A 6ha site in Taman Medan, now home to a modern sports complex, could solve the pressing need for a public hospital to serve the high-density population of the Petaling Jaya-Subang-Puchong corridor.
According to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, a recent technical meeting between the ministry and the Selangor government identified the complex called X Park PJ South as a potential site for the new facility.
He told Malaysiakini the 6ha land area is strategically located to provide medical services to residents in the surrounding areas, especially for the B40 group.
"Besides its lower price, this plot also has a land area large enough to provide ample parking facilities that can prevent congestion, a problem which plagues many old hospitals.
"For immediate action, I have instructed the Selangor Health Department to inspect the site this week and do an evaluation.
"The ministry and the Selangor government will continue to work closely to ensure all the technical works can be completed in a timely manner for the benefit of the residents of Petaling Jaya and its surrounding areas," he said.
The ministry is planning to build a general hospital on the site, offering 500 beds with 15 medical specialities like the Ampang Hospital, he added.
Mounting pressure
Dzulkefly (above) was responding to a Malaysiakini query on mounting pressure for the government to build a new hospital that can cater for residents in the high-density Petaling Jaya, Puchong and Subang areas.
Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari recently came under fire after he cited high land costs as a factor that is hindering the ministry's plan to build a hospital in the area.
According to him, the state and the ministry were 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.
Dzulkefly explained they had to cancel an earlier plan to acquire a private land plot near Jalan Klang Lama because of its "very high" price.
He said the ministry has to be prudent in its spending of the government budget as they aim to build a comfortable hospital and equip it with state-of-the-art equipment.
While the ministry realises the difficulty of getting land for a low price in Petaling Jaya, Subang and Puchong, Dzulkefly stressed they "would never take a shortcut by moving the proposed hospital to a remote location just to save costs." - Mkini
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