RM565m hospital almost complete

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: After five extensions, the RM565-million Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah in Alor Star is ready — almost.
Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu expects to hand over the hospital to the Health Ministry after five postponements since 2002.
Even then, the 730-bed hospital will be without a bio-safety level 3 mortuary, which will only be ready on Oct 31.
Samy Vellu said the two-month delay was to allow the contractor, MH Projects Sdn Bhd, to obtain international certification for the mortuary.
The mortuary, which was in the process of being built, will hold bodies of victims of diseases such as Avian flu, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
Samy Vellu said the Public Works Department was closely supervising the company which was working round the clock on the project.
The New Straits Times understands that the completion of the 730-bed hospital was initially postponed due to a lack of skilled workers following the Government’s Amnesty Programme for illegal foreign workers in 2002.
The second extension from March 15 to Dec 14, 2004 followed a request by the Health Ministry for neurology and neuro surgery services, upgrading of mortuary, request for four intensive care units, a paediatric ICU and invasive cardiology and cardiothoracic services.
This was followed by the third extension from Dec 15, 2004 to June 15, 2005 to widen the access road to the hospital with the fourth extension from June 15 to Dec 31 last year to upgrade the VIP suite to a royal ward.
The fifth extension until Aug 31 was to repair damage caused by a fire on June 10 last year.
Meanwhile, Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the ministry would work closely with the PWD in the construction of all hospitals and other buildings due to problems faced with contractors.
He said the problems included not meeting deadlines, construction defects and non-compliance with specifications.
This was decided at a meeting between ministry and PWD officials last Wednesday.
The officials decided that all Health Ministry projects would be closely monitored by State and district hospital directors from the onset.
Dr Ismail said problems would be addressed immediately at State-level meetings between the PWD, contractor and the ministry officials.
He said it was decided at the meeting that the PWD and the ministry would only accept completed projects after ensuring that contractors met all the requirements.
"We may blacklist contractors who do not deliver on time. Most of the problems arise when the work is sub-contracted," he added.