Kampar hospital project cancelled

IPOH: The Kampar hospital project has been cancelled by the federal government, much to the disappointment of the 120,000 residents who have been hoping for better medical facilities.

Kampar DAP MP Dr Ko Chung Sen said the residents were shocked that the project had been called off after for six years.

“The present hospital, built in 1949 on a steep hill with a capacity for 90 beds, cannot cater to major operations.

“The reasons for the project’s cancellation cannot be accepted,” he told reporters yesterday.

He said one reason given was that the site was composed of 40% soil and 60% water, which would incur high costs for ground treatment.

Another reason cited was the construction of a specialist teaching hospital by Universiti Tunku Abdu Rahman (UTAR) in the area.

“It is not justified as Taman Kampar Putra is experiencing a construction boom in recent years, with a completed 20storey condominium project and another 24-storey apartment building being built.

The UTAR hospital is expected to become a regional centre for paediatrics in Asean.

“The UTAR hospital will impose charges that the poor will not be able to pay and it cannot replace a new government hospital,” he said.

According to Ko, former health minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had announced the project, costing RM150 million, would be undertaken by the federal government on July 26, 2011.

A 42ha site in Bandar Agacia, Taman Kampar Putra was identified for the project that was supposed to be completed in two years.

However, it was pushed to the 11th Malaysia Plan on March 5, 2014, and now, the project has been cancelled.