Lim said that inclusion in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), as mentioned by health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, does not guarantee implementation, pointing to Putrajaya’s National Rugby Stadium project announced in 2015 but later stalled despite being listed in a national plan.
“The health ministry must secure the 2027 budget allocation for land acquisition and preparation, such as plan approvals, infrastructure capacity assessment, and establishing project management leadership with meaningful healthcare worker representation,” she said in a statement.
Lim said the project should also be included in the 13MP’s nearest rolling plan cycle to ensure continuity in its implementation.
Dzulkefly had confirmed the Taman Medan site on Tuesday following a coordination meeting on May 14 involving federal and state agencies and local authorities.
Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said the state government would facilitate land processes, with a joint site visit involving relevant agencies to be carried out this week.
The proposed hospital, designed with a vertical concept similar to Ampang Hospital, is expected to serve residents in Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Puchong. No timeline or cost has been announced.
Lim also called for the hospital site to be quickly rezoned under the institutional and public facilities category to protect it for healthcare use.
“As Klang Valley land costs continue climbing, early preparation of financing mechanisms and rezoning processes helps mitigate the final acquisition price from being too expensive for the health minsitry and triggering the need to identify another site.
“To avoid a ‘rinse and repeat’ cycle, land administration matters must be quickly negotiated and executed so that the project is fully locked in,” she said.
The DAP lawmaker also called for interim measures while the hospital, which she estimated could take three to five years to build, was being planned.
She urged the state government to accelerate talks on including Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in Selangor’s RM10,000 hospitalisation benefit scheme for acute and chronic diseases.
“Healthcare must be undisturbed by austerity and protected from profiteering,” she added.