No Leakage, Only Seepage Of Rain Water, Says Samy Vellu

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) -- There is no leakage at the male ward of the Pekan Hospital, what had happened was that a pool of rain water had collected below a water tank atop the ward, which later had seeped down the staircase located near it, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu.
Clarifying the matter Tuesday, he said two engineers from the ministry's Occupational Health Division together with representatives from the contractor involved and Radicare (the government hospitals support services company), made the findings after conducting thorough checks there on June 15.
"Three days after that, the contractor's workers cleared up the water pool and the seepage stopped," he told reporters after witnessing the concession signing agreement for the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) in Johor Baharu between his ministry and Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB), here.
On Friday, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek when making a visit to the new hospital had expressed his dissatisfaction that such a problem had occurred.
Samy Vellu said that when Chua made the visit, the water marks were still on the walls because they had yet to be re-painted owing to they being damp.
"The surfaces of the walls affected must be really dry to ensure quality paintwork," he said.
On problems with the oxygen supply system at the hospital, Samy Vellu said the system had been fully completed and certified by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
"The actual situation is that the contractor is still in the process of sourcing the oxygen for the hospital from Syarikat Gas Pantai Timur, which is the sole supplier of gases for all government hospitals in the country," he said.
He said the hospital's management had been informed about this on June 15 and that filling of the oxygen tanks at it would be done within two weeks from the date.
"The management had also agreed to use oxygen supplied in cylinders in the interim," he said.
Samy Vellu further said that discussions were ongoing with the project consultants, suppliers and the hospital's management on the new specifications for certain equipment and spares needed for it and that this matter should be resolved in about a month.
"Equipment not supplied yet are support equipment for the hospital's laboratory. The hospital also knows the manufacturer has ceased making them as per the specifications required," he said,
The minister added that the Public Works Department (PWD) would continue monitoring the hospital to ensure it is an a good state and address any complaints received quickly as it is still under the warranty period.
Construction of the Pekan Hospital began in 2001 and should have been completed in 2003 but after a number of postponements, it was finally delivered to the Health Ministry by the PWD on March 27 this year.
It commenced operations on May 1.