KOTA SAMARAHAN: Minister of Health, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has proposed that the contracts of current contractors responsible for the construction of Petra Jaya Hospital be terminated.
He said that the project, which started on May 23, 2013, was now considered a ‘sick project’ and that it had failed to meet its estimated date of completion which was November 29, 2016.
The minister added that although the hospital’s date of completion had been extended to December this year, he was not confident that it would happen.
“This is because construction work is only 34.5 percent completed as of June this year.
“There are also many structural works for the hospital which have not been completed yet.
“Because of the delay, Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) has experienced an overflow of patients and is forced to open up additional wards to accommodate them,” he said.
Dzulkefly said that he would discuss the proposal with the Cabinet and if approved, the Public Works Department (JKR) would be entrusted with the completion of the hospital.
“I will bring this up to the Cabinet as among the many ‘sick projects’ that are high in priority is this hospital,” he said.
Dzulkefly was speaking at a press conference after an official working visit to the Sarawak Heart Centre here yesterday.
Also present during the event were Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Health Department Director, Dr Jamilah Hashim, and Sarawak Heart Centre Director, Dr Mohd Asri Riffin.
