SANDAKAN: Sabah DAP Youth Deputy Chief Tang Szu Ching has invited Douglas Liu of Sandakan Warisan Youth to join her in meeting the Director of Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) to understand the hospital’s progress and future plans.
This follows Douglas’ statement accusing former Pakatan Harapan Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng of making empty promises regarding the hospital’s upgrade during the Sandakan by-election in 2019.
“It should be noted that many development plans initiated by Lim have been implemented, including a RM80 million allocation for the expansion of Sandakan Airport, RM3 million for the installation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine at Duchess of Kent, RM300,000 for a portable ultrasound machine and RM500,000 for two sets of craniotomy equipment.
“However, the plan to build a parking facility at HDOK had to be halted due to the coup by the change of government,” Tang explained.
Nevertheless, the Madani Government has successfully included the upgrade of HDOK to a state hospital in the 13th Malaysia Plan, with preliminary preparations underway.
Tang outlined several other projects completed under the allocation of Lim, including the construction of a RM96 million jetty at POIC Sandakan, a RM40 million flood control project at Sungai Anib, a RM7 million school building project at SMK Batu Sapi, a RM60 million construction project for the second Sandakan Vocational College campus and the RM40 million SK Tanjung Papat 2 school building project, which is currently under development.
“All this have been reported to the public and is being closely monitored.
“Therefore, Douglas needs to understand the real situation before making statements, including his accusations and those of Elopura Assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun who continues to claim that the Sandakan electric vehicle assembly plant will become a white elephant project.”
“Several leaders have provided detailed explanations, yet they persist with their negative remarks,” Tang added.
She said the project is an investment by a local private company and the land belongs to the company.
“At present, five large reservoir tank projects are being fast-tracked from Batu 22 to Batu 5.
“Once completed, they will ensure a stable water supply in Sandakan and prevent prolonged water shortages that could disrupt people’s lives,” he said.
Tang said the State Government is also developing a 100MW solar power station in Lahad Datu, expected to be completed and operational by mid-year.
This project is anticipated to help stabilise Sabah’s electricity supply, particularly in the East Coast region.
Tang said every effort to develop Sandakan should be supported rather than undermined.
