Seberang Jaya: The Public Works Department (JKR) is implementing 66 new construction projects for the Ministry of Health (MOH) under the Fifth Rolling Plan (RP5) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), with a total cost of RM2.4 billion. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi stated that JKR, through its Health Works Branch, has also been entrusted with 170 healthcare facility projects nationwide, valued at RM16.47 billion.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these initiatives encompass 62 projects in the pre-construction (planning) phase estimated at RM4.05 billion, 64 projects in the construction phase valued at RM7.88 billion, and 44 completed projects in the post-construction phase involving RM4.54 billion. The statement was made during a handover ceremony of the Multi-Storey Block Construction Project at Seberang Jaya Hospital, where Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad was also present.

Nanta highlighted that from the 9th Malaysia Plan (9MP) to the 12MP, 12 projects worth RM1.31 billion have been executed in Penang under the purview of the Works Ministry. Specifically for the Penang projects, the pre-construction phase includes five projects estimated at RM139 million, the construction phase contains five projects valued at RM781 million, and the post-construction phase consists of two projects costing RM396 million.

Focusing on the Seberang Jaya Hospital project, he mentioned that JKR was assigned this task in 2016 under a RM371 million design-and-build contract. The new nine-storey block will result in a 77 percent increase in bed capacity, expanding from 413 to 729 beds, and will include new roads and parking facilities on the hospital's existing field, which covers 1.32 hectares.

Nanta also noted that the project had encountered delays due to challenges, notably the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. He emphasized that the construction followed Treasury Circular guidelines and employed the Industrialised Building System (IBS), achieving an IBS score of over 70 percent.