Materia Medica Malaysiana

ACA begins probe on hospital

JOHOR BARU: The state Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has started an inquiry to determine any irregularity in the construction of the Sultan Ismail Hospital.

Its director Abdul Razak Idris said the case was serious as it involved public interest and “we are not going to wait for someone to come forward to lodge a report.”

“The statement from the minister as reported in the press was sufficient to warrant an inquiry,” he said yesterday, in reference to a statement by Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Abdul Razak said the hospital project was handled directly by the ministry and the Public Works Department in Kuala Lumpur.

“I think our headquarters will continue with what we have initiated,” he added.

The Health Ministry ordered the RM500mil hospital, formerly known as Pandan Specialist Hospital, to temporarily close after fungus was found on the walls and in some of the clinical equipment.

On Saturday, Dr Chua said the fungus, scientifically known as “penicillium” and “aspergillus,” had been detected since two months ago when the hospital was opened to the public.

He said the fungus was caused by the high humidity inside the building due to the inefficiency of the air-conditioning system.

In Kuala Lumpur, the Works Ministry wants the contractor to install heat pumps to reduce the temperature so as to get rid of the fungus.

Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said the heat pump was only a short-term solution and the hospital should hire an air-conditioning technician.

“The problem arises from the air-conditioning system installed by the contractor because the temperature is too high and encourages fungus growth.

“We can rectify the problem using heat pumps but after that, the hospital must hire a technician to monitor and control the temperature in the hospital,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.