Charles questions Selangor MB's 'no suitable land' claim for PJ hospital

 

Former Klang MP Charles Santiago has questioned the Selangor government’s explanation that difficulties in identifying “suitable land” were hindering plans to build a public hospital serving the Petaling Jaya-Subang-Puchong corridor.

In a statement today, Charles said residents in those areas continued to face overcrowded government hospitals, delayed appointments, and long travel times for treatment due to the absence of a dedicated public hospital.

He noted that Selangor has 13 public hospitals, but none specifically serving the three areas despite being among the nation’s most densely populated and wealthiest districts.

“When government hospitals are overcrowded, appointments are delayed, or emergencies happen, many are pushed to hospitals outside the area, or expensive private care,” he said.

Charles also pointed out a Selangor state assembly reply stating that the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) reportedly holds 1,951ha of land bank statewide, including 97.5ha in the Petaling district alone.

He further scrutinised what constituted “suitable land” for a hospital, listing requirements such as reliable water and energy access, flood-risk avoidance, strong infrastructure, accessibility, and room for future expansion.

These criteria, he said, are also broadly similar to those required for data centre developments.

According to Charles, Selangor has 39 operating data centres and another 13 under construction, adding that some hyperscale campuses in the state already exceed 40.5ha.

“For perspective: a major urban public hospital may require only six to 16ha. Is the 'suitable land' the issue, or state priority?” he asked.

The former MP also rebutted concerns of invoking the Land Acquisition Act, saying the law exists to facilitate projects deemed to be in the public interest despite challenges in urban land acquisition.

Misplaced priorities

Last Thursday, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari came under fire after addressing concerns over the lack of government hospitals in several densely populated suburbs in the state.

Amirudin said the state government and the Health Ministry are still searching for suitable land for a proposed public hospital in Petaling Jaya, as previously identified sites were either too expensive or too far from the targeted catchment area.

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari

He said the proposed site in Kota Damansara was deemed unsuitable due to distance, while other shortlisted land parcels carried high acquisition costs.

According to Amirudin, the Health Ministry requires at least two hectares of land for the project, but the cost of available plots would increase the overall development cost by two to three times compared to building a hospital elsewhere.

Despite the explanation, many netizens accused the state government of misplaced priorities, pointing to developments such as new data centres, planned highways, and large-scale commercial projects in Petaling Jaya.

In response, Amirudin stressed that funding decisions rest with the federal government, while the Selangor administration’s role is limited to facilitating land matters and identifying suitable sites for the proposed hospital. - Mkini