Bureaucracy blamed for delay in health office lease extension
BUREAUCRATIC and administrative problems were the main cause in the delay of lease extension approval for the Lawas Health Office, which led to the accumulation of 30 months’ rental arrears and the landlord blocking access to the building.
Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee pointed out the issue has since been settled, including compliance with a new condition set by the Department of Lands and Mines.
“The lease for the shoplot, in which the Lawas Health Office is housed, had expired since January 2017.
“So the Health Department has to reapply for extension of the lease period, which according to procedure also required the Bomba ( Fire and Rescue Department) to come in and inspect the building before the contract could be renewed and signed,” he clarified during a press conference at the State Legislative Assembly Complex yesterday.
During the process, he said another condition set by the federal Department of Lands and Mines emerged, which stipulated that a residential area could not be used for offices.
“This is because the land use of this property is assigned for residential. Previously, there was no such condition.
“So, they had to apply to the Land and Survey ( Department) for permission to change the land use from residential to office before the contract could be signed,” he further explained.
Due to these delays, Dr Annuar said there were 30 months of rental arrears not paid but on June 11 the Health Department received approval to allow the residential property to be used as an office as approved by the Land and Survey Department.
“So there is no more issue and now waiting for payment, which has been approved to be issued to the landlord before it is all settled and the contract to be signed in a couple of weeks,” he said.
“This issue is purely bureaucracy and administrative although it is not fair for the landlord not to be paid for 30 months.
“It could have been settled earlier if the condition was informed early on and there was good communication among officers. This should not have arisen at all,” he added.
Dr Annuar was also addressing the concerns raised from the question and answer session by Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian, who was not present for the sitting yesterday.
On the Lawas Hospital project, Dr Annuar said the tender for the project was not awarded yet it is still awaiting approval from the federal Ministry of Finance.
“Due to change of government, all these procurements have been withheld and we do not know if it will be retendered again and other processes involved.
“That we leave to the federal government to decide,” he said in response to Baru, who questioned why the Lawas Hospital project had not recommenced despite the retendering process closing last August.
The ceiling cost of the 80- bed hospital was RM228 million and once tendered, the project should be completed within 36 months.
The specifications include outpatient and inpatient, male ward ( 28 beds), female ward ( 28 beds), paediatric ward ( 20 beds), high dependency ward ( four beds), haemodialysis unit (17 chairs), diagnostic and treatment services, pharmacy, rehabilitation unit, health education unit, administrative, as well as catering and support services for the non- medical section.