By DayakDaily Team
KOTA SAMARAHAN, July 7: The proposed Sarawak Cancer Centre, to be built on a 27-acre site adjacent to the Sarawak Heart Centre here, is expected to be completed by 2032 as the project moves into the design-and-build procurement stage, with construction targeted to commence in early 2027.
Works Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the project, a collaborative initiative between the federal government and the Sarawak government, had reached a key milestone with the briefing and site visit for contractors that successfully passed the pre-qualification stage.
The briefing was aimed at providing participating companies with a clear understanding of the project’s scope and site conditions before they submit their design-and-build proposals.
“The contractors need to understand the requirements in detail so that they can deliver the best possible design and construction. We hope the project will proceed smoothly,” he said during a visit to the project site at the Sarawak Heart Centre today.
The Sarawak Cancer Centre will be developed as a 310-bed healthcare facility offering outpatient and inpatient services, diagnostic and treatment facilities, medical support services and non-medical support services.
“Once completed, it is expected to become a major referral centre for cancer treatment and care in the region,” he added.
Nanta highlighted that contractors selected through the completed pre-qualification exercise would have until October to submit their proposals, with the government aiming to appoint the successful contractor by January next year.
“We hope the successful contractor will be awarded the Letter of Acceptance early next year. From January 2027 onwards, the contractor will have five years, or 60 months, to complete both the design and construction of the hospital,” he said.
The project will then undergo a two-year Defects Liability Period (DLP), during which the contractor will remain responsible for rectifying any defects. Despite this, the facility is expected to be operational and serving patients during the DLP period.
“We hope the hospital can be completed within the stipulated timeframe by 2032. During the two-year DLP period, the facility will already be able to operate and serve patients,” he added.
On the project design, he said the Ministry of Health (MOH) had established specific requirements that must be incorporated into all proposals.
“Whoever undertakes the design must take into account all the requirements outlined in the Statement of Need. The actual design approach, however, is up to each bidder,” he said.
Nanta noted that the Sarawak government has allocated RM1 billion for the project, which will be advanced by the State government before being reimbursed by the federal government.
“At this stage, we understand that the project will require more than RM1 billion in total. However, we will not go into the details of the cost at this stage, as the final amount will depend largely on the design and related factors,” he said.
He stressed that the priority now was to complete the design phase and expedite the overall implementation process.
The minister noted that the Sarawak Cancer Centre would become only the second dedicated cancer centre of its scale in Malaysia and is expected to be a state-of-the-art facility.
“Having such a facility is extremely important, and it will significantly enhance cancer care services for the people of Sarawak and Malaysia,” he said.
The centre will provide comprehensive healthcare services, including stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy, while enhancing diagnostic, radiotherapy and chemotherapy capabilities through the integration of these services at a single location.
Nanta also expressed appreciation to all parties involved in the project, including the Public Works Department (JKR) Malaysia, which will oversee its implementation.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Works and JKR Malaysia, I would also like to thank the Ministry of Health for once again placing its trust in JKR Malaysia to assist in the implementation of this project,” he said.
He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Works and JKR Malaysia to delivering high-quality healthcare infrastructure that supports the nation’s healthcare services and improves access to specialised cancer treatment for the people of Sarawak and the country as a whole. — DayakDaily
