Twist in Taman Manggis saga
Health Ministry: We approved building of hospital
NIBONG TEBAL: The Taman Manggis saga has taken another twist as it was revealed that the Health Ministry has approved the building of a specialist hospital on the land.
Contrary to the state government’s claim that the ministry had refused its application, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said an approval certificate was issued on Nov 7 to the Kuala Lumpur International Dental Centre (KLIDC).
“I checked with my officers regarding the Taman Manggis hospital application. There was an application for a hospital and the ministry approved it on Nov 7.
“Certain quarters accused the ministry of not giving approval for the hospital but that is not true,” Liow said after launching a health expo here yesterday.
He said the company had initially applied to set up a general hospital but had been advised to build a specialist hospital instead.
Over the last five months, Taman Manggis has become a bone of contention between the Pakatan Rakyat state government and Barisan Nasional.
The issue began when Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng disclosed a Health Ministry letter dated Oct 22, 2010, that allegedly rejected KLIDC’s proposal to build a 150-bed hospital on the 0.45ha site.
The alleged rejection was disputed by Barisan who, in turn, alleged that the Taman Manggis area had been earmarked by their previous administration for low-cost housing.
After several rounds of verbal tussle on the open tender for the land and its value, the Penang Barisan Youth offered to buy the plot at RM450 per sq ft to build affordable housing.
The offer was accepted by the Penang Government but the deal ran into a hitch when questions were raised about the current ownership and status of the land.
Requests to Lim for comment were unanswered at press time.