We will sue, warns KK general hospital engineer

Ikram (Sabah) Sdn Bhd today warned that it will not hesitate to take legal action against any party which brings it or executive director Vincent Tan into disrepute over Kota Kinabalu’s now largely abandoned Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Ikram is the consulting engineer for QEH.

Tan reserved most of his wrath for Kota Kinabalu MP, Dr Hiew Hing Cheu, an engineer, who poured cold water on the RM23.76 million needed for repair works for the QEH. The Ikram chief felt that the MP had compromised his reputation as a respectable engineer.

"The comprehensive reports in three volumes on the structural integrity of the QEH Tower Block were in front of him during the Public Forum on Monday but he (Dr Hiew) never bothered to take a look at them. Neither did he ask me how I arrived at the cost of the repair option," said Tan.

"Instead, he chose to make a political statement before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

"He showed no concern for the safety of patients and hospital staff. Once, a big chunk of concrete fell on an operating table but fortunately no one was hurt. I invited him to join the guided tour of the hospital after the forum so that he could see the structural defects for himself but he didn’t."

Tan also took to task Dr Hiew’s suggestion that three professional bodies in Sabah be allowed to take a closer look at Ikram’s various estimates, including for the demolishment of the Tower Block and its reconstruction at a cost of RM24.58 million, or RM 820,000 more than the repair option.

"This actually implies that I am biased and corrupt and therefore need those groups to check the price," said Tan. "I am disgusted and will not hesitate to take legal action against the party concerned for ruining my reputation."

Tan reiterated that he discharged his duties professionally and ethically. The thrust of Tan’s arguments was that pre-emptive measures must be taken before accidents are allowed to happen.

The 10-storey QEH Tower Block was declared unsafe on Oct 23 by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai based on detailed reports by Ikram and the Public Works Department. The decanting process took place immediately and the last patient was moved out of the Tower Block on Nov 14.

Liow has since directed that the three volumes of reports be made public. They contain details of tests carried out on the suspect Tower Block, including appraisals, recommendations and a cost-benefit analysis.

Repairing the building was not a viable option since the whole structure was built using corrosive sea sand which has a high chloride content, according to the reports.

"If the repair option is exercised, another RM4.5 million at current prices would be needed in another 10 years, to re-appraise the building," warned Tan in the report.

"The building would need continued maintenance and would not be able to withstand vibrations and stresses including horizontal forces that may be introduced by earthquakes and other natural disasters."

Dr Hiew has previously said the majority of concerned professionals in Sabah were not in favour of demolishing QEH.

"We would support the demolition if the whole building was crumbling. The extent of damage is not at a critical stage yet. Only certain portions are structurally damaged and these can be salvaged," said Dr Hiew.

"From an engineer’s point of view, the beams can be repaired. We need the building as there is no replacement as yet.

"The smaller single storey structures behind the Tower Block should be replaced with proper structures. Also, we would urge that the proposed Twin Tower Block on an adjacent site go ahead without any further delay."

Dr Hiew disputed Ikram Sabah’s figure of RM23.76 million for structural repair work at QEH and alleged that the figure "may have been exaggerated since we don’t need that kind of money to repair partial damages".

Dr Hiew said "all stakeholders should have a say since this is a matter of public interest". Specifically, he mentioned the Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) Sabah branch, Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) Sabah branch and the Malaysian Institute of Architects Sabah chapter.

"The government has money to buy the first SMC (Sabah Medical Centre), the second SMC and perhaps even the third SMC but no money to build a proper hospital for the state capital," alleged Dr Hiew.

"My mother once slept on the floor at QEH because there weren’t enough beds. I will have a word with Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai about the QEH."

There are lingering questions over the Health Ministry’s purchase of SMC, which has now been turned into the Likas Hospital for Women. SMC went on to build a brand new hospital in Luyang, Kota Kinabalu.

After the evacuation of QEH, the ministry raised the possibility of buying the second SMC to replace the QEH but had second thoughts after a public outcry over history repeating itself.

The first SMC, like the Likas Hospital, was built by Chief Minister Harris Salleh at only RM5 million but changed hands at several multiples of the amount when the government took over it under a previous health minister.