LUNDU: The Sarawak government has agreed that the current Lundu Hospital be rebuilt with own funds, then be reimbursed by the federal government.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said he would agree if the federal government agreed to rebuild the hospital with Sarawak funds first.
“The hospital project mentioned by Tanjong Datu assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan is the same as I persuaded them (the federal government) to build the Sarawak Cancer Centre, it has been for two years.
“But we and the Unity government have a good cooperation, if they agree (to use state funds first), we will agree.
“We can use our money first, but it must be repaid by the federal government,” he said.
He said this when officiating the 2024 Batang Kayan Festival and Regatta here at Lundu Waterfront on Friday (July 26).
Abang Johari added that the state government is ready to cooperate for the people, especially in providing benefits.
“We are ready to cooperate for the people, because it (the construction of the hospital) is their federal government responsibility, not ours.
“Therefore, they must pay us back. Thank God when I said I allocated RM100 million for health matters and RM100 million for education matters, now RM100 million has been paid to us by the federal government.”
Earlier, Azizul said the Lundu Hospital, which was built in 1965, is now in great need of new facilities and should ideally be relocated to a new area.
“It would also be appropriate to use the same mechanism that was used to develop the new cancer centre to develop the Lundu Hospital,” he said.
