'Miri's gov't clinics give way to builder's interest'
Joseph TawiePublished: Oct 25, 2014 4:38 AM | Updated: Oct 25, 2014 9:23 AM
One of Miri’s oldest maternity and child health government clinics will be moved after the land where they are located has been sold to a private company in a secret deal, claims PKR parliamentarian Dr Michael Teo.
One of Miri’s oldest maternity and child health government clinics will be moved after the land where they are located has been sold to a private company in a secret deal, claims PKR parliamentarian Dr Michael Teo.
The clinics on Temenggong Oyong Road which have been serving pregnant women, children and tuberculosis patients for the past 50 years, sit on real estate owned by the Health Ministry.
“It is a pity that the three blocks would be demolished soon to give way to the company’s project, while the staff of the Divisional Medical Office, the senior nursing staff and the maternity and child health clinic will be moved to the Miri General Hospital.
“The TB patients have already moved out to the hospital,” Teo (left) said at a press conference in Kuching yesterday.
The PKR parliamentarian said the Health Ministry should instead construct a bigger health facility on the land to serve the population of Miri which has now reached 300,000.
The six-acre land, said to be worth between RM24 million to RM30 million, was sold to a private company which Teo said owned a huge land bank.
“Is there any abuse of power? Is the company a crony of some politicians? These are questions the people are asking,” he asked.
Move is a burden
The clinic treats about 200 women and children daily.
He said that moving the clinics to the hospital will only burden the people as there is no bus service to the hospital.
Teo accused the BN state government of prioritising the interest of private companies rather than the health and welfare of the rakyat.
He said the state government owed the public an apology and an explanation on its decision.
He also urged the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the deal.
The move will also increase the current congestion at the Miri Hospital, claims Teo.
“As of now, there are patients at the hospital who have to wait outside the hospital buildings while waiting for their turns to see the doctors.
“Waiting for three hours is a common feature,” he said.
“Imagine how much they will spend if these pregnant women have to visit the clinic once a month in their early pregnancies and weekly from six to nine months of their pregnancies?
“This will be a huge financial burden to these poor women. Neither can they afford to see private doctors as it is too costly for them,” added Teo, who is a medical doctor.
The clinics on Temenggong Oyong Road which have been serving pregnant women, children and tuberculosis patients for the past 50 years, sit on real estate owned by the Health Ministry.
“It is a pity that the three blocks would be demolished soon to give way to the company’s project, while the staff of the Divisional Medical Office, the senior nursing staff and the maternity and child health clinic will be moved to the Miri General Hospital.
“The TB patients have already moved out to the hospital,” Teo (left) said at a press conference in Kuching yesterday.The PKR parliamentarian said the Health Ministry should instead construct a bigger health facility on the land to serve the population of Miri which has now reached 300,000.
The six-acre land, said to be worth between RM24 million to RM30 million, was sold to a private company which Teo said owned a huge land bank.
“Is there any abuse of power? Is the company a crony of some politicians? These are questions the people are asking,” he asked.
Move is a burden
The clinic treats about 200 women and children daily.
He said that moving the clinics to the hospital will only burden the people as there is no bus service to the hospital.
Teo accused the BN state government of prioritising the interest of private companies rather than the health and welfare of the rakyat.
He said the state government owed the public an apology and an explanation on its decision.
He also urged the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the deal.
The move will also increase the current congestion at the Miri Hospital, claims Teo.
“As of now, there are patients at the hospital who have to wait outside the hospital buildings while waiting for their turns to see the doctors.
“Waiting for three hours is a common feature,” he said.
“Imagine how much they will spend if these pregnant women have to visit the clinic once a month in their early pregnancies and weekly from six to nine months of their pregnancies?
“This will be a huge financial burden to these poor women. Neither can they afford to see private doctors as it is too costly for them,” added Teo, who is a medical doctor.
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