KUCHING: The soon-to-be built Sarawak Cancer Centre in Kota Samarahan will not only benefit Sarawakians but also lessen the burden of people in Sabah and neighbouring countries to seek medical treatment.
As the federal government has officially approved its establishment, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government will “lend its money” for the project.
According to him, once the centre is completed, the Borneo states will no longer need to rely on cancer treatments in Kuala Lumpur.
“If we only rely on getting treatments in Kuala Lumpur, it will be very costly and some people may not even get their treatment as the fare to fly there is very high.
“That is why, being the head of the state government, I told the federal government that as long as they agree, we will build the centre first for our patients and they will reimburse us later.
“And I just received news today and was informed that Putrajaya has agreed for us to set up the centre. With this, Sarawak will set aside over RM1 billion to build the centre and be reimbursed by the federal government afterwards,” he said during the opening ceremony of 8th Asia-Pacific Conference on Public Health (APCPH) at a leading hotel here, last night.
With the establishment of the centre, cancer patients from Sabah can use the Pan Borneo Highway instead of paying for flight tickets to Kuala Lumpur which may cost RM1,000 going there.
“This will aid in reducing the cost for the patients and their family,” he said, adding that the centre will be established within three years.
“We already have a site for it and have approved the building design. If everything goes well, the project will start by the end of this year,” he added.
