By Adrian Lim
KUCHING, May 10: Political secretary to the Chief Minister Michael Tiang claims that Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen tried to mislead the public by blaming the GPS government and SUPP for the termination of the Petra Jaya Hospital project.
Tiang in a press statement today said the Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman needs to be honest with himself and not try to cover up broken promises and the bad decisions that the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government had made concerning Sarawak.
The Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Central Youth chairman claimed that the PH’s government decision to terminate the Petra Jaya Hospital was another blatant example of the former federal government’s dismissive attitude towards Sarawak and the interest of its people.
“Albeit the said project was long declared as a sick project before the PH came into power, instead of taking charge of finding ways to cure that sick project, the PH administration opted for an easy way out – terminated the project without taking consideration that Sarawak’s needs for such a new hospital are in fact real and dire all along.
“When the Covid-19 pandemic hit us since last March, our dire needs (sic) for extra hospital beds were even more glaring.
“Should the PH government have allowed the Petra Jaya Hospital project to continue as planned with revised and tighter scrutiny and supervisions, Sarawak would have (an) extra 300 beds to combat the pandemic,” he said.
Tiang added that there was a briefing in 2018 between the State Health Department, Minister for Local Government and Housing Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Ministry of Health and Public Works Department during a visit by former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad here.
However, he noted the meeting was just a briefing for Dzulkefly on the Petra Jaya Hospital project and no agenda was discussed.
Tiang added the main contractor of the Petra Jaya Hospital was also present at the meeting but they were not allowed to present their appeals for ways for them to continue and complete the project.
He noted that there was no consultation with the Sarawak government on whether the Petra Jaya Hospital project should be continued or terminated for good.
Subsequently, Tiang said the Ministry of Health in Kuala Lumpur cancelled the project during the PH’s government tenure while the main contractor of the project is seeking legal action against the federal government. — DayakDaily
