SAPP : Rationale behind "Khidmat Hospital" project unconvincing, dubious

KOTA KINABALU, August 14, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has again questioned the real motive behind the State government's adamant decision to convert the dilapidated Wisma Khidmat into a private hospital.

SAPP Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah described the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Hj Aman's recent claim that the decision to set up the private hospital was foremost to ease the people's burden especially the perennial congestion at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and that profit is the least concern of the State government, as unconvincing and a ploy to secure and implement the said project which was estimated to cost RM100 million.

Chong regretted the Chief Minister's adamant decision to proceed with the project despite disapproval by the Health Minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai during his recent visit here on Aug 9.

Besides rejecting the State government's earlier offer to ‘loan' the private hospital to the Health Ministry upon its completion, the Health Minister also cautioned that running a private hospital is risky because the cost is high and doctors are in short supply.

"The public were skeptical of the real intention behind the project. They especially wanted to know why the State government is adamant about converting the long-abandoned, dilapidated Wisma Khidmat into a private hospital," said Chong in a statement issued here today.

He also challenge the State government and the relevant authorities to produce the fitness report for the said building to prove that it is really safe and fit still to be converted into a private hospital, besides a detailed budget for the project.

"While we in SAPP welcome the setting up of more private hospitals in the state, we are of the opinion that the State government should be fully transparent in the implementation of this project as it involves public interest, coupled with the fact that it is going to be funded by a Government-linked Company, the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) whose money are essentially the public's money," stressed Chong who is also SAPP Kepayan CLC Chairman.

He also expressed shock and disbelief over Musa's statement that "profit is the least concern of the State government" in implementing the said project.

"With his background as a successful corporate leader before joining politics, Musa should realize that private business is all about making profit, otherwise it should not be called a business but a non-profit or charitable organization," he contended.

Chong thus reminded Musa not to repeat the past mistake made by the State government in running the old Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) through another of its wholly-owned subsidiary, where over the years it incurred heavy losses and was later forced to dispose it off and sold it to its present management.

"Unless the State government is prepared to write off whatever losses incurred by the "Khidmat Hospital" in future as "bad debts" like what happened to the other money-losing government-owned businesses like Perwaja Steel, Malaysian Airlines etc.," he said.

He further reminded that the charges imposed by the old SMC in the past were based on the rates charged by private hospital, and most of its medicines were not subsidised by the government.

He thus questioned who will be subsidizing the medicines and treatments to be rendered by "Khidmat Hospital", if as claimed by Musa "profit is the least concern of the State government", which means this hospital is going to charge less than the other private hospitals if not the same as the government hospital.

"If the medicines and treatments at this "Khidmat Hospital" are not going to be subsidised, how is the hospital going to survive, let alone making money? If it is to be subsidized by the State government, how much it's going to cost the State government annually? If not, how much money SCC is going to lose every year?" he asked.

Wisma Khidmat private hospital to make quick bucks and not for the people's well being

The hasty plan to convert Wisma Khidmat building into a private hospital is to make quick bucks by taking advantage of the current situation when the people's healthcare predicament is in chaos.

The proposal to loan the private hospital to the government while waiting for the completion of the renovation works of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) including the construction of the twin towers to replace the unsafe main tower block is seen as squeezing the Health Ministry's funds.

"The Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had at the last State Assembly sitting revealed that the government is paying the Sabah Medical Centre (SMC) a whopping RM70 million a year as payment for renting since the QEH was declared unsafe.

"So now we know why Musa directed the commencement to convert the Wisma Khidmat into a private hospital costing RM100 million on the double. The main target is to loan the private hospital to the government for fast income," Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief Chong Pit Fah said in a statement, here, today.

He said it was learnt that the Wisma Khidmat private hospital owned by the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC) will be loaned to the government for two years and, that means the owner would receive RM140 million, which is RM40 million guarantee profits without to worry anything.

He said another matter of concerned is the contractor who will be given the jobs to convert the building and its consultant who surely make handsome profits as well. "The main question here is who are they. They must be well connected otherwise they won't get the jobs," he said adding it was also learnt that both contractor and consultant have been appointed.

Chong was replying to a statement issued by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Information Chief, Johnny Mositun, who had said Musa's directive reflects the Chief Minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s seriousness in meeting the people’s healthcare needs.

"The government should have came up with the idea many years ago when the healthcare situation is in need of better services and not taking advantage at present difficult time," he said.

He further said that what the government should do right now is to press the Federal Government to speed up the construction of the QEH twin towers as well as repairing works.

He said since the QEH is the only referral hospital in Sabah so Malaysians residing all over the State and at neighbouring areas like Lawas and Limbang, Sarawak, are deprived of such vital medical care.

"What we need here is a general hospital, a five-star general hospital to be exact after the QEH debacle made the State Capital as the only city in the world without a general hospital. It is a shame to Sabah BN Government.

"This sad situation is against the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tub Razak. Sabah is a member state of Malaysia for 46 years but without a general hospital. This shouldn't happened," he added.

He said Mositun's observation at the QEH that the situation there is causing stress both to the patients and doctors and nurses as some of the patients have to sleep on the floor due to insufficient beds have confirmed the dire needs for a quick solution to the only general hospital here.

Chong said SAPP has no objection to the RM275 million acquisition of the SMC by the Health Ministry and the proposal to build a new general hospital in Kinarut and the upgrading of Papar district hospital.

However, the State Government should asked the Federal Government to hasten those things and not to wait all of it to take off in the 10th Malaysia Plan, he said.

Chong agreed with Mositun's other statement to let the experts to could confirm whether Wisma Khidmat building is safe or suitable to be converted into a private hospital or otherwise.

The SCC owned private hospital costing over RM100 million would have 150 beds and medical facilities such as an operating theatre.

Wisma Khidmat Hospital project bad idea

KOTA KINABALU, 16 July 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) opined that the proposal to convert the Wisma Khidmat building, here, into a private hospital is a bad idea due to many reasons like its safety and suitability.

SAPP Information Chief Chong Pit Fah said that the proposed conversion site was bad as the building and location are not suitable for a medical setup.

"Is this private hospital upon completion going to provide free medical treatment to the people of Sabah because the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had said that it would be given on loan to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) while waiting for the other planned government hospital to be completed," he asked.

He further asked whether such loan means that the low income group are given subsidy whenever they seek treatment at the private hospital.

He said the Wisma Khidmat building, which was built for more than 25 years was also not suitable for a medical set up because it was built for commercial purposes then.

According to him, there is no guarantee that the Wisma Khidmat is safe for occupancy after being abandoned for several years as many parts of the building might be damaged.

He also said that problem like congestion might take place at the area because there are limited spaces for parking and this could spill over to the surrounding area.

"What the Chief Minister should do is to use of his good office to press the Federal Government to speed up the construction of the twin towers of the QEH after its main block was declared unsafe since late last year," he said.

He said there is an urgent need for a full-fledge general hospital here and the work to repair the QEH have to be carried out as fast as the government could.

He added that the city is already deprived of general hospital facility for 254 days after the QEH debacle.

The private hospital costing over RM100 million would have 150 beds and medical facilities such as an operating theatre. It will also be owned by the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), which owns the building.

Chong questioned the State Government the justification and the real motive behind such an endeavour.

"These are the questions that are currently being asked by the public," he said.

He argued that SCC, being a government linked company (GLC) established long time ago with the chief aim of assisting the small and medium enterprises should not divert from its original aim.

Chong also said that there were rumours that a consultant and contractor for the private hospital project have been appointed.

"Is this project a measure to rescue the abandoned Wisma Khidmat building or somebody has personal interest in it," he added.

Musa had told the media after chairing the weekly State Cabinet meeting at Wisma Innoprise, here, yesterday that he has issued a directive for work to convert the Wisma Khidmat into a private hospital as soon as possible and completed within one year.

SMC to build RM180m hosp?

Sabah Medical Centre Sdn Bhd (SMC) is believed to be planning to acquire 4.163 acres off Jalan Damai, Luyang, costing RM10 million per acre.

The purpose is to build a RM180 million replacement hospital in the wake of the Government's purchase of the existing SMC at a cost of about RM275 million.

A resolution to this effect under the heading "Acquisition of Town Lease 017553221 comprising 4.163 acres of land" on the agenda is likely to be tabled for consideration and approval at the company's Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on July 24.

It is the second of five proposed resolutions which are expected to be deliberated upon and approved at the EGM, of which a notice dated July 10 has been given to all shareholders.

It reads as follows :

"To resolve that the approval is granted under Section 132C of the Companies Act, 1965 to acquire the parcel of land held under Town Lease 017553221 comprising 4.163 acres more or less situated off Jalan Damai, Luyang, Kota Kinabalu at a purchase price of RM10,000,000.00 per acre as the contingent to construct a replacement private medical centre to continue providing medical care service upon the materialisation of the sale of SMC building to Ministry of Health (MOH), on such terms and conditions as the directors of SMC shall deem fit."

This will be preceded by Resolution 1 which is for the disposal by SMC of its ownership in the land held under Town Lease 017553212 together with the hospital building and an inventory of plants and equipment to the MOH for a sum of not less than RM275 million.

According to the notice, the third item on the agenda is to resolve that the Board of Directors be empowered and authorised on behalf of SMC to cause to design, build, equip and operate a new hospital building of 250 bedded at a budget of not more than RM180 million on Town Lease 017553221.

Daily Express contacted Chairman of Sabah Medical Centre Sdn Bhd, Dr Tseu Fui Loong, who confirmed the convening of the EGM.

He, however, said he was not aware that a copy of the notice had been circulated to the media and abruptly ended the conversation.

Meanwhile, the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) again said that the proposal to convert Wisma Khidmat here into a private hospital is a bad idea due to many reasons, particularly its safety and suitability.

Its Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah, said the proposed conversion site was bad as the building and location were not suitable for a medical set-up.

"Is this private hospital upon completion going to provide free medical treatment to the people of Sabah because the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman had said that it would be given on loan to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) while waiting for the other planned government hospital to be completed," he said in a statement to Bernama.

Chong said the Wisma Khidmat building, which was built more than 25 years ago, was also not suitable for a medical set-up because it was then built for commercial purposes.

He said there was no guarantee that the building was safe for occupancy after being abandoned for several years as many parts of the building might be damaged. He said problems like congestion might occur in the area because there was limited space for parking and this could spill over to the surrounding area.

"What the Chief Minister should do is to use of his good office to press the Federal Government to speed up the construction of the twin towers of the QEH after its main block was declared unsafe late last year," he said.

He added that the city had already been deprived of a general hospital facility for 254 days after the QEH debacle.

The private hospital costing over RM100 million would have 150 beds and medical facilities such as an operating theatre. It will also be owned by the Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), the building owner.

Hospital QEH

Permohonan untuk membincang untuk menyegerakan serta menetapkan tempoh bagi pembinaan Hospital Queen Elizabeth yang diisytiharkan tidak selamat untuk diduduki

Merujuk kepada peraturan Majlis Dewan Rakyat yang sedia ada, saya ingin mohon agar majlis ini dapat membincangkan untuk menyegerakan serta menetapkan tempoh bagi pembinaan Hospital Queen Elizabeth yang diisytiharkan oleh pihak kerajaan tidak selamat untuk diduduki pada 24 Oktober 2008.

Hospital Queen Elizabeth yang terletak di Ibu kota Negeri Sabah adalah terkenal sebagai hospital terunggul bukan sahaja bagi rawatan kepakaran dengan bantuan alat-alat yang canggih kepada ½ juta penduduk di Kota Kinabalu tetapi bagi keseluruhan rakyat Sabah. Setelah hospital ini diisytiharkan tidak selamat untuk diduduki bagi lebih kurang 400 katil, dengan kamar-kamar bagi alat-alat bantuan hospital serta klinik-klinik bagi doktor pakar, maka kesemua perkhidmatan kesihatan perubatan telah terjejas dengan seriusnya.

Hari ini adalah genapnya hari yang ke 240 dimana perkhidmatan perubatan tidak dapat dijalankan dengan sepenuhnya. Pesakit-pesakit yang kritikal yang memerlukan rawatan segera terpaksa ditangguh, begitu juga dengan pesakit-pesakit luar yang memerlukan rawatan doktor pakar tidak dapat diberi perkhidmatan di hospital di Ibu kota dan terpaksa dipindahkan ke hospital di daerah-daerah lain yang menyukarkan keluarga pesakit untuk menemani disebabkan ketiadaan rumah tumpangan bagi mereka diami semasa pesakit di hospital daerah. Keadaan ruang pejabat serta kamar bagi kakitangan hospital sangat sempit dan tidak kondusif, pesakit-pesakit terpaksa tidur di atas lantai semasa mendapat rawatan.

Kerajaan sangat kagum dan bangga dengan mengumumkan bahawa terminal lapangan kapal terbang telah siap dibina dalam masa 18 bulan sahaja, tetapi dengan pembinaan hospital nampaknya kerajaan tidak menangani perkara ini dengan serius sedangkan ini melibatkan kesihatan, hidup atau matinya rakyat yang telah menyokong penubuhan kerajaan kini. Kerajaan teragak-agak untuk mengambil tindakan, adakah wajar untuk mengambil masa hampir 7 bulan bagi Perdana Menteri untuk mengumumkan peruntukan pada 5 Mei 2009 berjumlah RM245 juta bagi pembelian SMC (Sabah Medical Centre) yang kedua. Agaknya peruntukan yang diumumkan oleh pemimpin utama ini tidak mencukupi, maka Menteri Kesihatan susuli untuk mengumumkan bahawa peruntukan sebenarnya bagi pembelian SMC ialah RM280 juta dengan tambahan bagi katil dari 170 buah hingga 250 buah dan kemudahan lain yang berjumlah RM90 juta, maka peruntukan keseluruhan sebenarnya yang diperlukan RM370 juta.

Keadaan ini seolah-olah kerajaan hanya pentingkan peruntukan wang ringgit dan telah mengetepikan kesihatan perubatan kepada rakyat. Rakyat Sabah sangat keliru dengan perangai kerajaan, nampaknya rakyat yang memilih pucuk kepimpinan kerajaan hari ini tidak diberi layanan dan sebaliknya diketepikan. Pucuk pemimpin pusat asyik mengumumkan peruntukan pembelian SMC kedua yang kononnya tersedia bagi operasi perkhidmatan perubatan. SMC pertama juga dibeli oleh kerajaan dengan tujuan sewaktu masa tersebut bagi penyediaan untuk pembinaan Hospital Queen Elizabeth di ibukota yang besar untuk menampung dan menangani kerumitan dengan ruang perkhidmatan hospital.

Bagi pihak rakyat Sabah saya mendesak di Dewan Yang Mulia ini agar kerajaan mengambil tindakan yang serius dan segera untuk menangani kerumitan yang ditanggung oleh rakyat Sabah dengan bangunan fisikal hospital. Kerajaan seharusnya bertindak untuk merancangkan perancangan jangka panjang yang mendatang. Saya difahamkan bahawa kerajaan mempunyai kawasan di Bukit Padang dengan keluasan hampir 50 hektar. Persoalannya adakah kerajaan serius untuk pembinaan hospital besar Queen Elizabeth untuk menggantikan Hospital Mesra? Ini bukan sahaja dapat menampung pesakit-pesakit dari ibu kota Sabah, memandangkan kawasan ini adalah persempadanan dengan daerah Penampang maka pesakit dari kedua-dua daerah serta daerah-daerah lain yang memerlukan doktor pakar dapat kemudahan perkhidmatan perubatan.

Oleh Datuk Eric Majimbun
Ahli Parlimen P.171 Sepanggar
Julai 3, 2009

40 Tahun Tinggal di Hospital

Pengarah Hospital Pakar Perunding dan Psikitari Hospital Mesra Bukit Padang Dr. Hj. Mohd Daud Dalip mendedahkan bahawa terdapat pesakit yang berada di hospital itu lebih daripada 30 hingga 40 tahun yang tidak dipedulikan oleh saudara atau ahli keluarga mereka.

Beliau berkata keadaan itu amat men-yedihkan dan berharap masyarakat tidak memandang negatif terhadap pesakit yang mendapatkan rawatan di sini kerana apabila pesakit itu sihat “mereka juga seperti manusia biasa”.

“Penghuni tertua dan paling lama berada di sini ialah seorang lelaki berumur 86 tahun dan seorang wanita berumur 79 tahun. Mereka mula dimasukkan di Hospital Buli Sim-Sim Sandakan dan dipindahkan ke sini apabila hospital ini siap sekitar tahun 1975.

“Kami sudah berusaha untuk mengesan ahli keluarganya tetapi tidak berjaya. Mungkin ada … tetapi keluarganya tidak mahu menerima atau mereka merasa malu mengakui ada ahli keluarga yang mendapatkan rawatan di sini,” katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika memberikan taklimat mengenai latar belakang, visi misi, objektif, perkhidmatan dan cabaran utama Hos-pital Mesra Bukit Padang (HMBP), kepada rombongan Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Isteri-Isteri Wakil Rakyat Sabah (Bakisa), di HMBP, di sini, kelmarin.

Rombongan itu diketuai oleh Timbalan Yang Dipertua Bakisa Datin Seri Siti Jouyah Mohd Yunin.

Mohd Daud berkata, tanggapan negatif masyarakat terhadap HMBP hanya untuk pesakit mental atau ‘orang gila’ menjadi isu dan cabaran utama pihak hospital.

Sehubungan itu, katanya masyarakat harus mengikis tanggapan negatif terhadap hospital itu dan juga pesakit yang dimasukkan ke sana bagi memudahkan mereka yang mempunyai masalah mendapatkan rawatan di hospital itu.

“Sebut sahaja Hospital Bukit Padang, kita terus memikirkan orang yang datang ke sini adalah orang gila … inilah padangan negatif masyarakat yang sukar dikikis.

“Sebenarnya, HMBP bukan sahaja menyediakan perkhidmatan untuk pesakit mental tetapi turut menyediakan unit kaunseling untuk membantu individu dan keluarga dalam meningkakan pemahaman diri dan persekitaran serta menangani masalah yang dihadapi melalui pendekatan holistik,” katanya.

Beliau berkata, bagi mengubah tanggapan negatif masyarakat terhadap hospital itu, pihak-nya mengadakan pelbagai aktiviti termasuk seminar, forum dan kempen dengan kerjasama semua pihak termasuk badan-badan bukan kerajaan (NGO).

“Tidak bermakna mereka yang menghadiri seminar itu mempunyai masalah mental tetapi sebagai persediaan pada masa akan datang untuk menangani tekanan hidup.

“Selain itu, ia juga bagi memudahkan kita membantu ahli keluarga, rakan-rakan dan jiran yang menghadapi masalah kerana lumrah ke-hidupan manusia yang kadang-kadang dalam keadaan baik dan sebaliknya,” katanya.

Beliau berkata: “Masyarakat kita takut atau malu untuk menghantar saudara mara mereka ke sini mendapatkan rawatan kerana mereka tidak mahu dianggap ‘gila’.

“Sebenarnya, lebih awal pesakit itu dihantar ke sini, lebih mudah untuk kita merawatnya dengan menggunakan pelbagai kaedah perubatan,” katanya.

Sabahtimes