MUKAH: A new government hospital which has been proposed for this district has not been built yet.
It is learned that the government is still in the process of alienating suitable land for the project.
According to a government notification advertised in a local newspaper sometime in mid-2008, six lots of land totaling 18.07 hectares in Penipah at Mukah-Balingian Road had been alienated for the purpose.
Following land alienation in 2008 or after that, it is understood that former Mukah Member of Parliament (MP) Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad who was accompanied by former Mukah divisional health officer Dr Osman Rafaie went to inspect
the site.
After that visit, there was no news about the proposal even after a new Mukah MP (Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib) was elected, and a new divisional health officer took over last year.
New Sarawak Tribune (NST) asked Tellian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo whether he has any idea about the proposal.
“It looks like the alienated land is about to be gazetted. After that they may proceed with preparing the plan, and that’s as far I know,” he said on WhatsApp yesterday, in response to a photocopy of the advertised government notification that was ‘whatsapped’ to him.
It is learned that among the justifications for building the new hospital about 20km from the existing one is the need for a bigger area and to cater for future population increase.
The existing hospital at Mohd Pauzi Road, which is about two kilometres from the town, has been operational for more than 45 years.
Besides serving local patients, the hospital also receives certain minor referred cases from other hospitals in Mukah Division although it lacks many certain facilities including equipment for handling stroke patients.
