Pahang gets a new hospital

Star: TEMERLOH: Pahang has a spanking new hospital to replace the ailing Mentakab Hospital, which is more than 80 years old.
Renamed Hospital Haji Ahmad Shah, after the current ruler, the RM490mil state-of-the-art hospital was opened by the Pahang Sultan yesterday.
In his speech, Sultan Ahmad Shah reminded the people to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
He said all Malaysians should carry out some form of exercise regularly and maintain a high level of cleanliness.
“One must remember that there is no wealth like health,” he said, adding that the people should stay away from unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking, incest and drug abuse.
Sultan Ahmad Shah also commended the efforts by the Health Ministry in responding promptly to the bird flu and hand, foot and mouth disease outbreaks.
He said Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek’s spontaneous action calmed public anxiety over the situation.
The minister, in his speech, said the hospital was planned under the Seventh Malaysia Plan as part of the Government’s efforts to provide quality healthcare to the people nationwide.
He said operations at the hospital, which was completed in January last year, had started three months later.
Present at the ceremony were Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Mohd Nasir Ashraf and director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Merican.