New contractors for six ‘sick’ hospitals
> 2020 deadline set for buildings to be ready
SEGAMAT: New contractors will be appointed to proceed with the six hospital construction projects following failure by previous contractors to complete them on schedule, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam.
He said the move was taken after his ministry has identified that the selection of contractors was a major factor that the hospital projects were behind schedule.
“Apart from having insufficient capital, the lack of experience of contractors appointed previously is among the causes for them failing to complete their task, compelling the ministry to terminate their service immediately.
“As such, the Cabinet decided to select contractors experienced in the construction of hospitals to ‘treat’ and proceed with the construction of these ‘sick’ hospital projects,” he told reporters at the presentation of Deepavali gifts to 300 patients at Segamat Hospital, here yesterday.
He said these six hospitals included the one in Cyberjaya, Bera in Pahang and Rembau in Negri Sembilan which are expected to be fully ready by 2020.
In another development, Subramaniam urged the public, especially school students to stop the “pass-out challenge” game trend as it could harm their health, or even cause death.
He said his ministry will work with the Education Department in addressing this increasingly “contagious” culture among a handful of students in the country.
Meanwhile, he said the construction of the RM3.5 million field hospital in Kutupalong Camp, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh by the Malaysian government was one of its social responsibilities towards any nation that needs assistance based on humanitarian grounds. – Bernama