IPOH: The construction of a new hospital in Kampar is still on the cards, says Perak health committee chairman A. Sivanesan.
He believes the project will not be affected despite Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa saying last month there are no plans to build new public hospitals.
He said the decision to build a new district hospital in Kampar was made in 2019, so funds should have been allocated for it.
"In a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Perak Mentri Besar asked for RM3bil for development projects in the state," he told a press conference after opening a free health screening programme here on Tuesday (Feb 14).
"I hope the funds (for the hospital) will be included in the Budget that will be tabled on Feb 24," he said.
Dr Zaliha had said that the ministry would only complete what was already under construction, as well as improving its facilities at health centres nationwide.
Sivanesan said the state had already identified a plot of land for the project but needed to acquire it.
"The land was formerly state-owned, but the Kampar Land Office has allocated it to individuals for housing projects.
"Titles have not been issued but we still have to buy it back from them," he said, adding that the cost for the 11 lots of land was about RM1.4mil.
"The money has to come from the Federal Government," he added.
