NEW HOSPITAL NEAR KINARUT
Govt ready to give land for project near State Capital but exact site yet to be identified: Musa
KOTA KINABALU:
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman yesterday disclosed that the proposed site for a new hospital is between Putatan and Kinarut.
“It is more or less after Putatan and most probably near Kinarut although the exact location has yet to be identified because the Health Ministry will need 50 to 100 acres for the health facility project,” Musa said.
He was speaking to reporters after a courtesy call by Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai at the State Legislative Assembly building yesterday.
According to Musa, during his discussion with Liow, he told the latter that the State Government was ready to give the Ministry a site that is close to the State Capital for the construction of the hospita1 that can accommodate more than 600 beds.
“I have requested, if possible, that the hospital be a big one with sufficient facilities to cater to not only residents in Kota Kinabalu, but also Papar, Keningau and Tenom as well as other nearby districts,” he said.
Musa said Liow had in principal agreed to the request and assured that he will bring the matter up to the Federal Cabinet for perusual.
Liow, who on Oct 24 revealed that the structure of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s main tower and podium blocks, forensics block and boiler room were found to be unsafe for occupation, yesterday said all the patients have been evacuated from the 10-storey building.
He said a new Twin Tower Block with more than 600 beds will be built at the QEH site, while the Ministry has long-term plans to build another general hospital in the State Capital.
He said his Ministry is still studying to identify the best area to construct the new hospital, including the site proposed by the Chief Minister, to cater to the population not only in Kota Kinabalu areas but also from other rural areas such as Keningau and Kudat.
