2.23ha site has been identified to build the hospital

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 February 2012 09:00 Thursday, 16 February 2012 08:57

PASIR GUDANG: The Government has agreed in principle to build a public hospital in Bandar Seri Alam to cater for residents from Pasir Gudang and nearby areas.

Seri Alam Properties Sdn Bhd general manager Frankie Tan Kiat How said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had visited Pasir Gudang recently to identify the hospital’s site.

He added that the minister went to three different locations within Pasir Gudang and Masai area and had chosen a 2.23ha site at Jalan Gunung in the township for the project.

“The project will start under the 10th Malaysia Plan and this is good news for many Pasir Gudang residents who have been waiting to have a public hospital for years,” said Tan.

He commented on this at the opening of Seri Alam Properties Sdn Bhd’s sales gallery and corporate office by its parent company United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand) chairman Tun Musa Hitam.

Also present at the event were UMLand group chief executive officer Pee Tong Lim, executive director Datuk Ng Eng Tee and Iskandar Regional Development Authority chief executive officer Ismail Ibrahim.

Tan said under the phase one of the project, the facility would be a full-fledged district hospital with 100 beds costing about RM150mil and the number of beds would be increased eventually under its future expansion plan.

“The Health Ministry will submit the proposal on the project to the Finance Ministry and the Economic Planning Unit for further action,” he added.

Although there is a private medical centre in the township, residents seeking medical treatment at public hospitals would have to go to Hospital Sultan Ismail in Pandan or Hospital Sultanah Aminah in Johor Baru.

In another matter, Tan said plans were already in the pipeline to start an integrated transportation hub in the township to serve residents in the Eastern Gate Development Zone.

He said a 3.19ha site near to a private medical centre has been slated for the hub which would improve connectivity from the Eastern Gate to other parts of Iskandar Malaysia.

Eastern Gate Development Zone is one of the five flagship development zones on Iskandar Malaysia – others are the Johor Baru City Centre, Nusajaya, Western Gate Development and Kulai-Senai.

Seri Alam Properties, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UMLand abd currently undertakes the development of 1.347.60ha Bandar Seri Alam township.

Development of the township started since 1992, about 60% of the area has been developed as of to date with 10,000 residential and commercial properties and 70,000 residents.

From The Star