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By Ashley Sim & Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Sept 3: Normah Medical Specialist Centre will have a new state-of-the-art hospital equipped with 320 beds and built by the river’s edge, says Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Normah has been one of the major contributors to Sarawak’s thriving medical tourism sector, attracting patients from beyond the region’s borders, especially from Pontianak and Singkawang in Kalimantan.
“In light of this, we are building a new Normah building that will be equipped with the latest and most advanced medical technology.
“This state-of-the-art hospital is being built by the river’s edge where we are actually clearing the land now, offering patients an environment that nurtures healing and tranquillity as they receive their treatment including post-treatment.
“We will also make the new hospital environmentally-friendly and complement it with a shopping complex and hotel,” he said during Normah’s 35th anniversary dinner at Pullman Hotel here earlier tonight.
Abang Johari also said the new hospital, upon completion, would attract not only patients from Kalimantan, Indonesia and other parts of Borneo, but also their families.
“We have a hospital, a shopping complex and a hotel, so our friends from Kalimantan and other parts of Borneo, our neighbours, they can bring their family together while they seek for treatment.
“Not only that, the hotel will be equipped with other facilities because it is facing the Santubong river (where) they can cruise along the river.
“This holistic ecosystem aims to provide patients and their families with comfort and convenience,” he added.
He also disclosed that the Sarawak government is currently in the midst of taking over MASWings which later would be utilised as the State’s own airline to bring in tourists.
Abang Johari further stressed that the Sarawak government’s policy is to make the State a centre of medical reference in Borneo.
“Therefore, we want to upgrade all the facilities in Normah and as you know, our friend (Indonesia) is going to develop Nusantara (Indonesia’s new capital) so we can provide medical care for our friends in Nusantara, Indonesia.
“That is part of our effort to upgrade our facilities including (for) our neighbours in Brunei, Kalimantan and if it is within affordability and we provide good services, my prayer is that Sarawak become a centre and hub for medical care,” he emphasised.
In a previous report on Oct 3, 2022, Abang Johari has stated that the Sarawak government intended to build a new state-of-the-art Normah Hospital.
Amongst those present at the dinner tonight were Abang Johari’s wife, Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Premier Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian and his wife Datin Sri Enn Ong, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki who is also Normah Medical Specialist Centre’s chairman; Normah’s chief executive officer Dato Dr Au Yong Kien Hoe; and Normah’s advisor Tan Sri Datuk Amar Bujang Mohd Nor. — DayakDaily
