JOHOR BARU: The Johor menteri besar has proposed solutions to end parking problems at the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) here.
Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi today suggested that an open space below the pedestrian bridge near HSA be turned into a visitors' parking lot.
The country's oldest yet busiest hospital opened its doors in 1882.
With various developments over the years, it has reached full capacity.
In recent times, Onn Hafiz has made several surprise visits to HSA and taken measures to improve wards and facilities at the hospital to reduce patient waiting time.
He had also taken efforts to address the manpower shortage there by inviting the health minister to witness firsthand the issues.
Another decades-long issue has been the insufficient parking facilities, forcing patients, visitors and HSA staff to park their vehicles along the roadside of Persiaran Sultan Abu Bakar (formerly known as Jalan Skudai and Jalan Abu Bakar).
The parked vehicles cause traffic congestion, making the area prone to accidents and an eyesore.
The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, had also voiced his dissatisfaction in the past, citing the cars parked along the roadside as hazardous and unsightly.
Following a visit to HSA by public bus yesterday, Onn Hafiz said he had initiated discussions with the relevant authorities.
"I am pleased to announce that we have obtained approval from the developers to create additional parking bays in the open area in front of HSA and near the pedestrian bridge.
"I will continue to appeal to the federal government to construct a multi-level parking lot at HSA," he said today.