PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has approved an immediate allocation of RM500 million for the first phase of Sultanah Aminah Hospital’s (HSA) infrastructure development.

He said the project included the construction of a multi-storey car park as well as several new high-rise blocks in HSA. 

Anwar said the multi-storey car park will be built soon, with the construction process to begin this year.  

“For this hospital (HSA), for the first phase, we need RM500 million and after discussing with the Ministry of Finance, we want this project to be expedited and the project amounting to half a billion (RM500 million) has been approved,” he said after a visit to HSA today.  

Also present were Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Health director-general Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan and HSA director Dr Sal Atan.

Anwar said HSA had an area of around 40ha that was sufficient to build a car park and develop several more high-rise complexes to cope with hospital services and resolve patient congestion. 

“From what I witnessed earlier, the situation has become dire… the (hospital) beds are being placed right in the middle of the wards.  

“This situation has been left unresolved for a long time without any action taken… It is now the time for me and Dr Zaliha Mustafa (to resolve it). We will take immediate action and (the allocation) has been approved,” he said. 

Asked if plans for the construction of HSA 2 had also been discussed, Anwar said HSA 2 would be part of the 12th Malaysia Plan mid-term review and stressed that the current situation at HSA must be dealt with first.  

“That (HSA 2) is part of our second plan; we want to resolve pressing concerns first (car park and new complex in HSA). – Bernama, September 3, 2023.