Selangor MB cites lack of land for PJ Hospital, gets brickbats

 

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari has taken to social media to respond to complaints about the lack of government hospitals in some of the state’s densest suburbs.

However, his explanation citing a lack of suitable land quickly drew brickbats from netizens and political parties alike.

Amirudin was responding to a netizen’s post on X on Tuesday, which highlighted that residents in Petaling Jaya, Subang, and Puchong would have to travel far to reach a government hospital.

Instead, private hospitals appear to be “piling up” in the Klang Valley’s suburbs, while those seeking government hospitals would have to travel to places like Shah Alam, Sungai Buloh, Cyberjaya, and Putrajaya.

In his response yesterday, Amirudin said the state government and the Health Ministry are searching for suitable land to build a hospital in Petaling Jaya.

“There were sites previously identified, but the cost is too high to buy, and the new site in Kota Damansara is too far. We are searching for other alternative sites,” he said.

In subsequent posts, Amirudin clarified that the plan is a federal government project to serve demand around Taman Medan and PJ Old Town, while the state’s role is to facilitate the land acquisition.

The Health Ministry requires at least five acres (2ha) of land to build the hospital.

While funds have already been set aside for the project, the Health Ministry considered the available land to be too costly, inflating the overall cost of the project two to three times compared to building a hospital elsewhere.

Despite his explanations, many netizens accused Amirudin of misplaced priorities, with critics citing examples such as a newly opened data centre, plans for new highways, and reports that a property developer has acquired acres of land in Petaling Jaya for a high-rise commercial development.

In response to these, Amirudin reiterated that the financial decision lies with Putrajaya, whereas the state government is merely facilitating land matters and is helping to search for suitable land.

‘Weak, humiliating’

Meanwhile, Bersatu Youth exco member Na’im Brundage slammed Amirudin’s explanation as “weak” and “humiliating”, since the private sector has built three large hospitals in Petaling Jaya in recent years.

The examples he cited were Picaso Hospital, Sunway Medical Centre Damansara, and Damansara Specialist Hospital 2.

“The question is, how could the private sector acquire land to build hospitals, but the Selangor government is still struggling to find land?” he asked in a statement today.

He also questioned why the state government did not invoke the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to acquire land for the benefit of residents of Puchong, Petaling Jaya, and Subang.

Na’im Brundage

“Therefore, the excuse given by the Selangor menteri besar is completely unacceptable.

“The failure does not stem from geographical constraints or the lack of land, but from incompetent administration and the lack of political will to prioritise the people’s health,” Na’im said.

How long more?

Meanwhile, the Gombak PSM division noted that Amirudin has been in power for eight years.

“How much longer is the menteri besar going to search for land? Is it easier for this government to give state land to developers than to build hospitals for the people?” it asked on X.

Petaling Jaya PSM division, meanwhile, floated a suggestion for the Health Ministry to temporarily take over the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and pump funds into lowering its treatment costs.

In response, Amirudin told the Gombak PSM division, “Don’t be a socialist that doesn’t think,” and pointed out that there is no government land in Petaling Jaya that is large enough for a government hospital.

In response to similar queries by other netizens, Amirudin said invoking the Land Acquisition Act would still incur a financial cost to the federal government, and it is up to the Health Ministry and Universiti Malaya to reach an agreement if there is to be a takeover of UMMC. - Mkini