KUCHING: Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) has been allocated RM3 million to upgrade its facilities and acquire essential medical assets for the benefit of staff and patients.
Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, said the approval of the funds was made after discussions with Sarawak State Development Director, Jasni Jubli.
“Part of this fund will be used to upgrade existing facilities, while the rest will go towards asset acquisition.
“After discussions, we agreed to approve the RM3 million allocation,” he said.
He made these remarks during the Speta Beraya 2025 celebration held at the Dewan Majma’ Tunku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on Friday evening.
Fadillah also announced an additional RM150,000 allocation under the Malaysian Medical Welfare Fund.
He said this allocation is aimed at assisting B40 patients in obtaining essential medical equipment.
“This fund is to support underprivileged patients in purchasing the tools and equipment they need for treatment,” he said.
At the same time, Fadillah expressed his readiness to assist with the development of the Al-Mushtasfa Mosque, which is planned within the SGH compound.
Although the Sarawak government has allocated RM6.5 million for the physical construction of the mosque, he said additional support is necessary to complete the remaining components.
“I have asked the mosque chairman to work with my political secretary, who is an engineer, to review the details.
“God-willing, we will do our part to help complete the mosque, which will benefit both hospital visitors and staff,” he said.
On another note, Fadillah said the former nurses’ quarters located in front of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) will soon be redeveloped into a dedicated support facility for patients and their families, while preserving its historical and sentimental significance to the local community.
He pointed out that the site was originally intended to be used for the construction of a retention pond, aimed at mitigating flood risks in SGH and surrounding residential areas.
“However, following appeals from former nurses and members of the public who shared a deep emotional connection to the building, the initial plan was reviewed and reconsidered.
“Several former staff and members of the community conveyed their hope that the building would not be demolished due to its nostalgic value, despite it no longer being fit for use,” he said.
In response to this feedback, Fadillah said the matter was discussed with the Sarawak government, hospital administration, and other relevant stakeholders thus a decision was made to relocate the retention pond to an alternative site.
“In its place, a new facility will be developed by Yayasan OBYU to serve as a ‘rumah singgah’ or Anjung Kasih, offering temporary accommodation for patients and family members undergoing treatment at SGH,” he added.
