Kota tinggi: The selection of Kota Tinggi, Johor as the new location for Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia's (USIM) teaching hospital was made as there is no teaching hospital available in the southern zone of the peninsula, according to Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud. He said the distribution of teaching hospitals in the peninsula is currently concentrated in the Klang Valley and East Coast areas, in addition to Sabah and Sarawak.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, there is a need for additional specialist treatment facilities in Kota Tinggi due to the fact that it is a strategic location close to one of the world's best tourist destinations, namely Desaru, in addition to neighbouring countries Singapore and Indonesia. Mustapha made these remarks in response to Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing) during a session at Dewan Rakyat today.

Muhammad Islahuddin had inquired about the rationale behind the relocation of USIM's teaching hospital from Nilai to Kota Tinggi, as well as the academic needs, logistics, student and lecturer welfare, and the effectiveness of clinical training that had been taken into account. Mustapha emphasized that the teaching hospital would focus on research, training medical students, rural treatment, and mobile specialist clinics. Additionally, it will provide a burn ward for industrial accidents in Pengerang.