By Jacob Achoi
KUCHING, Nov 1: Rajah Charles Brooke Memorial Hospital (RCBM) is set to have its parking lots extended with an estimated cost ranging between RM250,000 and RM300,000.
The extension is intended to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce accidents in the area.
Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Lo Khere Chiang expressed his intentions to work with the Public Works Department (JKR) to initiate the project next year.
“For RCBM, more parking spaces will be made available for the convenience of the people which we hope to build next year and I will work with JKR to have the project started next year,” Lo said during the site visit.
The proposed project is located adjacent to the hospital, which Lo said is patronised not only from residents in the Batu Kitang area, but other areas like Serian and Puncak Borneo.
In view of this, Lo pointed out that he will also liaise with Mambong assemblyman (Datuk Dr Jerip Susil), who is Deputy Minister of Transport (Aviation and Roads) to help with the implementation of the project.
Lo thanked JKR for a similar project last year located across the hospital, and believed that the department will continue to assist with the proposed project.
Meanwhile, president of Heritage Society of RCBM Hospital, Angelina Jong said the project is very much needed due to the increasing number of patients at the hospital.
“At the moment, RCM serves about 30,000 people, so the extension of the parking lots is very much needed,” she said, adding that with increased parking lots will help the vehicles park in a more orderly manner.
She explained that the extended parking lot will also provide a proper shelter for the people from Kampung Sinar Baru (settlement of the former leprosy patients) to sell their jungle produce.
Also present for the site visit were JKR Kuching divisional engineer Liew Ming Chek and RCBM director Dr Nolan Teo. — DayakDaily
