KUCHING: After more than a year of navigating bureaucratic hurdles, Kota Sentosa assemblyman Wilfred Yap has officially handed over the letter of award and project site to Megah Jaya Enterprise for the construction of 40 additional parking bays and upgrading works for the occupational therapy and recreation hall at Hospital Sentosa.
The project, funded under Rural Transformation Project (RTP) allocation, amounts to RM400,000 and aims to improve accessibility and infrastructure at the hospital.
Hospital Sentosa, formerly known as Sarawak Mental Hospital, has been serving the community since 1958. It was renamed on August 1, 1998, and currently operates with 338 beds, providing both outpatient and inpatient psychiatric services.
The issue of inadequate parking and the need for facility upgrades was first brought to Yap’s attention two years ago.
Many visitors had complained about the difficulty of finding parking, often having to circle the premises multiple times, leading to delays in their appointments.
“The problem of inadequate parking bays at Hospital Sentosa is critical as it is the only specialist psychiatric hospital in Kuching serving the public. The lack of parking spaces and roadside parking have caused significant traffic inconveniences for visitors seeking treatment,” said Yap.
During the handover ceremony, he urged the appointed implementing agency, Padawan Municipal Council, to closely monitor the project to ensure timely completion with high-quality standards.
The project, scheduled to be completed by June this year, includes air-conditioning installation, new aluminum windows, wiring, tiling and partition works for the therapy and recreation hall. Additionally, earthworks, concrete drains, a premix road, and directional road markings for the new parking area will be carried out.
Once completed, the new parking bays will have proper entry and exit points, significantly easing congestion at the hospital. This initiative is part of Yap’s broader commitment to utilising his RTP funding to enhance public infrastructure, improve healthcare services, and ensure better access for patients and visitors at Hospital Sentosa.
