NEARLY 700 DAYS NO HOSPITAL AT KK?

SABAH Progressive Party (SAPP) genuine struggle for a better healthcare facility for the people is genuine has been politicized by certain quarters bent on discrediting the party’s credibility.

Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah said contrary to what others such as the Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Edward Khoo, there is no misconception on SAPP’s part in getting a better hospitals for the people, especially in the State Capital.

“In fact, there is a misconception on Khoo’s part when he accused some quarters, particularly SAPP, for not understanding that there is no general hospital in Kota Kinabalu because there are already specialist centres to cater to the need of the people,” he said here Friday.

Chong said that first of all, if it was not for SAPP’s persistence in raising the issues, the government still be sitting down and not doing anything on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

“If it is true that there is no pressing need for a general hospital in KK then how come the government was willing to take over the SMC building to be converted into QEH II?

“Why did the government seems to be pressured to convert other buildings, which are not built for a hospital like the Ling Tze building in a hurry?” he asked.

Even the beds setbacks in these so-called hospitals were not up to the specification of the World Health Organization ‘but only to make up the numbers’, said Chong.

He added that now the demolition of the decanted tower block at QEH seemed a long way to go before it is completed.

“We are very skeptical whether the new tower block would be ready by the scheduled promised by Health Minister Datuk Dr Liow Tiong Lai. We have called for the government and the minister concerned to walk the talk.

“Don’t just keep on making empty promises to the people because healthcare problem here has become acute,” he said.

It is clear, Chong said that it was not SAPP that is politicizing the issue but rather other quarters like Khoo.

“Right from Day One SAPP only concerned is for the people who have no proper hospital to go. We fight for the people and the autonomy of Sabah,” he said.

According to Chong, SAPP Youth movement was also monitoring the situation and that it would be holding an activity every 100 days KK is without a general hospital.

“It is now nearly 700 days and still some people dare accuse SAPP of politicising the issue,” he said.