By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Dec 3: The Petra Jaya Hospital is now expected to be completed by February 23, 2026, instead of the originally scheduled August 1, 2025, following the approval of the project’s fourth Extension of Time (EoT), Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said.
Speaking during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUS), Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government, highlighted that the project’s physical progress has reached 84.99 per cent as of Oct 25.
Updating on the broader improvement of public healthcare facilities across Sarawak, he shared that to date, 65.9 per cent of health clinics in Sarawak are classified as dilapidated, an improvement from 76.4 per cent during the same period last year following the implementation of Bitara Madani initiative since 2023.
“To strengthen basic infrastructure and clinical equipment, the Federal government has allocated RM100 million, while another RM5.2 million are allocated for low-value assets and capital items for 2025.
“As of November 2025, a total sum of RM67.5 million has been allocated throughout the Bitara Madani initiative,” he added.
Dr Sim further revealed that six dilapidated health facility projects have been added under a RM50 million Federal allocation.
All six projects are currently in the pre-implementation stage, with tenders to be called once designs by Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Sarawak are completed. The projects include:
- KK Biawak in Lundu
- KK Tepus in Selangau
- KK Kuala Lawas in Lawas
- KK Tun Abang Haji Openg in Subis
- KK Tanjung Bijat in Sri Aman
- Isolation Ward at Sarawak General Hospital’s Emergency and Trauma Department
In addition, two clinics namely KK Nanga Atoi and KK Nanga Ngungun have been approved under the Rintis Project initiative, with an estimated combined cost of RM12.8 million.
“Both clinics are currently under construction, with Nanga Atoi expected to be completed by the end of this year and Nanga Ngungun by the third quarter of 2026,” he said.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has also allocated RM52.8 million for upgrading, renovation and repair work at health clinics across Sarawak.
Meanwhile, under the Bitara Madani initiative budget of RM40 million, allocations include RM7.5 million for rural clinics, RM1.3 million for upgrading and repairs of staff quarters, and RM4 million for the KK Long Semadoh solar hybrid project. — DayakDaily
