KUALA LUMPUR, April 2 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Dr S. Streram criticised Barisan Nasional (BN) for the delay in opening Rembau Hospital amid design and structural issues.
Dr Streram told Free Malaysia Today (FMT) that he did not say there was no hospital in the Negri Sembilan federal constituency under which Rantau is located, only that he meant the facility still could not function.
“Can they admit a patient to the hospital? Can they be referred to nurses, doctors or specialists? No. So, that is what I am talking about,” Dr Streram was quoted saying during the Rantau campaign.
BN candidate Mohamad Hasan, who is the acting Umno president, reportedly said that Rembau Hospital was already constructed, but the Health Ministry was waiting for new equipment before starting operations.
FMT reported that the 76-bed hospital was scheduled to be open by the first quarter of the year but faced structural and design problems, with the delay reportedly costing the federal government RM8 million.
Mohamad also reportedly disagreed with Dr Streram’s proposal to expand the Rantau government clinic, claiming there was no land.
The PKR politician, however, reportedly said land had been allocated in Bandar Ekar Rantau.
Dr Streram and Mohamad are running against two independents in the April 13 Rantau state by-election.