KL told to take over ailing S'wak hospital
Tony ThienPublished: Sep 10, 2007 3:54 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Sarawak PKR wants the federal government to take over the state's International Medical Centre (SIMC) facility and turn it into a much-needed general hospital for the public.
Sarawak PKR wants the federal government to take over the state's International Medical Centre (SIMC) facility and turn it into a much-needed general hospital for the public.
The party's sole elected representative in the state, Dominique Ng, said the opposition party will send a petition to the federal government regarding this.
He said the move was necessary in order to save the project from becoming a total failure.
The state government project with an initial approved budget of RM350 million has already suffered from cost over-runs. Local media reports suggest that the cost could probably double.
As such its future as a regional medical hub to compete with existing established centres like Singapore appears somewhat uncertain, especially after the pullout of the US-based Mayo Clinic for reasons which have never been made public.
The project, which is about 80 percent completed, is already behind time. It was supposed to be up and running by the end of 2007. State officials blame the delay on natural forces, including the weather.
According to a Sarawak PKR liaison committee member and former government doctor Dr Francis Ngu, once the procurement of equipment is completed, it will take at least a year to install and commission them.
White elephant
Meanwhile, Ng warned that if state authorities went ahead to try and turn it into a regional medical centre, it could end up being a white elephant.
Besides this, he said Kuching already has three specialist medical centres.
According to Ng, it would be better for the Health Minstry to come in and take over the new facility since so much money had already been spent.
It should be turned into a public hospital to serve the Samarahan, Sadong and Asajaya areas which have a total population of more that 70,000 people, he added.
The project's turnkey contractor is Sesco Engineering Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of state-owned utility company Sesco, and work has been sub-contracted out to Vamed Engineering Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of an international group based in Europe.
On Sunday, PKR members, led by Ng and several other leaders, held a brief demonstration to urge the federal government to step in and save the project.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Chan Hong Nam heads the state-owned Sarawak Specialist Hospital and Medical Centre that is developing the project.
The party's sole elected representative in the state, Dominique Ng, said the opposition party will send a petition to the federal government regarding this. He said the move was necessary in order to save the project from becoming a total failure.
The state government project with an initial approved budget of RM350 million has already suffered from cost over-runs. Local media reports suggest that the cost could probably double.
As such its future as a regional medical hub to compete with existing established centres like Singapore appears somewhat uncertain, especially after the pullout of the US-based Mayo Clinic for reasons which have never been made public.
The project, which is about 80 percent completed, is already behind time. It was supposed to be up and running by the end of 2007. State officials blame the delay on natural forces, including the weather.
According to a Sarawak PKR liaison committee member and former government doctor Dr Francis Ngu, once the procurement of equipment is completed, it will take at least a year to install and commission them.
White elephant
Meanwhile, Ng warned that if state authorities went ahead to try and turn it into a regional medical centre, it could end up being a white elephant.
Besides this, he said Kuching already has three specialist medical centres.
According to Ng, it would be better for the Health Minstry to come in and take over the new facility since so much money had already been spent.
It should be turned into a public hospital to serve the Samarahan, Sadong and Asajaya areas which have a total population of more that 70,000 people, he added.
The project's turnkey contractor is Sesco Engineering Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of state-owned utility company Sesco, and work has been sub-contracted out to Vamed Engineering Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of an international group based in Europe. On Sunday, PKR members, led by Ng and several other leaders, held a brief demonstration to urge the federal government to step in and save the project.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Chan Hong Nam heads the state-owned Sarawak Specialist Hospital and Medical Centre that is developing the project.
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