SHAH ALAM, May 28 — The proposed construction of a government hospital in Petaling Jaya is a positive step, but the need for similar healthcare facilities in Hulu Selangor should also receive serious attention.
MalaysiaGazette reported that its parliamentary coordinator Dr Sathia Prakash Nadarajan said the construction of a government specialist hospital in the district should be considered to meet the needs of residents in semi-urban and rural areas.
Hulu Selangor, which covers nearly 20 per cent of the state's total land area and has a population of about 300,000, still lacks a large-scale government specialist hospital.
“The proposed construction of a government hospital in Petaling Jaya is a positive development for the people, but at the same time, the needs of other equally important areas, such as Hulu Selangor, must also be given attention.
“The cooperation between the state and Federal governments in identifying a site for a new hospital should be appreciated, but fair healthcare development must also take into account areas that are far from treatment access,” he said.
Dr Sathia added that the situation in Hulu Selangor is very different from Petaling Jaya, which is surrounded by various healthcare facilities, including the University Malaya Medical Centre, private hospitals, and other treatment centres.
Its residents still rely on the Selayang Hospital, the Sungai Buloh Hospital, and the Slim River Hospital for specialist treatment, with travel distances ranging from 40 to 60km, depending on their location.
He said the rapid population growth, as well as the development of new residential and industrial areas in the district, are expected to further increase the need for a government specialist hospital in the district.
Previously, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced that the state government and the Health Ministry had agreed on the proposed site for the construction of the 500-bed Petaling Jaya Hospital to cater to the needs of residents in the Petaling Jaya-Subang Jaya-Puchong area.
The decision was reached following the latest coordination meeting on May 14, with the hospital to be built vertically, similar to the Ampang Hospital, to optimise land use and construction costs.
Following that, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said a six-hectare site at X Park PJ South in Taman Medan had been identified as the location for the proposed public hospital.
