JOHOR BARU: The government has approved RM500 million allocation to upgrade the Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA), which include the construction of new blocks and multi-storey carpark.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during a visit to the hospital today, said he had issued instruction for the first phase of the project to commence this year and that the tender process would be carried out soon.
He said the visit was carried out following reports by Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa on the overcrowding issue that it had faced for many years.
"After Dr Zaliha raised the issue in the cabinet a few months ago, the Finance Ministry had started taking several early measures.
"They include approving the construction of the multi-storey carpark, with the Johor government having taken steps to facilitate the public with the assistance of the Johor Baru City Council," said Anwar, who is also finance minister.
Anwar said the multi-storey carpark project should not disrupt the construction of the new blocks there.
"According to the hospital director (Dr Sal Atan), HSA spans an area of almost 100 acres (40.46ha), if we look at the size in the original plan, the land is sufficient (for the upgrade project).
"The plan now is to develop a complex of several high-rise buildings to accommodate patients' needs."
He said the overcrowding issue had worsened and could no longer be contained, so the tender process would be fast-tracked to allow the project to start soon.
Asked on plans to build HSA 2, Anwar, who is also Tambun member of parliament, said the government would expedite urgent projects first.
"For the other (HSA 2), (we will include) in the mid-term review of the 12th Malaysia Plan and so on."