced Robotic Technology.
H’ng, who chairs the Penang Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee, told delegates at the symposium held at Holiday Inn and Suites Penang Prai in Juru on 22 August that technological advancement alone was not enough to drive progress in healthcare, Buletin Mutiara (a Penang state government publication) reported.
“It is driven by our surgeons here today who continually refine their skills, the nurses and allied health professionals who provide holistic care, the researchers who push the boundaries of medical science, and the institutions that invest in education and lifelong learning,” H’ng said.
The symposium, organised by Sunway Medical Centre Penang, brought together healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge on robotic surgery techniques and multidisciplinary collaboration. Sunway Medical Centre Penang chief executive officer Christine Lee Chwee Ngoh and SSMART 2026 organising chairperson Dr Ann Teoh Ai Yean were also present at the event.
H’ng said platforms such as the symposium enable healthcare professionals to learn from one another, exchange best practices and establish meaningful partnerships that could ultimately translate into better outcomes for patients. He added that stronger collaboration among the public and private sectors, academia and industry was essential in creating a framework that encourages innovation and attracts investment.
Robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures with greater precision through small incisions, potentially leading to shorter recovery times and reduced complications for patients. The technology has been adopted across multiple specialties, including urology, gynaecology and general surgery, and is expanding in Penang through both public and private healthcare institutions.
The symposium comes as Penang positions itself as a growing hub for medical technology and robotic surgery. Global medtech company Intuitive, the maker of the da Vinci surgical system, plans to invest about RM2 billion over five years in its first facility in Penang, according to Malay Mail. The 316,000-square-foot facility at Bandar Cassia Technology Park is expected to begin operations in 2028, producing surgical instruments and electromechanical devices for the da Vinci surgical system and creating 1,200 skilled jobs by 2032.
“Together, these partnerships will further strengthen Penang’s position as a progressive, competitive and internationally recognised destination for healthcare excellence, medical education and innovation,” H’ng said.
H’ng congratulated Sunway Medical Centre Penang for organising the symposium, describing it as a platform that reflects the medical centre’s continued commitment to advancing medical education and healthcare excellence. He said continued investment in knowledge, technology and collaboration would be essential in ensuring that healthcare advancements ultimately benefit the community.
